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Public commenters press Peoria council on surveillance cameras and proposed data center water use
Summary
Two members of the public used the June 16 meeting's public comment period to urge the council to limit surveillance and scrutinize data-center water use. One speaker criticized recently installed Flock cameras for tracking pedestrians without warrants; another pressed for detail and assurances about water use and notice for a proposed data center.
During public comment at the June 16, 2026, Peoria City Council meeting, two residents raised civil-liberties and water-use concerns tied to recent city decisions.
A speaker introduced by the clerk as Savannah told council she was "here to express some deep concern about the Flock cameras that have gone up around the city of Peoria." She said she is worried "about innocent citizens and pedestrians being tracked in public places, including in our parks, all without a warrant," and asked the council to ensure that crime-prevention tools do not overstep civil-liberty bounds. The speaker also questioned the cost of the program and whether taxpayer resources should be used for data collection and storage.
Natalie Gillstrap followed and raised questions about a proposed data center near 75th Avenue and Butler. She asked whether a state moratorium on tax subsidies for data centers would affect the local proposal, sought more public notice and asked for guarantees that water pressure and quality "will remain the same". In her remarks she said, "Data centers do not belong in a desert," and urged the council to consider regional water stress and chemical risks asserted by other communities.
There was no recorded staff response to the public comments in the provided transcript segment. Council did not take action during the public-comment period; the comments were entered into the public record.
