South Pasadena Council votes 4–1 to cancel second phase of Flock ALPR contract and seek alternatives

After extensive public comment and debate on March 18, the South Pasadena City Council voted 4–1 to adopt staff's Option A on the city's Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) contract with Flock Safety: the city will not renew the second-phase contract for 14 cameras, will continue operations under the first-phase contract for 13 cameras while staff examines alternative vendors (including potential hybrid models), and will pursue shortening the default retention period with the goal of 15 days, subject to contract amendment.

Police staff described three options in a staff report: cancel the second-phase contract while retaining core ingress/egress coverage (Option A); continue both contracts while researching alternatives (Option B); or cancel both contracts and operate without ALPR coverage during a vendor search (Option C). Sergeant Andrew told the council that very short retention windows reduce investigatory value and recommended a practical lower bound near 15 days to allow for follow-up canvassing and evidence collection: "Fifteen days is kind of that baseline," he said.

Public comment was sharply divided. Several residents and privacy advocates urged canceling all contracts, citing national reporting about Flock's data-sharing practices, the company's litigation history, and concerns about surveillance risks to immigrants and marginalized people. Tech and civil-liberties speakers warned of long-lived data and urged either termination or a dramatic shortening of retention. Other residents and representatives — including crime victims and supporters of law enforcement tools — urged council to retain coverage, arguing ALPRs provide investigative leads and help locate stolen vehicles and missing persons.

Supporters of moving away from Flock emphasized vendor-trust and legal risk; several speakers urged either immediate termination or a rapid phase-out. Supporters of retention emphasized the operational benefits of both ingress and egress camera coverage and cautioned that removing egress cameras could reduce investigative effectiveness.

Councilmember Cacciote moved the Option A motion; Mayor Pro Tem Ferguson seconded. The final roll call was 4–1 in favor: Braun, Cacciote, Ferguson and Mayor Sheila Rossi voted yes; Primuth voted no. City staff will return with contract amendments and additional information about retention-term implementation and the vendor review process. The council's vote does not immediately terminate the remaining contract but prevents the city from renewing the second-phase contract and directs staff to pursue vendor alternatives and retention-policy changes.

Next steps: staff will (a) notify Flock consistent with the council's direction, (b) pursue a revised retention arrangement (the 15-day target may require a contract amendment), (c) evaluate alternative ALPR vendors, and (d) report back to council on possible redeployment or replacement strategies and timing.