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Posts for Artificial Intelligence

How Can Local Governments Prepare for Data Centers?

August 12, 2026  by  Leonard Bauer
Category:  Development Regulations and Zoning ,  Revenues ,  Utilities ,  Land Use Administration ,  Rural Uses ,  Artificial Intelligence ,  Economic Development

Data centers are growing, in the total being built and in size. Since data center permit processes can generate controversy, jurisdictions receiving a proposal should coordinate with others, such as local utilities, to address the challenges a data center may bring. 

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What the Data Center Boom Means for Washington Local Governments

August 3, 2026  by  Leonard Bauer
Category:  Development Regulations and Zoning ,  Land Use Administration ,  Rural Uses ,  Artificial Intelligence

Data centers are growing, both in the total being built and in the size of the proposed facilities. What are some of the benefits and costs data centers bring to local communities? While a state workgroup evaluates this, some local governments are pausing new development.

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Hot Topics and Recent Developments: the Open Public Meetings Act

October 27, 2025  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  Open Public Meetings Act ,  Artificial Intelligence

Staying compliant with the OPMA can be challenging, and the topic produces lots of questions. How can an agency provide notice to the public regarding a special meeting? What can elected officials talk about during closed meetings? And what does it mean to hold a serial meeting?

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Can AI Support Good Government? Some Pilot Programs Suggest Yes

January 15, 2025  by  Leah LaCivita
Category:  Information Technology ,  Artificial Intelligence

State and local governments in Washington State and elsewhere are using AI to manage traffic control, improve emergency response, analyze law enforcement training, model foot traffic, prevent homelessness, and detect wildfires, among other things. 

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Concept of use of Artificial Intelligence for work

Open the Pod Bay Doors: Navigating the Intersection of Public Records and Generative AI

July 29, 2024  by  Sarah Doar
Category:  Information Technology ,  Public Records Act ,  Artificial Intelligence

Local government employees and elected officials are increasingly exploring the use of generative AI in their day-to-day duties. The results will likely be treated as public records, but what about prompts people use to generate that result?

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Close up of a hand interacting with an AI prompt on a computer screen

Use of Generative AI by Local Governments

July 10, 2023  by  Jessica Nadelman
Category:  Guest Author ,  Information Technology ,  Artificial Intelligence

Local government employees are among some of the 100 million individuals beginning to embrace generative artificial intelligence (AI) at work, but agencies should carefully consider both the legal and ethical ramifications related to use of this new technology

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