Resident urges Des Moines to restrict Flock Safety cameras, questions proposed noise and speed surveillance

Judy Grande, a Des Moines resident, told the City Council during public comment that automated license-plate readers installed under a Flock Safety contract record more than license plates and raised concerns about privacy and escalating surveillance.

"They record make, model, color of vehicle, descriptions of dents and bumper stickers, roof racks, and more," Grande said, asserting that the system can be searched and that the cameras are not limited to plate reads. She said a proposed noise-surveillance system and speed cameras could expand monitoring and asked whether those systems would be linked to the Flock portal.

Grande urged the council to take two steps: first, install physical hoods on the city’s 15 existing Flock cameras so residents can be assured the devices are not recording continuous visual detail; and second, to move toward termination of the city's Flock Safety contract. She also asked whether maps of camera locations appear on the city’s Flock transparency portal and requested better public notice.

The mayor and staff did not make an immediate substantive policy decision during the meeting; the council later voted on a related ordinance to authorize additional automated traffic-safety camera locations (Ordinance No. 26-049). Grande’s remarks were part of a broader public discussion about surveillance technology and transparency.

Next steps: The transcript shows the council discussed speed-camera code language during the consent-item debate and voted on related ordinance changes later in the meeting. The council did not adopt the specific remedies Grande requested at this session.