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Council weighs expanding automated traffic cameras; staff to return with prioritized list
Summary
Council discussed recommendations from the Public Safety Advisory Committee on expanding the city's photo-enforcement program to more school zones and parks. City Attorney Heidi Wachter explained program revenue rules and legal constraints; council asked staff for a prioritized, evidence-based list of sites (goal: start with a small phased rollout).
The Lakewood City Council spent significant time reviewing input from the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) and staff about expanding the city’s automated traffic enforcement program.
City Attorney Heidi Wachter explained financial and legal constraints for an expanded camera program, including that after program costs are paid the remaining revenue from an expanded photo-enforcement program is restricted to road uses and that camera operating costs (vendors and administrative) are substantial. "Under an expanded camera program... everything that's left after that can only be used for roads," Wachter said.
PSAC members prioritized school zones and parks as candidate locations; council members debated fixed versus rotatable camera deployment, equity analysis requirements and whether certain high-citation locations (for example, busy stretches on Silicon Boulevard) should be prioritized. Council member Branstetter proposed phasing cameras in the next biennium and suggested specific school- and park-adjacent sites; other members suggested each councilmember submit top priorities for staff to consolidate.
Key points from the discussion: - Staff and council emphasized using collision data and enforcement metrics to select sites and to avoid the perception of revenue-generation as the primary motive. "If you're asking me, I would look at where crashes are," a staff/enforcement speaker said. - Estimates on operating cost per camera ranged roughly $3,500–$4,500 per camera per month as a vendor/operations figure discussed by staff. - Council asked staff to return with a prioritized list that shows PSAC recommendations, staff collision and speed data, proposed hours/mode (school-zone vs 24/7 park enforcement), and likely budget implications before making a formal decision.
No ordinance or contract was adopted; council left open the option to implement a small phased rollout or pursue rotatable units once legal, equity and budget questions are resolved.
