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Iowa City narrows rights‑of‑way exceptions to bar behavioral surveillance systems; vote 7–0
Summary
The City Council approved language that preserves public‑utility and sidewalk café exceptions while prohibiting agreements for information or video systems that capture or store data about individual behavior, a response to public concerns about Flock cameras and surveillance.
The Iowa City Council on March 10 approved an ordinance narrowing exceptions for temporary rights‑of‑way agreements to exclude information or video systems that “capture and store data related to individual behaviors,” a change prompted by public concern over private surveillance cameras on city rights‑of‑way.
Mayor Bruce Teague opened the separate consideration of Item 6i, and Councilor Harmsen moved the resolution, seconded by Councilor Moe; the measure passed on a 7–0 roll call. City staff said the language leaves intact the first two exceptions — agreements for public utilities and for sidewalk cafes — while removing a pathway that allowed behavioral surveillance systems on city rights‑of‑way.
Abby Banks, a volunteer who has spoken previously about Flock cameras, told the council she was “really happy to see that they have been taken off the Iowa City rights‑of‑ways” and urged the city to press the university and the state for broader protections. “I urge you to vote to put this into law,” she said.
City staff explained the ordinance aims to address concerns about systems that record and retain data tied to individuals while still allowing traffic counters and other non‑identifying sensors. “The language that we added is agreements involving information or video systems that capture and store data related to individual behaviors,” a staff member told the council during the discussion, noting the change responds to both public and Council concerns.
Councilors repeatedly praised staff for drafting broad language that targets behavioral surveillance while preserving essential infrastructure uses. The council’s approval takes effect as the city updates its rights‑of‑way agreement practices; staff indicated it will continue to coordinate with partners including the university on camera placement on non‑city property.
The council recorded the vote as unanimous; the ordinance was advanced following a motion by Harmsen and a second by Moe.
The Council did not discuss enforcement details in depth during the meeting; staff said additional implementation steps and guidance for permits and agreements will follow.
