City staff outlines red-light camera program under SB720; public hearing scheduled for Nov. 12

City public-safety staff presented a proposal to implement a vendor-run red-light camera system under Senate Bill 720, which changes how automated traffic violations are handled.

Public director Kusan Kim told the council the new law will treat red-light violations as administrative citations similar to parking tickets and remove driver-point impacts and mandatory court steps. Kim said the system will focus on privacy measures: "we are going to focus on the driver's privacy by just taking the photo of the vehicle and the license only not the driver's face," and emphasized vendor handling of operations and billing so the city bears fixed monthly fees rather than variable administrative burden.

Staff described the vendor model as cost-neutral: the vendor installs and maintains equipment, the city pays fixed monthly fees, and citation revenues above fixed fees would return to the city for safety programs. Kim said the city would conduct data-driven site selection, a public outreach campaign, a 30-day warning period before citations begin, and planned a public hearing on Nov. 12 and contract award consideration on Dec. 10.

Council and members of the public asked about where citations would be paid or contested (Kim said the vendor administers citations and staff reviews automated evidence before mailing), the ability to relocate fixed poles, privacy questions and future expansion to speed cameras and crosswalk enforcement. No final contract vote occurred; the council scheduled a public hearing on Nov. 12 to take formal public comment before any contract action.