Council liaison updates: immigration policy, ALPR cameras turned off, and electrification work
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Summary
Mayor Pro Tem provided updates: the Latino Community Association urged action on regional deportations and city staff are drafting an administrative policy to limit use of city property for immigration enforcement; the city has turned off Flock ALPR cameras and will not renew that contract while reviewing privacy/data‑sharing; council wants HREC involved in electrification planning.
At the Jan. 13 meeting Mayor Pro Tem Megan Perkins (council liaison) briefed the Human Rights and Equity Commission on three council topics and next steps.
Perkins said the Latino Community Association reported an increase in regional deportations and asked the city to consider declaring an emergency or otherwise expanding supports; staff and the city attorney noted Oregon state law already constrains local assistance to federal immigration enforcement and the mayor pro tem and city attorney are drafting an administrative policy to clarify what that means for city facilities, property and staff. City Attorney Ian Lighthizer explained the administrative policy is intended to set internal procedures — who to notify, who approaches law‑enforcement personnel, and what constitutes prohibited staging or operations on city property — and said the policy is near final; staff said the administrative policy is implemented at the city manager level and advisory bodies typically do not review drafts prior to implementation, though staff agreed to brief HREC when it is finalized.
Perkins also reported that the city allowed the Flock automatic license‑plate‑reader (ALPR) contract to expire and has turned off the cameras; council directed that cameras not be renewed until stronger privacy and data‑sharing protections are in place. Commissioners asked whether HREC would have an opportunity to review future contracts or the policy questions tied to ALPRs; staff and the city attorney said council and staff will be involved and HREC input is appropriate on policy elements when provided with sufficient lead time and materials.
Finally, Perkins said council recognizes electrification as an equity issue and wants HREC engaged in a cross‑committee conversation to align commissions and boards on principles and community impacts; staff will coordinate a joint meeting with relevant commission chairs to begin that work.
Commissioners pressed for clarity on the administrative policy timeline, employee protections and whether advisory body input could be considered; the city attorney said the policy is an administrative implementation of existing state law, can be amended later, and staff will bring finalized policy language back to HREC to explain implications and allow comment.
