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Liberty Lake council approves park cameras despite privacy concerns about vendor
Summary
Council voted to buy a park security camera system not to exceed $85,000 after members raised security and vendor-conduct concerns; police and staff defended vendor due diligence and warranty/support terms, and supporters cited other local government customers.
The Liberty Lake City Council voted to approve a security-camera upgrade for city parks, authorizing purchase of a system not to exceed $85,000, after a contentious discussion about vendor security and sales practices.
Council member Ball raised concerns about the vendor's past enforcement action and alleged security lapses, citing news reports and a large Federal Trade Commission settlement. "I just don't feel good about them," Ball said, urging the council to reconsider.
Police and other council members disputed the claim that prior incidents made the vendor unsuitable. A police department representative and other council members noted the vendor's mitigation steps, third-party certifications and local-government customers. A city staff member who led outreach said the vendor had worked with many Washington public entities and that those contacts had provided positive feedback. "They took the time to fly out from California to Liberty Lake numerous times . . . to try to figure out what the best options are for us," one staff speaker said.
Council members also asked about total cost of ownership and ongoing fees. Police staff said the proposal covered hardware, software and unlimited user support for the contract price and noted a lifetime replacement warranty for hardware in some cases.
Despite the debate, the council approved the purchase by voice vote. The procurement as presented includes installation and support and was described by proponents as a means to increase park safety and evidence collection; opponents said the council should require additional assurances about data security and public notice requirements.
The city will move forward with the vendor contract and installation and staff said they would confirm proposal validity and contract terms before execution.
