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Residents urge Kalispell council to delay ALPR parking funding until written policy and retention rules exist
Summary
Three residents told council they support enforcement but urged pausing funding for license-plate-reader (ALPR) parking technology until a vendor is selected only after a written use policy, retention rules and public oversight are in place; they cited Montana law, local liability risks and constitutional concerns.
During the public-comment period, multiple residents urged the council to delay funding for any license-plate-reader (ALPR) parking enforcement until the city adopts a written policy that specifies vendor responsibilities, data retention and oversight. John McDonnell, who said he had provided the council a packet of materials, asked the council to "pause this funding until a named vendor, a written policy, and public retention terms exist before $1 moves." He framed the issue as a privacy and constitutional concern and cited Montana law and court cases to argue the city should adopt a stronger local standard before spending money.
Colton Vreeland, a resident who lives near Flathead High School, told the council the packet did not include a camera-use policy and that the sequence staff described—fund budgeted funds first, select a vendor second, and write the policy last—was backwards. "Nobody here would sign a lease before reading it," he said, urging the council to use the week before the Aug. 17 budget vote to review the record and state in writing if they still plan to fund the system without a written policy.
Robert Lee, another resident, said protecting children is a community priority and asked the council to use local authority to strengthen enforcement and push for state law changes. He warned that mishandling ALPR data could expose personal information and stressed improved oversight and stronger statutory protections.
Council members responded that the public's questions are part of the deliberative record and that technical distinctions exist between vehicle-mounted readers and static, post-mounted camera systems; staff said the present budget proposal funds vehicle-mounted readers on patrol cars and that any static camera installations are not part of this proposal. The council did not vote; city staff said they would verify policy details and that budget deliberations on Aug. 17 will include consideration of related funding.
