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Committee delays vote on police surveillance oversight ordinance for further staff and police review

5750725 · July 23, 2025
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Summary

Council member Grace moved and the committee agreed to keep the proposed police surveillance oversight ordinance in Committee of the Whole for further conversations with the police department and mayor’s office. The item was rescheduled for the Committee of the Whole meeting on Aug. 18.

The Committee of the Whole postponed action July 21 on Ordinance 2024‑12‑02, which would establish policy and reporting requirements for police surveillance technologies and databases.

Council member Grace, who introduced the ordinance, asked for more time to meet with the mayor and the police department and said she expected additional meetings before the committee takes a final vote. Grace moved to keep the ordinance in Committee of the Whole; Chris seconded the motion. Several council members requested staff provide the latest draft in advance and asked colleagues to submit remaining changes to the clerk’s office so they can be compiled before the next meeting.

Committee members emphasized that they want productive conversations with the police department and that a narrower or phased approach might be easier to finalize: one council member suggested beginning with a smaller “phase 1” ordinance and building on it later. Mayor Marlon Williams said he planned to meet with staff and provide further input. The committee set an internal target of Aug. 18 for the item to remain in committee; staff and the mayor noted additional meetings with police leadership would take place in the interim.

What happens next: the item remains in Committee of the Whole; staff will circulate the most recent draft and council members asked for additional suggested edits to be sent to the clerk’s office. Council member Grace said she will follow up with the mayor and police to pursue a narrower path to agreement where possible.