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Bell Gardens Council Extends License-plate-reader Contract for One Year, Adds Monthly Audits After Heated Debate
Summary
After a lengthy public debate and public comment opposing surveillance, Bell Gardens approved a one-year extension of its Flock Safety automated license-plate reader agreement with limited sharing and a requirement for monthly internal audits; the council voted 4–1. The extension costs $57,500 a year; termination would carry an $11,500 fee.
Mayor Miguel de la Rosa and a majority of the Bell Gardens City Council voted Feb. 9 to extend the city's agreement with Flock Safety for one year while maintaining limited data‑sharing settings and instituting monthly internal audits by the police department.
The motion, advanced by Mayor Miguel de la Rosa and approved on a 4–1 roll call, keeps the current setup and buys time for policy review; council member Barzana voted no. The police department and vendor said the annual extension cost will be $57,500; staff told the council that terminating the agreement now would trigger a one‑time $11,500 termination fee and yield an estimated $1,800 credit back to the city once equipment is removed.
The vote came after more than two hours of presentation, public comment and questions that…
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