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Resident urges Menlo Park to adopt AI-aware contracting guidelines
Summary
A Menlo Park resident urged the Complete Streets Commission to recommend city-wide AI-aware contracting rules for consultants, including disclosure of AI use, human oversight of deliverables, protections for government data and clear intellectual-property terms.
During the public-comment period at the March 11 Complete Streets Commission meeting, Ken Kershner of Allied Arts urged the commission to recommend that Menlo Park adopt AI-aware contracting guidelines for city consultants.
Kershner said as firms increasingly use generative AI in planning, engineering and analysis, cities should require contractors to disclose when AI tools are used, ensure human professional oversight of deliverables, protect confidential government data from being uploaded to external AI systems, and clarify intellectual-property ownership of AI-assisted work products. "Menlo Park is at the heart of the global AI ecosystem, so it would be fitting for the city to lead by adopting clear procurement standards that ensure AI is used responsibly while still capturing its productivity benefits," Kershner said.
A commissioner asked whether neighboring Bay Area municipalities have adopted such guidelines; Kershner identified Berkeley as one example. Staff did not record a formal response or motion on the suggestion during the meeting; the comment was acknowledged and returned the meeting to the chair.
Next steps: Kershner's request was recorded in public comment; there was no recorded staff action or motion to pursue AI contracting rules at this meeting.
