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Riverbank council approves three new camera/LPR sites; city to cover added lease costs
Summary
Riverbank’s council voted 5–0 to add three security camera and license-plate reader sites and relocate an existing site; chief said the system has aided arrests and offered a contract concession that reduced relocation costs.
Riverbank — The City Council on Sept. 10 voted unanimously to add three new security camera / license-plate reader (LPR) sites and to relocate one existing camera site as part of the city’s ongoing surveillance program.
Chief Freidenour of Riverbank Police Services told the council the camera network currently covers 18 sites with 54 cameras and has helped officers identify suspects and make arrests. "We had someone victimizing our community once again from stealing, and we quickly got on the cameras and located the individual who made an arrest," he said as part of his presentation.
The proposal would add sites at Oakdale & Freddie Lane, Claribel & Machado Parkway, and Squire Wells & Heartland Drive, and relocate a Westgate site to Oakdale/Morrell. Chief Freidenour estimated one-time installation costs for the three new sites at about $9,900 plus power work at selected poles; the proposal also adds roughly $3,800 a month in lease costs to the current contract, co-terming additions with the existing contract through Aug.30, 2028.
Freidenour said the vendor, Epic IO, agreed to waive a $1,700 relocation fee in exchange for the three new sites and would include up to five additional site moves through the contract term; the city will fund the added lease costs from the general fund because the designated public-benefit account lacks sufficient balance.
Councilors and members of the public asked about facial recognition and backup power. The chief replied the system does not use facial-recognition AI for people; AI is used to classify vehicle make and model only, and not to identify people by face. He also said some sites run on PG&E power, others on city power, and backup batteries are not included in the proposed camera units.
A motion to approve the installation and contract amendment passed by roll call, 5–0. Staff said the city will continue to monitor system upgrades and potential alternative funding sources, including contributions from developers or Community Facilities District (CFD) funds for sites inside new developments.
