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Residents raise privacy, parking and alley-safety concerns during public comment
Summary
Public commenters urged review of Flock camera practices, asked the council to revisit overnight parking rules, and petitioned to vacate an alley citing safety and property damage; council directed residents to staff for follow-up and scheduled the alley ordinance for public hearing.
Several residents used the meeting’s public-comment period to press the council on surveillance, parking and a long-running alley dispute.
Caleb Johnson, who gave his La Porte address for the record, raised privacy and data-retention concerns about Flock license-plate and camera systems. Quoting technical language he said he found on the vendor’s site and in online examinations, Johnson said the cameras appeared to store and analyze imagery and could be used to infer attributes such as clothing and other characteristics. "Overall, I think that we should reevaluate how we look at these," Johnson said; the presiding officer directed him to Assistant Chief Che Youleman at the police station for follow-up and to share documentation.
Other commenters praised recent city street cleanup provided by the street department and raised questions about overnight parking rules. Resident Brian Kager thanked crews for rapid tree and debris removal but asked why a downtown street (Harrison Street) retains 2 a.m.–6 a.m. no-parking limits; councilmembers said the traffic commission and a city ordinance review will examine inconsistent or outdated signage.
Scott Roberts, a petitioner for a property action, described a yearlong effort to secure vacation of an east–west alley between Lot 20 and Lot 22 in Andrews Addition. Roberts said the property owners had spent more than $10,000 repaving and were seeking the alley vacated for safety and to prevent recurring vehicle damage and high-speed traffic near a school bus stop. The council confirmed the petition has been filed and noted the ordinance and public hearing procedure will continue; the record shows the formal alley-vacation ordinance was read and scheduled for further action and public hearing.
Council members encouraged residents to coordinate with staff: the chair suggested formal documentation go to the police or appropriate department, and staff confirmed the alley petition had followed notice and publication requirements.
