Stillwater’s renewal of AI-powered traffic software draws questions about public input

A vote to renew an artificial intelligence-powered traffic analysis program is raising questions among some community members who said they wanted more public discussion before city leaders approved the agreement.

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The Stillwater City Council approved a renewal of its agreement with Urban SDK during its Oct. 20 meeting on a 4-0 vote. City officials said Stillwater has been using the software since 2025 to evaluate speeding concerns and traffic patterns throughout the city. The two-year renewal carries a total cost of $20,000 and runs from Nov. 1, 2026, through Oct. 31, 2028.

According to city documents, Urban SDK is a geospatial artificial intelligence platform that provides traffic data and m...