Denver City Council has allocated $4.6 million to ComplyAI for its CivCheck tool, intended to speed up development plan reviews. This contract follows a series of staff reductions in the Community Planning and Development (CPD) department, where Mayor Mike Johnston recently eliminated 19 positions and froze 40 roles, raising concerns about resource management.
During the council meeting, Councilmember Sarah Parady voiced her worries regarding the financial commitment, suggesting the money could have strengthened the struggling department's workforce. She emphasized the impact of recent layoffs on staffing and resources within CPD.
Opposition to the contract came from Councilmember Flor Alvidrez, who expressed skepticism about the reliability of AI technology in handling complex regulatory issues. Alvidrez pointed to national reports highlighting the inaccuracies of AI systems, particularly in interpreting intricate zoning laws and building codes.
The CivCheck platform aims to improve the application review process, with a target to boost the first-review approval rate from 37% to 80%. Despite the potential benefits cited by planning officials, the decision has ignited discussions on the role of technology in governance and its suitability for critical functions like development reviews.