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City testing AI agent for resident services; council requests work session before launch
Summary
Council heard that the city is testing an AI agent for its website to answer resident questions; staff will continue testing and the council asked for a work session to review the AI's use and limits before a public launch.
Council members were briefed that the city is piloting an AI agent to handle routine resident questions through the website and phone system. Staff said the pilot is in testing to evaluate accuracy and to identify gaps in the website content that the AI will rely on.
"We are moving forward with an AI agent for the city," a council member said, describing tests where staff ask the AI a range of city-related questions to measure response quality. He and other members asked for a work session before launch to review functionality, oversight and how the tool will route users to in-person help when needed.
Staff emphasized the AI is intended to improve efficiency, not replace in-person service: residents can still request to "talk to someone in person," and the city will maintain phone and office access for cases that need human attention. The council supported proceeding cautiously and held that staff should return with a demonstration and orientation before public launch.
