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Council votes to seek community oversight and vendor reviews for city tech, data and AI
Summary
After a City IT and TPD briefing on administrative directives, AI, camera systems and cybersecurity, Councilwoman Lee’s motion directing staff to return in no less than 60 days with recommendations for early community engagement in tech vetting, a vendor evaluation process and clarity on existing IGAs/MOUs passed unanimously.
Councilwoman (and item sponsor) Lee opened the study session request by stressing the need for transparency and citizen oversight around city technology, data use and AI given national privacy concerns. She asked staff for clear boundaries on federal access to city data and for a process to embed community review early in the vetting of new technologies.
City IT described a standard tech‑ingestion process, new administrative directives on AI and data classification, a portfolio review led by assistant city managers and the Advanced Technology Council (ATC), which includes IT, equity, city attorney and other staff. IT said it has worked to strengthen cybersecurity, established governance/risk/compliance teams and is creating a public technology and data policies website.
TPD described its current use and controls for automatic license plate readers, drones, city camera networks and body‑worn cameras. The department emphasized retention policies (bodycam 180 days, drone 183 days) and said it does not share data with ICE absent a court order, IGA or MOU. TPD said facial recognition is not in day‑to‑day use and that ALPR searches require a case number and documented reason.
Councilwoman Lee moved — and council approved — a directive that staff return in no less than 60 days with an off‑agenda memo addressing: recommendations for community engagement early in the technology evaluation process and ongoing auditing; updates to the data/technology web page including a feedback mechanism; a community‑facing vendor evaluation process assessing contract language, compliance and data protection; and an inventory and clarity on IGAs, MOUs and task forces involving data sharing outside the city.
What’s next: staff will prepare recommendations and an updated public web page and present options for citizen participation and vendor accountability within the 60‑day timeframe mandated by council.
