City staff outline outreach plan for Daxbot ADA sidewalk survey project

City staff on June 15 provided a brief update on the Daxbot program, a pilot of small sidewalk robots that will collect data for the ADA transition plan.

A staff member said the immediate outreach plan includes a social media post with a frequently asked questions sheet, a public "meet the robots" event coordinated with the library so residents can see the devices and ask questions, and a project website. The staff member said robots will carry a QR code linking to the site when operating in public, and that marketing and materials are being coordinated by staff members Hannah and Assistant City Solicitor Grace.

The staff member summarized common public questions about the project: "does the city own the robots ... Are the robots recording me? ... why use the robots at all?" Staff said the communications materials and FAQ will address ownership, data collection and privacy questions and that the informational event will allow the public to see the robots and ask follow-up questions before they are deployed.

No formal decisions were required at the meeting; staff said they will announce the date for the informational meeting via social media when it is scheduled.