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Douglas County adopts AI-use guidelines for departments in 4-1 vote
Summary
The Douglas County Board of Commissioners approved a countywide resolution establishing guidelines for department use of artificial intelligence tools, after a debate about public vetting and whether to delay the vote. The measure passed 4-1; Commissioner Kavanaugh voted no.
The Douglas County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 on May 6 to adopt a resolution establishing artificial intelligence (AI) usage guidelines for county departments.
The resolution, moved by Commissioner Rogers and seconded by Commissioner Borgeson, lays out definitions and internal controls for county employees’ use of AI tools and directs departments to follow the new guidance. The motion passed with four commissioners voting yes and Commissioner Kavanaugh voting no.
Why it matters: County staff said the guidance is intended as an initial framework to help departments use AI responsibly while county IT and legal staff continue technical and legal review. Supporters said the rules create guardrails for tools already present in many workplace systems; opponents said the policy merited fuller public discussion with the entire board and county IT leadership present.
Commissioner Rogers, who sponsored the resolution after several months of committee discussion, said the document is the "first phase" of county guidance and that committees and IT staff had already reviewed the draft. "This is just the initial footing on this being recommended to put some parameters around it," Rogers said during discussion.
Commissioner Kavanaugh moved to lay the item over for two weeks to allow a public forum and full-board input. That motion did not receive a second, and the original motion to approve was called for a vote. Kavanaugh said he wanted "a robust public discussion" and told the board the issue was "huge" and merited broader public and expert input before adoption.
County Clerk Danesh noted for the record that a motion to lay over requires a second; because no second was recorded the board proceeded to vote on the resolution. After debate, the clerk recorded the final tally as 4-1 in favor, with Kavanaugh voting no.
The resolution directs county departments to adopt specified practices when using generative and other AI tools, and it tasks the county attorney and IT staff with further technical guidance and training. Commissioners said the policy can be revised as experience with the tools grows.
Looking ahead: Commissioners who supported the measure emphasized that the county can update the guidelines as AI technologies and legal standards evolve. Commissioners advocating delay said public, expert and full-board participation would strengthen legitimacy and public trust.
No ordinance or statutory change was enacted; the board approved a county resolution establishing department-level guidance. The resolution does not itself change employee pay, procurement policy or county code.
