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City manager outlines $9.7M SS4A award, eight rotating cameras and summer street projects
Summary
City Manager Karush Kamali briefed council on SS4A and ARPA projects May 5: cited an SS4A award ($9,700,000) with a reported 20% city match, said the city purchased eight cameras to rotate among 16 approved locations, and listed multiple street, crosswalk and façade projects coming this summer; council raised privacy and vendor‑sharing concerns that Kamali said were addressed in contract amendments.
City Manager Karush Kamali told the Mount Rainier Mayor and Council on May 5 that the city’s FY27 budget has been approved and that the administration is moving forward on several infrastructure projects supported by federal, state and ARPA funds.
Kamali described a large SS4A (Safe Streets and Roads for All) award and related projects. He stated the city “got the SS4A grant” for $9,700,000 and described a 20% city contribution he cited as $2,250,000 and a total of $12,000,000. He said the procurement has produced eight cameras for the city to deploy at 16 locations approved by the county; the eight cameras will be rotated between those locations “based on the data that we get.” Kamali said the cameras aim to improve safety at intersections near schools and residential streets.
Kamali also listed specific projects: Lehigh Crossing on 34th, the Bunker Hill intersection (35th/36th), a 31st Street/Food Forest job, Newton Street resurfacing funded by ARPA and a DHCD facade-improvement grant of $100,000 for businesses on 34th Street. He described procurement timelines and site visits and said several bids were opened publicly.
Councilmembers asked detailed follow-ups. Valerie asked whether cameras would cover every leg of an intersection; Kamali said the city purchased eight cameras and would not place four cameras on every intersection leg, but would consider questions and return with details. Joseph and others raised questions about footage retention and data sharing: Kamali said the city will not share footage with other agencies without mayor-and-council approval and that police and trained civilian reviewers will review footage under the chief’s discretion. He said the vendor contracts were amended to forbid unauthorized sharing and that the city attorney had reviewed changes.
Councilmembers also raised vendor‑specific privacy concerns. Councilmember Jenny cited news reporting that a company called FLOC had cooperated with other agencies in other jurisdictions and asked that contract language prohibit those practices; Kamali said contract amendments emphasize the city's prohibition on sharing without authorization and he agreed to share the amended contract with council.
Why it matters: The projects involve federally funded safety investments and the introduction of camera technology in residential and school areas; residents and businesses asked about privacy, data retention, vendor obligations and how camera placement will affect traffic and enforcement.
What to watch next: Kamali said staff will provide further details on camera placement and share the amended vendor contract; councilmembers requested periodic reviews of parking enforcement and stop‑sign camera programs after rollout.
