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City highlights Ask Arlington app, new website and pilot uses for AI while strengthening cybersecurity policies
Summary
City staff briefed council on digital initiatives including a new Ask Arlington citizen-reporting app and a redesigned website, noted completion of a smart water-meter rollout and described pilot AI uses (airport apron parking and CCTV review) while rolling out policies for responsible AI use and cybersecurity.
City staff briefed the City Council on the municipal technology priority, describing recent launches and near-term pilots while outlining policies to govern use of artificial intelligence.
Deputy City Manager Randolph and Communications Director Jay Warren reviewed progress on the Ask Arlington citizen-reporting tool (the successor to the previous app), the newly launched city website, a grants dashboard and cable channel improvements. Randolph said the new Ask Arlington app had about 6,000 users in its first three months and reiterated that Android users must download the new tool; staff will monitor adoption and promote the app through neighborhood networks and council communications.
Warren demonstrated new website features including an improved search function, a “what's around me” address lookup (shows parks and city facilities, recycling and garbage pickup days and the resident’s council member) and a dynamic “hot topics” section. He said meeting video and written materials remain available on the city website and YouTube for residents who do not use Spectrum cable.
Information-technology staff reported the city’s smart-water-meter program will complete its current installation cycle by July 1 (about 15,000 meters targeted across the city) and said replacement of first-generation meters will be an ongoing one-time-per-year replacement cycle (approximately 10,000 per year) as hardware ages.
On artificial intelligence, Randolph said staff held a two-day workshop to identify near-term, low-risk AI pilots. Two use cases moved forward: an airport apron- and hangar-parking optimization pilot led by the airport (an RFP is in process) and an AI-assisted CCTV analysis pilot for the water department’s pipeline CCTV inspections to help flag anomalies more efficiently; both pilots will include human oversight. Randolph said the city had implemented seven policies to govern use of AI and data, including a generative-AI security policy, data-classification and acceptable-use policies.
Councilmembers asked whether the municipal cable channel remains available only on Spectrum; Communications Director Warren said live meetings and produced content are also posted to the city website and YouTube. Councilmember Wesley asked about access for residents without home internet; staff noted library hotspots, printed materials and outreach channels as alternatives.
No formal council action was requested at the briefing; staff solicited council assistance promoting the Ask Arlington app and noted plans to keep testing AI pilots and monitoring cybersecurity posture.
