Residents and Council Members Raise Privacy Concerns About Flock Camera Trial

Dozens of residents used the council's public‑comment period to oppose the city's trial of Flock license‑plate cameras and to demand limits on data access. Farrah Bitter said she was speaking "as a woman and mother of daughters" and that she "does not approve of the use of the cameras within the community." Council Member Zunayid Z. Zishan called the technology "a dystopian violation of our rights, changing the very nature of how policing is supposed to function."

Speakers cited news reports alleging past misuse and warned that large data operations and partnerships (one commenter referenced a proposal to link 350,000 delivery‑truck dashcams) create long‑term privacy and commercialization risks. Casey Sanders said the company’s data could become a commodity sold to data brokers, and Jerrod Kennedy urged limits on government and private access. City Manager Tom Hanson clarified that the city’s trial is limited to three cameras at major exits, that funding and any long‑term purchase have not been approved, and that Flock representatives will present at the council's second September meeting so members and residents can ask questions.

Council Member Zishan proposed the city send a two‑question survey to residents asking whether they would (1) approve a three‑year $30,000 contract with Flock and (2) support removal of any Flock cameras previously installed without city consent. Several council members said they were open to hearing from Flock but agreed the community should have input. No binding decision was made; the council set the vendor presentation for September and directed staff to provide more information to the public beforehand.