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Council unanimously adopts resolution requiring briefing, pause and review of city automated license‑plate reader program

Bloomington City Common Council · March 5, 2026

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Summary

The council passed Resolution 2026‑04 directing the mayor and police to brief the council within six weeks about the city's automated license‑plate reader (ALPR) program and pausing any expansion until that briefing; the vote was unanimous after a lengthy public comment period calling for termination of the city's Flock contract.

Councilmember Asari sponsored Resolution 2026‑04, which calls for an immediate public briefing and written materials describing scope, costs, retention and access controls for the city’s automated license‑plate reader (ALPR) program and seeks a temporary pause on any expansion of ALPR systems until council review. Asari framed the resolution as a governance step: "Benefits should be demonstrated, not presumed," he said, and argued ALPR and similar tools that collect location‑linked data require higher transparency and democratic oversight.

Councilmember Piedmont Smith successfully offered an amendment setting a six‑week deadline for the mayor’s office and the police department to complete the briefing and deliver materials; the council approved that amendment by roll call. The meeting then opened to an extended public comment period: more than 60 residents and organization representatives spoke in person and on Zoom. Commenters urged immediate termination of the city’s contract with Flock, cited documented security vulnerabilities and warned ALPR data can be repurposed or accessed by federal agencies, including immigration enforcement. Examples offered included publicly reported incidents of vendor security lapses, concerns about retention and derivative data, and the risk of surveillance of protesters and marginalized communities.

Several community groups — including immigrant‑services organizations, housing advocates and university researchers — requested that the city cut the contract and consider an ordinance banning ALPR and related technologies. Supporters of the resolution argued that, even if police see public‑safety value in ALPR, governance and strong, enforceable rules must be in place first.

After a period of final council comments, the Common Council voted to adopt Resolution 2026‑04, including Amendment 1 (six‑week deadline), by roll call vote 9‑0. The resolution directs the mayor and police chief to present the requested briefing and data within the timeframe and signals council's intent to draft durable rules that would govern acquisition and use of ALPR technology in Bloomington.