In 2025, the City of Scottsdale’s Information Technology department implemented several new initiatives that improved municipal services and garnered national recognition. The city was awarded top honors from various technology organizations, highlighting its use of technology to enhance public service while prioritizing transparency, privacy, and trust.
For the third consecutive year, Scottsdale was named the No. 1 Digital City in the United States by the Center for Digital Government. The award recognized achievements such as an AI governance framework, upgraded citizen contact systems, and a comprehensive enterprise data strategy.
“Technology plays a critical role in how we serve our residents every day,” said City Manager Greg Caton. “Our IT team doesn’t pursue innovation for its own sake, but rather they focus on solutions that improve access, strengthen accountability and make city services easier and more responsive for the community.”
A notable development in 2025 was Scottsdale’s Short-Term Rental (STR) Map Tool. This public-facing platform uses geospatial data to promote transparency and compliance in neighborhoods. It received national attention with awards like the CIO 100 Award and recognition as a finalist at Gartner’s Eye on Innovation Awards for integrating multiple data sources into an accessible experience for residents, businesses, and staff.
Scottsdale also earned the 2025 Golden GOVIT Award from the Public Technology Institute for its responsible approach to artificial intelligence. The city’s AI Governance Council, employee training programs, and structured review process have become reference points for other municipalities dealing with emerging technologies.
“Our approach has always been people first,” said Bianca Lochner, chief information officer of Scottsdale. “Technology should make government more transparent, more secure and easier to navigate. Every system we build is grounded in public trust, ethical use and real-world impact for residents and employees.”
Lochner received several accolades during the year including the Arizona ORBIE Award for Large Enterprise CIO. She was also named a Global Top 50 Technology Leader by OnCon Icon and listed among StateTech Magazine’s ‘25 Worth Following in 2025’. In May, she represented Scottsdale internationally as a keynote speaker at South Australia’s Leading Edge: AI for Local Government Innovators summit.
Other members of Scottsdale’s technical staff were also recognized. GIS analyst Mele Koneya was acknowledged by Esri—a leading geospatial organization—and featured by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Architecture for his work supporting public safety, planning efforts, smart city projects, and performance management through mapping technologies.
The IT department as a whole was named a Global Top 50 Technology Team by OnCon Icon in recognition of their collective innovation and leadership.
“These awards, by third parties, show that outside agencies see the great work that our dedicated IT team are producing,” Caton said. “They show what’s possible when our staff members are empowered to innovate and focus on delivering value to the community.”
City leaders indicated that technology will continue to be essential as Scottsdale seeks efficient ways to deliver secure and accessible municipal services.
Scottsdale operates under a council-manager form of government where elected officials legislate policy while appointed managers oversee daily operations (official website). Over time it has developed various departments—including those focused on technology—to support its growth as both a cultural hub and tourism destination (official history page). By expanding northward into the Sonoran Desert over decades (official history page), Scottsdale has grown into one of Arizona’s larger cities with diverse municipal functions spanning recreation, culture, tourism—and increasingly—technology (organizational chart).
