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Residents urge Renton to disable Flock surveillance; council leaders reaffirm immigrant protections

City of Renton City Council · January 13, 2026

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Summary

Residents told the Renton City Council that Flock license-plate surveillance scares diverse communities and could increase ICE access; Council President Perez and Mayor Armando Pavoni said the city will monitor state legislation and affirmed local protections for immigrants.

During the public-comment portion of the Jan. 13 Renton City Council meeting, resident Bridal Melander urged the city to disable Flock license-plate surveillance, saying the system “scares a lot of our community” and could give Immigration and Customs Enforcement more access to residents. Melander said the system has terrorized parts of the community and that state leadership has signaled they do not want ICE activity in Washington.

Council President Perez responded later in the meeting, thanked residents for speaking up and said Renton has implemented policies to protect immigrants since 2012. Perez said existing laws constrain when local police can assist federal immigration enforcement and that Renton Police do not have access to the data “at this point.” He added that the city will work with the Equity Commission and immigrant groups to identify additional legal options and resources to keep residents safe.

Mayor Armando Pavoni echoed the council president’s remarks, emphasizing Renton’s long-standing approach to inclusion, noting the mayor’s Inclusion Task Force and Equity Commission as bridges between the administration and the community. Several council members encouraged ongoing public comment and outreach as the city watches legislation in Olympia regarding surveillance systems.

The council did not take immediate policy action during the meeting; council members said they would continue to monitor state legislation and local options and to discuss the matter further in committee.