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Council reviews library surveillance policy; police and staff seek clarifying language on access and disclosures
Summary
Library Director Corey Burkel presented an updated surveillance policy to the Newberg City Council on Oct. 6. Councilors and the police chief asked staff to add clarifying language to ensure routine police access during investigations and to limit release of footage to third parties without proper legal process.
Library Director Corey Burkel told the City Council on Oct. 6 that the Newberg Public Library has used surveillance cameras for several years and that a formal surveillance policy was intended to increase transparency about how footage is used and released.
“This is something that we use for your safety,” Burkel said when introducing the policy, describing interior and exterior camera coverage and the library’s process for addressing inappropriate behavior captured on video.
Councilor Carmen raised concerns that the policy’s language could create obstacles when law enforcement needs footage quickly, noting the draft says footage may be released in response to search warrants or public-records requests. Chief Kosmici of the Newberg–Dundee Police Department told council that, in practice, the department and library currently cooperate closely and that he could not imagine circumstances where access would be denied. He and staff agreed it would be appropriate to add a sentence clarifying that routine investigative requests from the police department will be facilitated without unnecessary delay.
City legal staff recommended language that preserves public-records law protections and prevents third parties from using library footage to circumvent normal discovery in unrelated civil claims. Planner/legal staff said they would draft brief language to reaffirm the working relationship between the library and the police department and return it for final approval.
Burkel said the cameras have been effective at discouraging unsafe behaviors and that the library consults with police when incidents arise. The council did not vote on the policy at the Oct. 6 meeting; staff said a short amendment to the policy will be proposed (by the city attorney’s office in coordination with the library and police) to reaffirm routine cooperation and clarify the circumstances under which footage is released to third parties.
