Sedona council orders removal of ALPR cameras and severs Flock contract after public concerns

The Sedona City Council on Sept. 9 unanimously directed staff to terminate the city’s ALPR contract with Flock and to remove the city’s automated license plate reader cameras after residents raised privacy concerns and company disclosures about data sharing came to light.

City staff briefed the council that the item (AB3261) had generated "significant public input" since an earlier meeting. Council members said the procurement and deployment process failed to surface policy choices about data retention, sharing and community expectations. Councilor Fuhrman said "a company that tells us on Aug. 13 that there's no data sharing going on... and on Aug. 19 admits that it's been going on is not a company that we can do business with."

Several councilors, including Councilor Dunne and Vice Mayor Ploog, said the company’s disclosures about limited pilot projects with federal agencies and the potential for data sharing undermined public trust. After discussion, Councilor Kinsella moved, and the motion was seconded, to sever the ALPR contract with Flock and remove the cameras; the motion carried unanimously.

Chief of Police (present at the meeting) acknowledged the value of vehicle stop cameras for officer and public accountability but affirmed that, if the council orders contract termination, the city will remove the Flock system and ensure any on‑site cameras are no longer connected to the vendor’s network. Council members recorded appreciation for public engagement; the unanimous action followed multiple speakers and many emailed comments opposed to the program.