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Ferndale residents press council for stronger surveillance limits as ordinance advances to second reading
Summary
At a public hearing, dozens of Ferndale residents urged the City Council to strengthen a draft surveillance ordinance — citing data‑sharing concerns, a 30‑day retention provision and lack of enforceable penalties — and several council members said more work is needed before a final vote.
Ferndale — Dozens of residents pressed the City Council on Monday night to tighten a draft surveillance ordinance and to delay any related equipment contracts until protections are binding rather than advisory.
Residents at the public hearing repeatedly raised concerns about license‑plate readers and other technologies and asked whether the draft would block procurements before public input, who could access collected data and whether the city could enforce any limits. "A camera is a camera is a camera," said Andrea Popovich, a Ferndale resident, arguing that devices marketed as license‑plate readers still capture images of people, children and movements.
The ordinance, the City Manager said, sets a formal procedure for consideration of future public surveillance technology, requires a surveillance‑technology specification report, annual procurement and use reports and…
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