Live Oak council approves three public-safety grant resolutions, including $67,050 for license-plate readers

The Live Oak City Council on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, voted unanimously to approve three resolutions authorizing acceptance or application for state grant funding to expand police technology and victim services, including a $67,050 subscription agreement for automated license-plate readers.

Chief Freitas, Live Oak police chief, told the council the items were examples of "leveraging grant funds to achieve operational enhancements" within the department. He said the city had been notified it was awarded funding to expand the Flock Safety license-plate reader program and that "there is no cash match for this"; he added the intended subscription would run three years and deployment would begin once the agreement is executed.

The council also approved a separate application to the FY 2026 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program to purchase mobile printers for patrol vehicles and deployable surveillance cameras for identified "hot spots." Chief Freitas said the JAG application likewise carried "no cash match," and staff described the purchases as intended to improve evidence capture and ticketing efficiency.

A third approved resolution authorized filing for the FY 2026 General Victim Assistance Grant through the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division. Chief Freitas described that grant as a continuation award that provides immediate resources to crime victims — including short-term housing, clothing and training — and noted the program previously received an award in 2025. That grant carries a 20% cash-match requirement; the chief told the council the department planned to meet the match by using a salary line item already in the department's operational budget for the crime-victims liaison position.

Votes at a glance - Resolution authorizing a three-year subscription agreement with Flock Safety for license-plate readers, funded by a FY22 Edward Byrne Memorial JAG award, in the amount of $67,050 — Approved, 4-0. - Resolution authorizing filing of an application for the FY 2026 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to purchase mobile printers and deployable cameras — Approved, 4-0. - Resolution authorizing filing of an application for the FY 2026 General Victim Assistance Grant Program (continuation), with a 20% cash match to be met by an existing salary allocation — Approved, 4-0.

Council discussion on each item was brief. Council members asked procedural and budgetary questions — for example, about the subscription length and whether future renewals would require budgeting or additional grant seeking — and Chief Freitas answered that the subscription was three years and that future renewals would likely require either budgeting or additional grants. No public comment was recorded on these items.

After the votes, the council moved to non-grant business, including brief staff reports. City Manager Anoska Paley and others noted upcoming local events and the start date for the Citizens Police Academy. The meeting adjourned after routine announcements.