City council news: AI rules and a national award for governance
Noting the technology is here to stay, the city of American Canyon is drafting rules for city staff on the use of artificial intelligence tools at work.
Alexandra Ikeda, American Canyon deputy city manager, said artificial intelligence tools have become increasingly ubiquitous. The proposed policy provides expectations on how to protect city data and set boundaries on the use of AI tools in the workplace, she said.
It also ensures that city staff can use AI tools while maintaining the “accuracy, security and trust” they are responsible for upholding. The city operates many data systems that store critical information, she said; as AI technology evolves, safeguarding and proper management of this information has become increasingly more important.
Ikeda, who uses AI tools in her work, said the city is open to new “productivity tools that promote efficiency and support staff in their work.” Artificial intelligence tools can be used in a “responsible and ethical” way, she said. That includes having employees making sure that AI-generated content is appropriate.
Allowed AI uses include:
- Drafting emails for “tone and clarity” or memos, text and presentations
- Summarizing public documents
- Creating talking points, ideas or outlines
- Rewriting texts to make them more understandable
Prohibited AI uses include:
- Entering, storing or sharing confidential city information into AI tools
- Drafting and circulating restricted documents
- Making hiring and discipline decisions, enforcement and service actions
- Moving city data to unsecured systems
Tuesday’s presentation was designed to obtain feedback from City Council to draft a final document.
Councilman David Oro, who works with AI professionally, said he wanted a discussion on the technology as people use it now.
The proposed guidelines were drafted in the “simplest format,” he said. The document does not tackle every technology policy available.
“We can’t expect people to adopt new technology responsibly if we don’t show them how to use it,” Oro said, quoting Katherine “Kathi” Vidal, a former director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Constantly changing Innovation has outpaced regulations, he added.
Oro, who has been a city council member since 2017, noted that the city was using Windows 98 when he first joined the City Council.
While AI is a powerful tool, it is one that requires human intervention, Oro said. Still, AI can help the city become more efficient.
Oro recalled an instance, either this year or late last year, when he and City Manager Jason Holley struggled to understand an agreement document. Oro used AI to make sense of it. “It helped us a lot,” Oro said.
At the same time, he noted that AI is only a tool. Those who use it are still responsible for their work even when AI is wrong. Trust it but verify, Oro said.
American Canyon receives Best-in Governance award
Also on Tuesday, American Canyon was recognized with a best-in governance award at the annual International City/County Management Association (ICMA) conference. The Polco award, named after the Polco company, recognizes “local governments that best engage residents and include public opinion in community decisions.”
The recognition was based on a national community survey – similar to a customer service survey – completed across hundreds of communities in the nation. Topics included public safety, education, arts, culture, transportation and other public services, said American Canyon City Manager Jason Holley who noted that city was finalist in two categories: public safety as well as education, arts and culture. In the end, public safety did not win but the other category did.
The city sought to recognize its “partners” and their work, so, on Tuesday, city officials handed plaques to representatives of the Napa Valley Unified School District, the American Canyon Chamber of Commerce and the American Canyon Arts Foundation.
The representatives present Tuesday included NVUSD trustees Eve Ryser and Lisa Chu, both of whom represent American Canyon schools, and NVUSD superintendent Rosanna Mucetti; and American Canyon Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Valerie Zizak-Morais.
“Thank you so much for this recognition,” Zizak-Morais said.
Ryser, NVUSD board president, also thanked the city and the partnership. She noted the American Canyon’s chamber’s program at American Canyon High School that teaches students to prepare business plans. Students “envision what’s possible for themselves and their friends in the future,”
Vice Mayor Mark Joseph, longtime member of the American Canyon Arts Foundation, thanked the city on behalf of the nonprofit organization.
