Residents urge Stanwood council to end Flock license-plate camera contract

Public commenters told the Stanwood City Council on Aug. 13 that the city should terminate its contract with Flock, a vendor that operates automated license-plate reader (ALPR) cameras, and ban similar systems.

Abigail, who identified herself as a lifelong Stanwood resident, cited a local news article that she said estimated the city spends about $44,000 per year on the cameras and called the practice "mass surveillance." She urged the council to "terminate its contact with flock and to ban the use of ALPR cameras like flock or any of its contemporary alternatives." (Abigail, public comment)

An earlier public commenter criticized legal counsel and city management for what he described as flawed advice and argued the council's handling of the vendor contract and subsequent litigation had increased costs and public scrutiny. He recommended the council immediately establish a public-data policy and publish a full after-action review including litigation costs borne by taxpayers. (Public commenter)

Council members responded that they had heard concerns and would weigh privacy and safety trade-offs. Several councilors said they would read a forthcoming memo from Police Chief DeWitt before taking further action. Mayor (presiding) noted previous public-safety uses of the system, saying law enforcement had used ALPR snapshots to help locate missing children and links to other investigations.

The council did not take any formal action on the contract at the meeting; several members said they were waiting for the chief's memo and additional information before bringing forward any motion or direction.