Toolkit
Practical AI governance tools for local governments
Practical templates and checklists designed to work within existing procurement, legal, IT, and records-management processes. Free to adapt with attribution.
Core instruments
Instrument 01
AI Use Inventory
A structured template for identifying and documenting AI-enabled tools across departments, including AI features embedded in vendor software.
- Best for
- City managers, IT, department heads
- Output
- Departmental inventory with preliminary risk tiers
- Formats
- XLSX · DOCX · PDF
Instrument 02
Risk Tier Classifier
A practical framework for classifying AI uses by their potential impact, so review and oversight match the level of risk.
- Best for
- Legal, privacy, procurement review
- Output
- Tiered classification (Tier 1 – Tier 4)
- Formats
- Web reference
Instrument 03
Procurement Checklist
Vendor, data, audit, records, performance, and accountability questions for AI-enabled software purchases, pilots, renewals, and amendments.
- Best for
- Procurement, city attorney, IT
- Output
- RFP questions and model contract language
- Formats
- PDF · DOCX
Instrument 04
Template in developmentAI Use and Transparency Policy
Covering both public disclosure and internal rules for employee AI use, documentation, records retention, human review, and accountability. Each local government must coordinate its AI policy with its attorney, records officer, adopted retention schedules, and applicable state law.
Model practices for public disclosure, records retention, human review, appeals, incident reporting, and accountability for resident-facing AI systems.
- Best for
- Council staff, communications, legal
- Output
- Draft transparency policy (in development)
Reference download
AI Governance Starter Checklist
A one-page reference summarizing the four instruments and initial steps a city can take this quarter.