City innovation director outlines pilots on clinics, homeownership aid, AI and receivables

Jim Bull, director of the Office of Innovation in the Department of Administration, briefed the Finance and Personnel Committee on the office’s first year and a slate of initiatives the administration says aim to bolster revenue and produce operating efficiencies.

Bull said the position was created to pursue five broad priorities and described projects now underway or in early exploration, from expanding employee and “fast care” clinics to a proposal to advance city residency incentive payments to employees buying homes. "This position had probably 5 major buckets," Bull said, describing the job’s charge to pursue revenue generation, revenue saving and operational efficiency.

The update matters because the administration is working within a continuing structural budget shortfall and seeks low‑cost strategies that could reduce operating costs, generate revenue or increase service access. Several items Bull described could affect employees and residents directly—while others are intended to reduce long‑term costs.

Most of Bull’s examples were evolutionary changes to existing…