Smart Cities Council chairman Jesse Berst, who lives in Bellevue, tell us that Seattle’s pretty smart, but it could be a lot smarter. Seattle has a fine collection of individual properties with labels like "green," "sustainable" and "energy-efficient," he says, but it isn't yet considering how to integrate these individual islands of innovation into a complete picture. “Nor is the city fully committed yet to sharing infrastructure and costs between departments,” he explains. “Cities who take a holistic approach typically find they can cut 20% to 30% from their budgets by eliminating duplication and redundancy.”

Smart Cities Council is an industry coalition to advance smart city development. It recently held a major meeting in DC (they just missed the Cherry Blossom Festival), and Jesse tells us that one of the main takeaways is to think big, but start small. With the help of digital technology and willing citizens, cities like Seattle can achieve greater health, happiness, and prosperity, he says, but it’s important to start small. “Pick a project that has a small upfront investment, a quick turnaround, and a rapid payback,” he says, adding that ideally, this first target will be a consensus priority, something that is near the top of the list for key stakeholder groups.