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:

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

  
  


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  [00:01:59 ] Guest background

  
  


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  [00:03:43 ] City snapshot

  
  


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

  
  


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  [00:06:20 ] User-centred features

  
  


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

  
  


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  [00:10:27 ] Pilots and data insight

  
  


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

  
  


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

  
  


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  [00:20:12 ] Paperless Municipality

  
  


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  [00:22:15 ] Challenges Liepaja faces

  
  


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  [00:28:40 ] Podcast Segment: Shoutout

  
  


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

  
  

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