Nassau Bay weighs solar cameras at peninsula and lake; council seeks privacy safeguards
Loading...
Summary
City staff proposed two solar surveillance cameras to deter late‑night activity in the peninsula and a lake cove. The 3‑year contract pricing and 30‑day retention were described; council members pressed staff for firm privacy protections and police‑only access to recordings.
City staff presented a plan April 13 to install two solar‑powered surveillance cameras — one at the peninsula entrance and one at the southern end of the lake — as a tool to deter loud parties and unsafe behavior in remote waterfront areas.
City Manager Paul Lopez summarized contract pricing and technical details: the vendor's three‑year contract is $4,761.40 per camera, SIM connectivity for cellular access would add $2,160, and the total cost for the two cameras over three years was listed at $11,682.80. Lopez said the system would record but not be monitored 24/7; recorded footage would be available for police review in the event of an incident and would generally be auto‑deleted after the retention period.
Council members and residents pressed staff on privacy controls and camera orientation. One council member emphasized: "It is very important that we make sure that Verkada respects the privacy of the people that live on that windward side and make sure that that camera is directionally this one direction only... and can never turn around or rotate." City staff responded that poles and mounts will be positioned and adjusted so the camera cone does not point at private backyards, the system can blur or limit distance beyond which imagery is not discernible, and access will be restricted to designated police personnel after a 30‑day retention window.
Council asked staff to finalize operational protocols, confirm budget source (staff indicated funding would come from reserves if needed), pilot the camera angles to avoid private property and return with a more complete implementation plan. Staff said they expected to have an update at the next council meeting.
Why it matters: the cameras are presented as a public‑safety and nuisance deterrent in areas without power; residents raised privacy concerns because the cameras are cellular, record for a limited period and provide police access for incident follow‑up.
Next steps: staff will refine mounting and privacy settings, confirm budget availability and return to council with recommended placement, operational policy and final contract terms.
