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Council hears constituent concerns about new camera; mayor says no license-plate reader and data are retained by IT
Summary
Residents raised concerns about a newly installed camera on a building facing PAC Avenue; the mayor clarified it is not a license-plate reader, is tied to building security and a public-art installation, and that footage is on a closed-loop IT system. Council requested follow-up on retention and deletion policy.
A councilor raised constituent worries on March 4 about a recently installed camera on the western side of a building facing PAC Avenue, expressing privacy concerns about broad data collection and license-plate readers.
The mayor (or mayoral representative) responded that there is no license-plate reader on that camera and that the equipment was exchanged to provide coverage for a new public-art installation near the mailboxes. "There is no LPR," the mayor said, adding that the system is closed-loop, controlled by the IT department and "not available online." A councilor requested the city’s retention and deletion policy for the footage; the mayor said he would include the IT director in a follow-up to provide that information.
Why it matters: Surveillance equipment and license-plate readers raise privacy concerns among residents; the council sought clarity on what data are collected and how they are stored and deleted. The council requested a follow-up from the IT director and documentation on retention policy.
Next step: Mayor’s office and IT director to provide retention/deletion policy and follow up with the requesting councilor.
