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Camarillo council approves lease for 25 license-plate cameras after public debate
Summary
The City Council approved a consent-item lease to add 25 automated license-plate readers (ALPRs) from Flock, drawing public concern about privacy and data-sharing and a council discussion of state law and oversight. The motion passed 5-0.
The Camarillo City Council voted 5-0 on October 7 to approve consent items C through G, including a staff recommendation to lease 25 automated license-plate readers (ALPRs) from Flock Group Inc.
The item drew extended public comment and questions about privacy, oversight and data sharing before the council voted. Speakers asked that the lease be removed from the consent calendar for fuller public debate and requested contractual safeguards on retention and sharing of non-hit data.
Council and staff discussed how the system is used and governed. Commander Eric Tennyson of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office told the council the ALPRs generate leads — for example recovered stolen vehicles, Amber or Silver Alerts, and missing-person cases — and that images captured by the system are retained for one year unless downloaded as evidence. “If you’re a crook and you come to Camarillo to commit crimes, I want to get your license plate when you come to Camarillo,” Tennyson said, describing the intent behind past camera placements on a theft corridor near the Camarillo Premium Outlets.
Tennyson said the sheriff’s office complies with California law (Senate Bill 34) restricting data sharing outside the state, that Flock does not itself share data without jurisdictional authorization, and that internal audits and oversight are handled by the sheriff’s professional standards bureau. City Attorney Rachel said the city’s role was limited to leasing equipment; Ventura County would indemnify and defend the city for claims related to the sheriff office’s use of the data.
Council directed that staff and the sheriff’s office work with Flock to create a public transparency portal listing sharing partners, relevant policies and program uses. The lease and related consent items were then approved on a 5-0 roll call vote.
Costs and some contract details were raised by public speakers but were not specified during the meeting. Several residents urged stronger retention and access limits; one speaker cited the ACLU and recommended clauses requiring non-hit data be deleted quickly and restricting comparisons to local hot lists. Mayor Kildee and council members asked staff and the sheriff to provide transparency materials and pointed to the sheriff’s website as a current source for policy information.
The council adopted the consent calendar motion without changing the staff recommendation.
