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By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Residents in the Duke City will soon be able to track the artificial intelligence tools used by city government, voice concerns to a new advisory board and see new AI rules for city tech vendors after the City Council approved a trio of ordinances targeting AI in city government.
Councilors unanimously approved the three measures during their Sept. 9 meeting, establishing new rules for artificial intelligence and emerging technology in city government. The trio of ordinances was originally sponsored by Vice President Dan Champine and Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn, with Stephanie Telles later joining as a co-sponsor.
- O-26-43 (Artificial Intelligence Ordinance): Directs the Department of Technology and Innovation to create a citywide AI policy. City departments must report their AI use to DTI and vendors must disclose whether their products or services use AI. DTI must also maintain a public, multilingual AI Purchase Inventory and update the City Council on the policy each August.
- O-26-44 (Emerging Technology Advisory Board): Creates an 11-member board to review high-risk city technology, including AI, predictive analytics and biometric tools. Five public members will include an academic AI expert, civil rights advocate, community member, labor representative and cybersecurity professional. Six city officials will serve as ex officio members. The board will review proposed technology purchases, hold public input forums and oversee the city’s online AI inventory.
- O-26-45 (Procurement Rule Changes): Updates a section of the Public Purchases Ordinance to require future city software purchases, technology contracts and vendors to follow the city’s AI rules across all 18 purchasing categories.
During public comment, Jaemes Shanley praised Fiebelkorn and Champine for taking action as AI has advanced at a “blistering pace.” Shanley said that “particularly in the near total absence of federal or state oversight, the City Council is serving the community well by at least paying attention.”
Fiebelkorn told The Paper. that the board will weigh in on technology decisions and give residents a place to voice concerns, but enforcement will remain with city staff. “Ramifications for breaking the AI policies will be set in the upcoming rulemaking process,” Fiebelkorn said. The new ordinances came from a multiyear process that began in 2024, when Fiebelkorn and Champine sponsored a resolution to create the city’s Artificial Intelligence Working Group, which allocated $50,000 for the work. The resolution was approved in October 2024. The group’s 2025 report later laid out recommendations for AI rules, risk reviews and the new advisory board.
According to Fiebelkorn, the first concrete change residents will see is the creation of the advisory board. She said the administration should add the board to the city’s Boards and Commissions webpage soon so residents interested in helping shape the city’s approach to AI can apply. The city administration will post applications for the five public seats on the board. DTI will also publish the city’s AI policy in multiple languages, launch the public AI purchase inventory and send an annual AI status report to the City Council every August.
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