In this episode, Linda Alksne, IT Project Manager at Liepāja City Council, Latvia, shares a practitioner’s view of citizen-centred digital services—from a mobile app and e-service portal co-designed with residents to pilots that surface surprising.

The conversation tracks lessons from an Interact Europe open-data project, early steps toward a digital-twin starting with energy consumption visualisation in municipal buildings, and inclusive approaches that keep non-digital users engaged through trainings and traditional channels.

It also touches on behaviour-change work inside the administration and the realities of funding, licensing costs, and limited staff capacity in a small city. 

Episode Overview:

• [00:01:20] Teaser: If Liepaja were an animal

• [00:01:59] Guest background

• [00:03:43] City snapshot

• [00:04:55] Making citizen–government links more direct, digital, and responsive 

• [00:06:20] User-centred features

• [00:08:49] Feedback mechanisms and early satisfaction

• [00:10:27] Pilots and data insight

• [00:13:18] Interact Europe open-data journey

• [00:15:50] Digital-twins and inclusion

• [00:20:12] Paperless Municipality

• [00:22:15] Challenges Liepaja faces

• [00:28:40] Podcast Segment: Shoutout

• [00:29:36] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

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