Interdepartmental Collaboration: A Case for Public-Private Partnerships

Cities are complex organisms, with various departments working to serve residents. However, these departments often operate in silos. This can make it challenging to fund and implement much-needed infrastructure upgrades and beautification projects. So how can a city’s departments work together to fund and execute these projects?

One solution is through public-private partnerships (P3s). A P3 is a collaborative arrangement between a government agency and a private company. This partnership can unlock new funding streams and improve city services.

The Housing Department: A Real-World Example

Let's imagine a city's housing department. They own buildings that need new roofs and updated elevators. They also have unused rooftops and land that could be beautified with gardens or green spaces. The tenants themselves have a say, voicing concerns about things like flickering lights that need to be replaced. These upgrades would improve the quality of life for residents, but they come with a hefty price tag. The housing department's budget doesn't have the funding for these projects.

Instead of putting these plans on hold, the city could partner with a P3. The private company would gain the rights to use the rooftops to install cell phone towers or other communications equipment. They would then manage the installations and contract with carriers like T-Mobile or AT&T, creating a multi-tenant model. The P3 would share a portion of the revenue with the housing department, and this new income could be used to pay for the new elevator, the green rooftops, and other sustainable projects.

This model can be replicated across other city departments.

The Parks Department: Creating More Usable Spaces

The parks department might need new benches, basketball courts, or shade structures for sunny areas that get little use. Rejuvenation of public spaces like the High Line in NYC or many other urban dwellings that occupy unused and ‘dark’ spaces that can now be used for public uses like an ice skating rink or a vegetable garden or even a convoy of periodic food trucks. Through a P3, the city can create an agreement that allows the private company to develop revenue-generating infrastructure on park land. The P3 would present a proposal to the city council, which, if approved, would become legislation. The revenue generated from this partnership could then fund park improvements, making them more enjoyable for residents and visitors.

Beyond Land: Expanding the Partnership

What about departments that don't have land, like the public library? Even though a library doesn't have a need for a cell tower, it might need a new roof. A P3 could generate enough revenue from other projects to fund a new green rooftop for the library. This turns the library's rooftop into an educational opportunity and a community asset.

The Department of Education could also join in. They could leverage their valuable rooftops and land to partner with the P3, funding much-needed school improvements.

A Look to the Future: Starlink and Beyond

The potential for P3s goes beyond cell phone towers. Land that is currently underutilized could be used for other terrestrial communication infrastructure, like Starlink ground stations. As Starlink's satellite network grows, it will need more land to connect its users. This presents a massive opportunity for municipalities to generate significant revenue by leasing land to companies like Starlink.

This type of interdepartmental collaboration, led by appointed officials and supported by public-private partnerships, can lead to a more vibrant and livable city for everyone. By leveraging technology and thinking creatively about existing assets, we can create a brighter future for our communities.

Next time, we'll talk about using technology to better connect people with their city and vice versa. For example, a digital town hub called Livability Digital Town Hub, which is already used in the UK and is now being introduced in US cities like New York, can help people find their way around, locate points of interest, and connect with their community.