Sanitation staff propose AI cameras for bulky‑item routes and an alley‑service survey; council raises privacy, cost and open‑records concerns

Sanitation staff briefed the committee on two related operational items: a brief resident survey about alley collection and a proposed vendor contract to add AI‑enabled cameras to brush and bulky‑item collection vehicles.

Director Cliff Gillespie said the alley‑service survey consists of four questions and will help staff determine where alley collection remains operationally feasible and resident‑preferred; staff said survey language was revised to reflect community input. Gillespie added that staff will evaluate private‑provider models if survey results indicate preference for alternatives.

On cameras, staff described a vendor proposal to outfit bulky‑item trucks with cameras and AI that would generate monthly 'snapshots' of participation and identify potential code violations visible from the public right of way. Staff said the vendor contract includes ITS security requirements and vendor warranties and that recorded video may be responsive to Texas public‑information requests. Council members pressed staff on who programs the AI parameters (vendor vs. city), zoom/resolution capabilities, where and how long footage will be stored, whether Dallas Police Department access is permitted and the total contract cost; a council member referenced a $2.5 million figure discussed in the briefing and questioned per‑unit pricing and lifecycle costs. Staff said the city retains ownership rights, that ITS requirements are embedded in vendor contracts and that police access would be considered only for legitimate investigatory purposes.

Next steps: staff committed to return with technical specifications, data‑retention and security details, an explicit contract redline showing warranties and maintenance obligations, and answers about public‑records and law‑enforcement access prior to committee action.