EL MONTE — Artificial intelligence is beginning to find its way into local government, prompting El Monte officials to consider not only how the technology could improve city services, but also how its use should be governed.
That conversation surfaced during the City Council’s July 8 meeting in two separate ways. A proposal to purchase artificial intelligence software for the El Monte Police Department was removed from the agenda before council consideration. Later, during council communications, representatives discussed the growing role of AI in government and the importance of developing policies to guide its use across city operations.
The proposed software purchase would have authorized the Police Department to acquire an Artificial Intelligence Assistant from Peregrine Technologies using up to $130,000 from the California Department of Health Care Services Opioid Settlement Fund. The proposal was listed on the consent calendar but was pulled before discussion, and the meeting minutes do not explain why it was removed or whether it will return at a future meeting. Several written comments opposing the proposal were submitted before the meeting.
AI Policy Discussion Begins
Although the software purchase was set aside, the broader conversation continued later in the meeting.
Councilmember Martin Herrera and Councilmember Dr. Julia Ruedas reported on attending the 2026 Policy Institute on Technology and AI and Emergency Management through the NALEO Education Fund. During their reports, Herrera said one of the conference’s key themes was the importance of cities establishing policies to govern artificial intelligence as the technology becomes more common in public service. He also noted that the El Monte Police Department already uses AI applications and said the city should consider how artificial intelligence is used across municipal operations.
The discussion did not include a proposal to create an AI policy, nor did the council direct staff to begin drafting one. Instead, it reflected an early conversation about how local governments can prepare for emerging technologies before they become more deeply integrated into daily operations.
What It Means For Residents
For residents, the issue extends beyond a single software purchase. Artificial intelligence has the potential to influence many aspects of municipal government, from public safety and emergency management to administrative services and customer assistance. As those technologies evolve, questions about transparency, accountability and public oversight are likely to become increasingly important.
The July 8 meeting offered few answers about how artificial intelligence may be used in El Monte in the future. The meeting materials do not describe the capabilities of the proposed Police Department software, identify other city departments using AI or outline what a future policy might include.
Whether artificial intelligence ultimately expands into other city departments remains to be seen. For now, the July 8 meeting marked the beginning of a public discussion about how the technology should be evaluated before it becomes more deeply integrated into municipal operations.
As future proposals come before the City Council, residents will have opportunities to weigh in through public meetings and the city’s policy process. Information about upcoming council agendas and meetings is available on the City of El Monte website.
