Committee moves proposed license-plate reader contract to Jan. 22 action agenda after cybersecurity questions

The Snohomish County Council’s Community Safety and Justice Committee on Jan. 14 referred for action the proposed contract with Flock Group Incorporated to implement license-plate reader cameras, after council members requested follow-up information on data security.

Nicole, a county staff presenter, described the proposed contract (motion 25-007) as an $87,150.70 agreement for hardware and software to run license-plate reader cameras for a two-year term commencing on installation; the contract includes automatic annual renewals for up to three additional years. Nicole said first-year costs are expected to be reimbursed through a state homeland security program and that future annual operations would be covered by general fund dollars at an anticipated annual cost of $39,564.

Councilor Peterson raised concerns about recent national reporting that some license-plate reader systems had been accessed by unauthorized parties and asked that the sheriff’s office — and IT if appropriate — explain what security protections will guard the data. “It may have been an Axios article,” Peterson said, noting the coverage was recent. Nicole said she would contact the sheriff’s office and IT and circulate the departments’ responses to the full council. The committee agreed to place the item on the Jan. 22 action agenda so members could ask follow-up questions before final approval.

The committee did not take final action on the contract at the Jan. 14 meeting; the referral sends the item to a future council meeting where a recorded vote may be taken.