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Salt Lake City public commenters urge caution on RMF 35/45 zoning changes and warn of security risks with license-plate-reader vendor
Summary
During public comment, a property owner warned that RMF 35/45 zoning changes threaten historic buildings and a resident urged caution about a proposed license-plate-reader contract with vendor Flock, citing security incidents and urging strong data safeguards.
Several Salt Lake City residents used the council’s public-comment period to raise concerns about two items on the city’s policy and procurement radar: proposed RMF 35/45 zoning modifications and a planned license-plate-reader grant.
Cindy Cromer, who registered to speak in person, said the RMF 35/45 modifications had been ‘‘disastrous’’ earlier in the year from a historic-preservation perspective and urged the council to protect landmark and contributing structures. Cromer said she owns five properties in the RMF 35 zone and that three of those properties are in historic districts; she told the council that one of her buildings would be at risk of demolition under the proposal. She said she compiled and supplied relevant excerpts from the zoning ordinance (referred to in her remarks as "21 a") for council review and urged adherence to existing landmark/alteration standards.
Cindy Cromer said, "I have five properties in the RMF 35. Three of them are in historic districts. One of them will be demolished under this proposal because of where it is and the density that would be available." She asked the council to consider the ordinance language that governs alterations in historic districts when evaluating the changes.
Ben Engel, who also spoke in person, urged caution on a proposed license-plate-reader grant and warned council members about the security record of Flock, a large commercial provider of license-plate reader systems. Engel said he had shared a letter from state representatives to the Federal Trade Commission and urged stronger cybersecurity protections, including two-factor authentication and clearer limits on interagency data sharing. "They've had some security issues with their cameras," Engel said of Flock, and he recommended the city avoid adopting systems without stronger contractual safeguards and oversight.
Both commenters spoke during the general comment portion; no ordinance or procurement action was taken at this meeting. The council listened but did not debate policy changes on the floor during this session. The record indicates commenters referenced the city's zoning ordinance text and an external letter to federal regulators; the meeting transcript does not include a staff response or subsequent formal direction to add or change language.
The council completed its routine consent and adjourned after the public-comment period.
