Cotati council approves emergency backup for key traffic signals and asks police advisory panel to consider outside-agency policies

The Cotati City Council authorized staff to contract for emergency battery backups and a controller replacement at several key signalized intersections and instructed the Community Police Advisory Committee to take up several policy-level topics related to outside-agency activity and ALPR data.

Staff explained the request followed a recent power outage that left a signal dark for multiple hours; the proposed work includes battery backups for the Overwood Highway at Myrtle/Valparaiso signal, the Redwood Drive/Helmand signal near Lowe’s, and standardizing the backup system on the Santero interconnected corridor so it will accept generator connections.

Vice Mayor Harvey moved to authorize the city manager to execute agreements and allocate funds for the signal improvements; Councilman Ford seconded and the motion passed on an 'Aye' vote recorded in the transcript.

Separately, council discussed potential agenda items for the Community Police Advisory Committee. Councilman Ford proposed asking the committee to review and recommend city-level policy on outside-agency activity in Cotati, use of city-owned property and facilities, and participation in ALPR (automated license-plate-reader) data-sharing and retention. Multiple public commenters and councilmembers expressed interest in ensuring data security, retention limits and local control when outside agencies operate in the city.

Council directed staff to add an initial discussion to the committee’s upcoming agenda; members noted the committee can recommend policy changes to the council but is advisory, not policy-making.

What happens next: staff will execute the traffic-signal agreements per council authorization and add an initial policy discussion on outside-agency activity and ALPR to the police advisory committee agenda for further consideration and potential recommendations back to council.