Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press council for limits on ICE cooperation and greater transparency for Flock cameras; business owner disputes utility billing
Summary
Public commenters urged Denton officials to adopt policies limiting local cooperation with ICE and to increase transparency and auditability of Flock license‑plate camera data; a longtime local business owner asked for review of a $2,866.83 back‑bill in utility charges and clearer customer notice practices.
Several members of the public used the presentations segment of the meeting to raise separate civic concerns.
Grace Hansen urged the council to adopt city policy limiting cooperation between Denton Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including refusing ICE access to city jail facilities and restricting joint operations. Hansen requested confidentiality protections for immigration status in city records and said she had provided the council with supporting sources by email.
June Cook asked the council to require comprehensive public transparency on use and sharing of license‑plate and vehicle‑tracking data collected via the Flock network. She said the city’s three‑year Flock contract — extendable to five years — and plans for a real‑time information center (RTIC) create reasons for an auditable public log showing every time camera data is accessed, who accessed it and why, and a public map showing camera locations and owners. Cook also urged a binding written prohibition against using or sharing Flock data for immigration enforcement.
Mark Redding, a local business owner, told the council he received nearly 22 months of back‑billed utility charges totaling $2,866.83, including late fees, despite paying his bills on time for nearly 30 years. He disputed the charges and asked staff for itemized documentation of how rate‑tier changes were applied and proof of prior notice. Councilmembers directed staff to follow up directly with Mr. Redding and said they would bring answers back to a future meeting.
Council did not take policy votes on ICE cooperation or Flock cameras during this meeting; public speakers asked for formal policies and additional public engagement.
