Kenmore approves expansion of automated photo enforcement, adds four transportable cameras and amends VeriMobility contract

The Kenmore City Council on June 24 approved an expanded automated photo enforcement program (CAPE) that adds four transportable cameras and a dynamic, intermittent deployment process across prioritized locations. Council also authorized a contract amendment with VeriMobility for up to $1,200,000 plus per‑violation processing fees to support the expanded program.

Traffic Engineer Tobin Bennet Gold presented the staff recommendation and a phased rollout: phase 1 would deploy transportable cameras to high‑priority sites in opposing pairs with a total initial warning period of two months followed by two months of active enforcement; phase 2 would enable dynamic redeployment citywide based on changing speed data and feasibility of non‑enforcement interventions. Gold said the program priorities focus on locations where vulnerable road users mix with motor vehicle traffic, where non‑enforcement alternatives are not feasible within a one‑year horizon and where speed data show sustained high travel speeds.

Gold explained technical and budget context: the Financial Sustainability Plan (FSP) used a long‑term revenue estimate of about $225,000 per camera; four cameras thus correspond to roughly $900,000 of sustained revenue, while the planned CAPE contribution to the police contract was about $1,000,000. He also said review workload could be handled by police; overtime has been used in spikes and was estimated to add under $2 per reviewed violation in marginal cost.

Council vote on the motion to expand the CAPE site list (phase 1 sites) was 4‑3 in favor after debate; Councilors Culver, Lutzis and Deputy Mayor O'Kane voted no. Councilors expressed both support for a data‑driven program and opposition based on surveillance and privacy concerns. Council later approved the contract amendment with VeriMobility 5‑2.

The council recorded direction on signage and implementation details: staff and the contractor will implement a violation‑window limitation (to avoid multiple violations in a short span) and ensure clear signage on hours of enforcement; staff will proceed with the phased rollout and public outreach tied to each deployment schedule. Gold said, “The program we've put together here, I think, is our best option for getting the most safety benefit citywide from a small number of cameras.”