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Residents urge Costa Mesa to audit or cancel Flock Safety ALPR network amid ICE concerns

City Council and Housing Authority of the City of Costa Mesa · February 17, 2026

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Summary

Residents urged the City Council to audit or cancel its contract with Flock Safety automated license‑plate readers, citing alleged unauthorized federal access and civil‑liberties risks; council members acknowledged concerns and asked the police and city attorney to report back on current policies and the feasibility of an audit.

Scores of residents used the public‑comment period Tuesday to press the Costa Mesa City Council to cancel or audit the city’s contract with Flock Safety, the company that provides the citywide automated license‑plate reader (ALPR) network.

“These automated license plate reader systems collect and store data on residents without suspicion of a crime,” said Brooke, an organizer with Food Not Bombs (public comment). She and other commenters cited reporting that some California agencies have allowed out‑of‑state or federal searches of ALPR networks and warned the systems can be used for immigration enforcement or discriminatory targeting.

Several speakers asked the city to order a network audit and consider terminating the contract if evidence of unauthorized access or policy violations is found. Ann Stenton, calling in by Zoom, urged continued Freedom of Information Act requests and administrative appeals to obtain federal records related to detentions and enforcement activity near Costa Mesa.

Council members across the dais voiced concern and pledged follow‑up. Councilmember Arliss Reynolds said she supported “the idea of an audit just to confirm that those policies of not sharing our data are being followed.” Mayor Stevens said the technology had helped recover stolen vehicles but acknowledged “there are risks associated with the use of that” and supported staff, the city attorney and police providing data the council needs.

City Attorney Hall Barlow told the council the city previously submitted a public records request to the Department of Homeland Security and received a non‑specific response; staff have resubmitted a refined request and will continue to pursue records. The council did not take a formal vote to cancel or alter the contract at Tuesday’s meeting, but several members asked police and legal staff to report back with written policies and options, including an audit.

Next steps: city staff and the police department were asked to prepare a written report describing current data‑sharing controls and restrictions and to return with recommendations on audits or policy changes.