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Council pauses traffic-camera spending, continues budget hearing
Summary
Council struck $35,000 for a traffic-safety camera program (TR0919) amid privacy, equity and efficacy concerns and continued the 2026 budget public hearing to Dec. 2; staff clarified flashing amber school‑zone signs are a separate CFP item.
During the 2026 budget public hearing councilmembers and members of the public debated a planned traffic-safety camera program targeted to a Franklin School area. Concerns included surveillance and data use, equity impacts, cost of public records maintenance, and whether cameras reduce speeding or traffic incidents.
Several councilmembers said the flashing-amber school-zone signs are valuable and should proceed; other councilmembers opposed cameras that would issue infraction notices. Staff clarified that the traffic safety camera CFP entry (TR0919, $35,000) covers equipment to support a camera program; a separate line item (TR1116, approx. $26,700) funds school-area speed signs and radar-feedback devices, some of which are already installed.
Councilmember Lindsay moved to strike (set to $0) the $35,000 for the TR0919 traffic-safety camera program from the draft 2026 budget to allow further study. She said she wanted more time to examine surveillance and equity issues and to consider alternate, non-surveillance safety measures. Councilmember Navarra expressed similar concerns about criminalization and public records costs. The motion passed by voice vote.
What’s next: Staff will retain the school-area speed signs program and will not expend the $35,000 for camera equipment in the 2026 budget pending further council direction; the overall budget public hearing remains continued to Dec. 2.
