Council authorizes grant‑funded surveillance van, cameras amid debate over data sharing

Sunset Valley's council approved a budget amendment and authorization for the police department to purchase a plain surveillance van and associated cameras and license‑plate readers supported by a Texas Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority grant.

The Police Chief described the vehicle and deployment strategy: "The... surveillance vehicle... a plain van that... looks like an equipment van, the type of van that car thieves would break into, and for us to park at various locations... and from inside the car, use our drone to surveil it." Staff said the initial month of monitoring can be paid with grant funds and municipal reimbursements will follow quarterly submittals.

Councilors pressed on data controls. Mayor Pro Tem said she was concerned about data breaches; the Police Chief replied the city will share license‑plate information with law‑enforcement agencies only. Councilor Johnson asked for an audit and conditions that new features be opt‑in rather than automatic; staff said records will be tracked in a crime control fund as required by the grant.

Council approved the motion to authorize the purchase and budget amendment. The meeting record shows the approved spending authority as "up to $9,090,950" to purchase the van and equipment, with staff stating the expenditure will be reimbursed by the grant (the recorded dollar figure in the transcript appears unusually large and is flagged in the audit).