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Board presses ahead with 'Ask Kevin Plus' using adopted 2018 code content, declines proprietary UPC/IPC integration for now
Summary
The board agreed to proceed with an expanded Ask Kevin chatbot using the agency’s adopted 2018 code material, while weighing licensing offers from UPC/IPC. Members and public commenters urged legal review and disclaimers to avoid confusion where local municipalities have newer code editions.
The board directed staff to move forward with an expanded "Ask Kevin Plus" public information tool using the agency's adopted 2018 code material, but declined to integrate proprietary UPC/IPC databases under the license terms offered.
IT staff reported high use of the Ask Kevin chatbot, with roughly 70 conversations per weekday and more than 2,000 messages in five days. Chair and staff described a beta of "Ask Kevin Plus" designed to answer code-related questions arising from the board-adopted 2018 codes. The board reviewed license agreements proposed by UPC and IPC and judged those agreements too expansive or unnecessary for the initial rollout.
"The information that we're gonna be asking answering questions on Ask Kevin Plus relate totally to the 2018 codes...which we have already adopted," the chair said, arguing the agency does not need to license proprietary datasets to provide answers about requirements currently in force. Several members pressed for legal review and for clear disclaimers so users understand local municipalities may have adopted more recent code editions or local amendments.
A public commenter and an in-person commenter both urged caution: Joshua Hollub suggested the tool should include a prominent disclaimer advising users to check municipal code adoptions or amendments before treating the chatbot output as definitive guidance. The board acknowledged that concern and said disclaimers are part of the planned user interface.
The chair said staff will continue discussions with UPC/IPC but will proceed with the original Ask Kevin Plus plan relying on publicly accessible 2018 code content and internal staff expertise.
Next steps: staff will develop Ask Kevin Plus using adopted 2018 code material, include disclaimers directing users to local ordinances where appropriate, and continue limited discussions with UPC/IPC pending legal review.
