[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6218440,"mediaKeyId","3628789-806bdce19e59f4b949c913a2c1d9e632","parentId",3628789,"title","Council presses administration on CityStat targets, AI readiness and broken permitting system","audioSeconds",1182,"startMs",1419000,"endMs",2601000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3628789-806bdce19e59f4b949c913a2c1d9e632&start=1419&end=2601","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3628789-806bdce19e59f4b949c913a2c1d9e632/thumbnail_1419000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6218440/Baltimore-City/Baltimore-County/Maryland/Council-presses-administration-on-CityStat-targets-AI-readiness-and-broken-permitting-system","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218440-acf769577c8fc6ca88a5f85dcebe9e2d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775290934&Signature=VewOUSzkHdMIrr4ht~PmYWdOR5vZxokqqRrYGpKSSn~lnett-gXK3v-zM8tL7WousJbaBmP2fprsykg95FQg8a7UPO4HY4vwUxj5ouZsSslA~XUlCXMv~HWaluLq21bvZLwhdnOemEn~LyZD2tqtrc4csJefEVHf522moerfLS5nKm-zM9PCP1LWWyIl8yV0LL1ddoJn0t3BdUcN0Bap7mJLw5dduAwgjByYmMe6gSrHL2HQQfCe0GRs4Keu5HMNt8CZu8rP4nQVdu2xs33h0SG-~DXIB~2VqhN1zjWhJcm~VpWTnJUWJykmhINDJFK0L7zPTsar4bjp2AUitvmnIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Baltimore, MD","date","2025-06-02T21:49:44Z","article","Members of the Baltimore City Council Ways and Means Committee used the OPI budget hearing to press the administration on three specific concerns: unclear CityStat targets, preparing for artificial intelligence, and persistent permitting problems tied to the Exela system.

On CityStat targets, Councilwoman McCray noted the published FY24 participation figure of 27 agencies and asked why the FY26 target was listed as 15. OPI Executive Director D'Artagnan Williams said the earlier figure reflected issue-based CityStat sessions that involve multiple agencies; the FY26 target the administration published was intended to reflect agency-focused CityStat sessions. Williams told the committee the office expects to have 18 active stats by the end of the year — “13 agency based and 5 issue based stats” — and agreed to supply corrected FY26 targets.

Deputy City Administrator Shamaya Kearney told the committee the administration will work with agencies this summer on a “methodology plan” to document numerators, denominators and data sources so published metrics better reflect how measures are calculated. Kearney said the work will be done “hand in hand with agencies” and in partnership with BBMR and OPI.

Council President Cohen and other members asked about artificial intelligence and workforce impacts. Cohen urged the city to lead on AI and said, “We need to own the future.” Williams said the city is starting an AI research effort and is partnering with Google on a citywide AI forum focused on “equitable AI adoption” and guardrails. Williams described AI as having the potential to “add additional capacity to provide automated service responses” and to free staff from clerical tasks, while acknowledging potential job impacts.

On permitting, Council members described the system as “on fire” and said developers report the permitting process has worsened. Williams replied that while the city has both process and technology problems, much of the permitting delays stem from the technology and integrations — how Exela exchanges information and how inspections (for example, fire code) integrate with other systems. He said the city needs stronger in-house technical capacity and careful execution, adding that “technology is only as good as the people and the capacity behind the technology.” The deputy city administrator and Williams both said the administration intends a multi-pronged approach — process, training and technical fixes — and to document and catalog issues discovered after rollout.

Council members requested updated performance metrics and an accurate CityStat schedule; Williams and Kearney agreed to deliver corrected numbers and more documentation on methodology.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Hearing: FY2026 Budget – MOPI; June 2, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council members questioned OPI officials and the deputy city administrator about inconsistent CityStat performance targets, the effects of AI on jobs and how to fix the city’s permitting system; OPI said it will update metrics, launch AI planning and focus on technical integrations with Exela while emphasizing operational capacity.","taxTitle","Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Maryland","taxId",4816,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6218445,"Baltimore OPI proposes $2.03 million budget to modernize 311, permitting and city data systems",22,2553000,2575000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3628789-806bdce19e59f4b949c913a2c1d9e632&start=2553&end=2575","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3628789-806bdce19e59f4b949c913a2c1d9e632/thumbnail_2553000.jpg","/articles/6218445/Baltimore-City/Baltimore-County/Maryland/Baltimore-OPI-proposes-203-million-budget-to-modernize-311-permitting-and-city-data-systems","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218445-e19e513aa25f4e65d6d6023f4dff5f82/orig.mp4?Expires=1775290934&Signature=ApqEUfSUCJYPjvJpDfq7iGcLX0inR-ncoHsTKMau54sjyTogaXtQqhgFj3J~sUxXrihCDYyEn8L5aCxM4BulPi--hvJAt6B1IOYOrS9hZMuSoRSXlxHWA8deOSoUKE-laXEH4tHWjhwfTncq2GjsMqRh9UrOeYQQR~UFkjsaUwhXTchgl8nQZcIfs5nHQyifSgwnTgJp1qZLybz79Ponxec2yEN5KVW~eMmHDR6mt2v~ZKt5yHdo3s37uTPYpikBm9G1u6LzGFOwdCJz67gtRDZRCPgFIX0gF58YRAaYj~WfyMugtLGxIIe3IWEv4ELfgFx30TvFJ9hjJ5TjWv9~JQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mayor’s Office of Performance and Innovation (OPI) told the Baltimore City Council Ways and Means Committee that its recommended fiscal 2026 budget is $2,030,000 and is aimed at modernizing 311, accelerating permit reforms, maximizing Workday and building a citywide data warehouse.

OPI Executive Director and Chief Data Officer D'Artagnan Williams said the office’s work focuses on performance management, a civic design lab, data and analytics, and a project management office that together “form an integrated performance and innovation cycle.” Williams said the office’s goals include improving 311 handoffs and inspections, simplifying permitting workflows starting with the Exela system, and using Workday for stronger administrative and fiscal operations.

Why it matters: OPI officials said the proposed investments are intended to make city services faster and more reliable for residents and businesses, free up staff time through automation and produce measurable savings. Williams cited a water-billing coordination project that he said produced at least $1,400,000 in cost savings by reconciling agency billing and identifying vacant properties with ongoing water use.

The presentation listed several active projects: 311 reimagining, parking enforcement workflow improvements, traffic-calming data products, downtown canvassing to identify broken curbs and sidewalks, a partnership on a payment/product project referred to in the presentation as “Taxil” with the Department of Finance and Visa, and an ADA-compliance project that OPI said is on track to deliver to plaintiffs ahead of schedule.

Williams said OPI and the Department of General Services are building a citywide data warehouse “rather than bring external consultants in to start from scratch,” and that approach “will save millions of dollars” and allow more agencies to fold into a common data foundation. He added, “Data is not just information data is infrastructure and it helps us understand insights across the city to control cost and ultimately deliver better services.”

Council members pressed for clarity on the office’s performance measures during the hearing. OPI said the CityStat program will expand: Williams said the office expects to have 18 CityStat sessions running by the end of the year — “13 agency based and 5 issue based stats” — and acknowledged that some published FY26 targets should be updated. Deputy City Administrator Shamaya Kearney told the committee the administration will work over the summer with agencies to document methodology — numerators, denominators and data sources — and to refine published performance targets.

The presentation also flagged work to prepare the city for responsible AI adoption. Williams said OPI is partnering with Google on a citywide AI forum focused on “equitable AI adoption” and building guardrails for use cases such as automated service responses and transcription-driven action-item generation.

Next steps: OPI officials agreed to provide the committee corrected performance targets for FY26 and an updated CityStat schedule. Committee members asked the administration to continue collaboration with council analysts and agency leads while OPI implements its projects.

No formal vote or ordinance was taken on the budget at the hearing; the session moved to a recess and scheduled the next item (Enoch Pratt Free Library) for the evening meeting.","The Mayor’s Office of Performance and Innovation outlined a $2,030,000 FY26 budget focused on modernizing 311, accelerating permit reform, expanding CityStat sessions and building a citywide data warehouse; officials said the changes aim to improve service delivery and save costs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council presses administration on CityStat targets, AI readiness and broken permitting system

Baltimore OPI proposes $2.03 million budget to modernize 311, permitting and city data systems