Redmond council committee delays vote on automated speed cameras pending survey and study session

Redmond — The Public Safety and Human Services Committee on March 18 reviewed a police proposal to create an automated speed safety camera program, amend Redmond Municipal Code 10.25 and approve a contract with camera vendor Nova Global, but committee members declined to put the items on a final vote until they review fuller community survey results and hold a study session.

The Police Department presented three related requests: approval to develop the automated speed-camera program, approval of the amended municipal code governing automated traffic cameras and approval of a vendor contract with Nova Global for implementation. Deputy Chief Coats and Police Chief Lowe answered council questions about locations, vendor capabilities and program timing.

Committee members said the packet and ordinance language were useful but multiple members, including Council Vice President Forsyth and Council Member Fields, said they were not prepared to vote without the final survey data and a dedicated study session. Council President Kritzker and others asked staff to schedule extra time to “dig in” to the specifics and to include survey results when the committee reconvenes.

Deputy Chief Coats told the committee the survey remained open and, as of a snapshot the department had just received, responses were roughly 45.3 percent supportive or neutral and 54.7 percent not supportive. Coats also described vendor features: Nova Global can modulate citation volume to avoid overwhelming court processes and verify whether schools are in session before issuing citations so tickets are not generated during school closures.

Members pressed on specific locations the ordinance would cover, including Westlake Sammamish Parkway at the Marymoor Park entrance, where Coats said a popular bike path and pedestrian connections mean the site sees “a fair amount of bicyclists.” Council Member Salahuddin asked about nonvehicular traffic at that location; staff confirmed pedestrian and bicycle use and noted an existing dedicated bike signal nearby.

Several council members asked for clarifications that staff provided: the contract’s drafted effective date (May 2024) will be amended to reflect actual approval timing; the ordinance and packet identify anchor points for proposed camera locations; and the department plans an education period at launch during which citations are replaced by warnings for the first 30 days (staff said they were willing to extend that to 45 days).

Committee members emphasized community outreach and education. Council Member Fields and Council Vice President Forsyth said the survey results — and any public perception that cameras are primarily a revenue source — should inform how the city explains the program. Deputy Chief Coats said state law (RCW) requires camera revenue go to traffic safety initiatives and that previous city surveys show resident concern about speeding and distracted driving.

Next steps: staff will provide the final survey results and schedule a study session with council members and the mayor’s office to review the ordinance language, the proposed camera locations and the vendor contract before the items are brought forward for a formal vote. At this meeting the committee did not take a final binding vote on the ordinance or contract; members agreed to return the items for further review and formal placement on the April 1 consent calendar pending the additional work.

Ending — The committee moved on after directing staff to return with more detailed survey data and a study-session presentation specifying near-term and future implementation steps, including community outreach and the proposed timeline for installation.