Flock Cameras in our Village - Automated License Plate Readers

This City Project, on hold as noted below, has an Ad Hoc Committee with Dramov & Richards Council Members established in Fall of 2023. Community updates expected in 2024.

July 11, 2023, Regular City Council Meeting - Open Comments Topic

Open comments in YouTube Video HERE, but was not an agend-ized item.
Carmel Pine Cone Issue July 14, 2023 cover page article https://carmelpinecone.com/230714PC.pdf "Residents object to surveillance cameras in neighborhoods"

...“We’re looking for more transparency on the rollout of those cameras — where they’re going to be placed and how they’ll really work,” a Carmel Residents Association board member Nancy Twomey said during the public comment period Tuesday. She also sent an email to Watkins and Council concerning privacy and aesthetics, and questioning the logic behind placing them on neighborhood streets that aren’t access points. She asked that the rollout be halted while these issues are resolved. “We want the cameras — it’s just a matter of how they’re going to be deployed and what they do,” she told the council July 11."... (The full email mentioned can be read HERE)

After this City Council meeting, in conjunction with rollout of cameras about town, the City has halted the rollout - pending a future topic at an upcoming public meeting. This update was covered in the Friday Letter July 23rd HERE.

Press Articles Covering Flock Camera Rollouts - regarding concerns on surveilance and privacy.

Monterey Herald, Jan 25, 2024, covers City of Monterey's community/public meets on consideration of Flock Camera project https://www.montereyherald.com/2024/01/25/monterey-police-considering-license-plate-reading-cameras-gets-community-input/
Carmel Pine Cone, July 7, 2023 cover page article https://carmelpinecone.com/230707PC.pdf "Carmel gets more traffic cameras, P.G. also putting them at busy intersections"
Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flock_Safety (neutral) source of information on this manufacturer, and includes significant press articles on public, civic and organization concerns on their use.
ACLU - https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/how-to-pump-the-brakes-on-your-police-departments-use-of-flocks-mass-surveillance-license-plate-readers
Electronic Frontier Foundation https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/11/rise-police-advertiser and https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/09/flock-license-plate-reader-homeowners-association-safe-problems
ABC13 news coverage raising concern of the significant China investors in the Flock Saftey buisness in their evaluation https://abc13.com/license-plate-reading-cameras-flock-security-city-of-galveston-crime-attorney-donald-glywasky/13691448/
A Michigan city removes Flock Cameras after multiple false positives https://www.voicenews.com/2023/10/26/marine-city-commission-looks-to-fill-seat-vacated-after-hilferinks-removal/

April 4, 2023 - Regular City Council Meeting - Puchase of Flock Security Cameras - Consent Agenda Item

Staff Report with multiple attachments HERE - this was the original request for funding of these new cameras that was approved by City Council at this meeting, without presentation (that was not requested by staff or public).

Attachment 1) Resolution 2023-031
Attachment 2) Flock Safety FAQ's
Attachment 2) Flock Safety Sole Source Letter
Attachment 3) Flock Overview for Cities
Attachment 4) Flock Safety ALPR Privacy and Ethics
Attachment 5) Flock Group Inc. Agreement