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Residents press council to allow Flock cameras after string of robberies; staff says permits and sidewalk placement are issue
Summary
Residents from the Currents neighborhood told the council Flock license-plate readers funded by their HOA helped a recent investigation and urged the city to permit the devices where they provide critical sightlines. City staff said the problem is that poles were installed in the public sidewalk and staff is working on a solution.
Dozens of Fountain Valley residents told the City Council on Nov. 4 they want Flock license-plate cameras formally permitted after a series of recent burglaries.
Several speakers from the Currents homeowners association said the HOA purchased and installed cameras following recommendations from Fountain Valley police officers, who have access to the equipment at no cost to the city. "We're not asking for an exception to rules. We're just asking that you help us cure this process to help us protect our neighborhood," Michael Nisco told the council.
Residents said three cameras are already in place on public sidewalks and connected to the police network; a fourth camera is pending. Speakers warned that moving cameras off the sidewalks would produce blind spots and reduce the system—s effectiveness in capturing license plates.
City manager and staff responded that there was not an automatic denial but a permitting issue: poles and equipment were placed in the public sidewalk. "We are trying to create a solution here," the city manager said, adding public works has been in contact with the community to resolve technical and right-of-way concerns. Staff said they will continue to work with the HOA and the police department to find a permitted configuration that preserves sightlines while complying with city rules.
What the city said next: Staff said the situation is being followed up and the public works director has engaged with the neighborhood; the council closed the unscheduled comment period but noted the matter will be addressed in its appropriate place on the agenda.
The issue: Residents insist the cameras are a critical, privately funded crime-fighting tool aligned with police recommendations; staff stresses the city cannot allow poles in public sidewalks without review and a formal permit. Council members asked staff to continue working with the HOA and police to identify a fix that protects sightlines and complies with right-of-way rules.
