Residents urge city to acquire Penny Creek; several speakers back Flock camera program as Rep. April Berg outlines grants for Mill Creek

At the start of the meeting several residents used the public-comment period to press the council on open-space stewardship and public-safety tools.

Jennifer Mackey, a recent area resident and biologist, asked the council for a timetable and cost information regarding possible city ownership of the Penny Creek Natural Area near the Mill Creek/Seattle Hill border, saying she and others use it for birding and quiet recreation. "I strongly support Mill Creek ownership of Penny Creek Natural Area," Mackey said, and asked when the council would present cost information to support an ownership decision.

Multiple speakers also spoke in support of the city'9s planned Flock camera safety system. Jill Cheeseman, a Mill Creek resident, urged continued public education and clearer public information about data retention and access; she said she understood current retention to be one day and that legislation would extend it to 21 days if it passes. Dawn Rosenthal, another longtime resident, described the system as an "evidence-based tool to investigate crimes without broadly surveilling citizens," while urging strict access controls and transparency.

Later in the meeting state Representative April Berg (44th District) presented a supplemental-session briefing and described a number of investments affecting Mill Creek and the 44th District: among the items she highlighted were $361,000 allocated to Mill Creek for new sidewalks and district-level capital awards for school lighting and museum HVAC. Berg also summarized major policy actions from the session, including omnibus local government provisions and several tax and revenue measures. Council members used the opportunity to press Berg on housing, taxes and public-safety legislation.

What comes next: Council members will follow up internally on the Penny Creek request to identify the appropriate staff reports and cost estimates. Staff will also continue public outreach about the Flock program, per multiple speakers'9 requests for clearer public-facing information.