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Council backs ARPA-funded pilot for park security cameras and license-plate readers, asks for privacy safeguards
Summary
Council gave staff consensus to bring motions approving two ARPA-funded pilot programs: a three‑year park security camera pilot ($350,000) and an automated license-plate reader pilot ($468,000). Officials emphasized privacy limits, 30‑day retention, and linkage to the regional Real Time Crime Center.
Spokane Valley City Council on Feb. 18 gave staff consensus to bring forward motions to fund two American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) pilot projects aimed at supporting law enforcement: a three-year park security camera pilot proposed at $350,000 and a fixed automated license-plate-reader (ALPR) pilot proposed at $468,000.
Deputy City Manager Eric Lam and Police Chief Dave Ellis described both projects and said staff would return to council with formal motions and implementation details. Lam said the ARPA allocation for law-enforcement-related equipment and one-time projects left approximately $818,000 available; staff sought to balance cameras and ALPRs within that remaining balance.
Chief Ellis described ALPRs as a tool that “automatically capture license plate numbers” and cross-checks plates against law-enforcement databases for stolen vehicles, wanted persons…
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