Meeting Summary
Present: 2-Santangelo, 5-Martinez-Bravo, 3-Kildee, 1-Tennessen · Absent: 4-Trembley
This summary was AI-generated to save you time. It may miss or misstate details, so verify against the official recording and the transcript.
At a glance
Library Update and Annual Report
- The Library Director presented the annual report, highlighting a 56,000 increase in physical checkouts and the selection of The Night We Lost Him for the 2026 "Camarillo Reads" program.
- Key metrics included the issuance of 1,689 new library cards, the addition of 229 programs, and the launch of the Teen Civic Engagement Club.
- The library was recognized as the Community Partner of the Year by the Autism Society Ventura County.
Coastal Cleanup Day Presentation
- The Stormwater Program Manager outlined the upcoming September 19 event, which aims to remove trash and collect data for the Ocean Conservancy database.
- Two collection sites were identified: Mission Oaks Park and Cayagas Creek, with specific accessibility guidance provided for volunteers with small children.
- The program manager committed to promoting the event to local schools and scout groups.
Council Updates
- Council members reported attendance at various committee meetings, including the Investment Committee, Economic Development, and Healthy Camarillo Ad Hoc Committee.
- Members shared updates on community events, such as the "Shots Fired" testimony on officer mental health and a talk on hostage experiences.
- The Vice Mayor noted the passing of Dolly Parton and her Imagination Library organization.
FLOC ALPR Technology Presentation
- The Police Commander presented on the legal framework, system mechanics, and data retention policies of the FLOC License Plate Reader technology.
- The presentation detailed the system's cost, deployment in high-crime areas, and case studies demonstrating its use in solving crimes.
- Questions addressed vendor status, interagency access protocols, and the explanation for a 2025 data breach attributed to a system bug.
- Public comment raised concerns regarding privacy, camera placement near sensitive locations, and the potential for mass surveillance.
- The Council directed staff to investigate specific camera placements and review the Flock contract for enhanced oversight language.
- The item was received and filed without a vote on the system itself.
Closed Session
- The board reported that a closed session was conducted earlier in the evening regarding two matters.
- It was stated that no reportable action was taken during that session.
Full summary
Meeting Call and Roll Call
- The regular meeting of the Camarillo City Council, Camarillo Sanitation District, Camarillo Library Board, and Successor Agency was called to order on August 26, 2026. A roll call confirmed the presence of Mayor Tennyson, Vice Mayor Martinez-Bravo, Council Member Santangelo, and Council Member Kildee. Council Member Tremblay was absent. A quorum was established.
Flag Salute
- Council Member Kildee led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Agenda Changes
- The City Clerk reported no changes to the agenda.
Public Comment (General)
- Three speakers addressed the council. One speaker raised concerns regarding abduction statistics in the 805 area code and Ventura County, specifically citing 517 individuals in Camarillo, and expressed concerns about License Plate Reader (LPR) technology and data oversight. A second speaker opposed the installation and expansion of electronic surveillance systems; the Mayor directed the speaker to address these concerns during the relevant agenda item. A third speaker withdrew from general public comment to speak during Agenda Item S.
Library Update and Annual Report
- Library Director Mandy presented the annual report, highlighting the "Camarillo Reads" program selection of The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave for 2026. The presentation included details on upcoming programming, such as an author talk on September 27, and noted the library’s selection as Community Partner of the Year by the Autism Society Ventura County.
- Key metrics from the fiscal year comparison included:
- An increase of over 56,000 checkouts for physical items.
- An increase of 21,000 checkouts for electronic materials.
- The issuance of 1,689 more library cards than the previous year.
- The addition of 229 library programs and an increase of over 5,000 attendees.
- An increase of 21,000 visitors.
- The Director also highlighted the launch of the Teen Civic Engagement Club, which involved 97 teens, and the graduation of five Career Online High School students.
Coastal Cleanup Day Presentation
- Jessica Ouellette, Camarillo Stormwater Program Manager, presented information on the upcoming Coastal Cleanup Day event scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The presentation outlined the event’s goals of trash removal and data collection for the Ocean Conservancy database.
- Locations: Two sites were identified: Mission Oaks Park (near tennis courts) and Cayagas Creek (intersection of Paseo del Campo and Creekside Rd).
- Statistics: Last year, 176 volunteers in Camarillo removed 1,324 pounds of trash. Statewide, cigarette butts were the top item collected.
- Logistics: Volunteers were encouraged to bring their own bags, water bottles, and gloves. The use of the Clean Swell Data Collection app was recommended for recording findings.
- Accessibility: Due to terrain, volunteers with small children were directed to Mission Oaks Park.
- Jessica Ouellette committed to reaching out to schools and scout groups to promote the event.
Council Updates
- Council Member Kildee: Reported attending the Investment Committee meeting on August 24 and a talk at Rancho Campana featuring a former hostage who shared his experience of captivity.
- Council Member Santangelo: Reported attending the "Shots Fired" event on July 29, featuring testimony from Officer Michael Martinez regarding trauma and mental health, as well as the Information and Technologies Facilities Committee meeting and the Economic Development and Collaborative meeting on August 20.
- Vice Mayor Martinez-Bravo: Reported attending the Healthy Camarillo Ad Hoc Committee on August 17, the CPA Executive Committee and New Leadership Ventura County on August 20, and the Investment Committee and CPA Finance Committee on August 24. The Vice Mayor also noted the passing of Dolly Parton and her Imagination Library organization.
Consent Calendar (Items E through R)
- The Mayor asked for public comment on the consent calendar items; none were received.
- Motion: Council Member Santangelo moved to approve the consent calendar.
- Second: The motion was seconded.
- Vote: The motion passed.
- Outcome: Approved.
Agenda Item S: FLOC ALPR Technology Presentation
- Commander Eric Tennyson presented on the use of FLOC License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology by the Camarillo Police Department and Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
Legal Framework
- Cited US v. Porter (5th Circuit, March 2026), which ruled that ALPR use does not constitute a search under the Fourth Amendment and no warrant is required.
- Cited Schmidt v. Norfolk, which recognized that while ALPRs could become intrusive, the current deployment in Norfolk (and by extension, Camarillo) was not considered too dense or intense.
System Mechanics and Capabilities
- Function: Fixed cameras capture license plate images, date, time, location, and vehicle attributes (make, color, type). Images are encrypted and stored in Amazon Web Services.
- Limitations: The system does not identify drivers, run plates to identify registered owners, use facial recognition, or track vehicles/people. Cameras are not pointed at schools, churches, or medical offices.
- Data Retention: Images are stored for one year and then hard-deleted. Data tagged as evidence is retained until case adjudication and appeals are complete.
- Access: Access is restricted to trained users for official law enforcement purposes, requiring multi-factor authentication and entry of offense type and case number.
Policy and Accountability
- Verification Policy: Policy 429 requires deputies to visually verify an ALPR hit and confirm it with dispatch before taking enforcement action.
- Audits: The agency conducts weekly audits to ensure no out-of-state agencies are searching the database. Annual user audits verify proper search justification.
- Compliance: The agency is compliant with SB 54 and SB 34. Data is not shared with ICE, Border Patrol, DHS, or any agency outside California. Data is shared with 58 California law enforcement agencies under MOUs.
- Error Rates: Addressed reports of high error rates (e.g., Roseville PD, LAPD). Noted that FLOC has made technological improvements and that agency policy (requiring human verification) prevents detentions/arrests based on misreads. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has reported no detentions or arrests based on false reads.
Deployment and Cost
- Cost: The city pays approximately $87,250 annually for 25 FLOC ALPR cameras (20 fixed, 5 mobile).
- Additional Units: 12 additional FLOC ALPRs were received at no cost from the Organized Retail Theft Task Force.
- Placement: Cameras are placed in high-crime areas, including the "theft corridor" (outlets, Target, Home Depot) and ingress/egress points. Data indicates 63% of arrests in Camarillo involve individuals living outside city limits, and 87% of arrests at major retail locations involve out-of-city residents.
Case Studies
- Commander Tennyson presented several examples of ALPR use in investigations, including the recovery of stolen vehicles, identification of suspects in burglaries and shootings, recovery of stolen trailers, and arrests for mail theft, gang-related firearm possession, and retail theft.
Q&A and Discussion
- Questions were directed to Commander Bruce Little (Ventura County Sheriff’s Office) and the City Attorney regarding the ALPR system and the Flock vendor contract.
- Funding and Duration: Commander Little clarified that the Organized Retail Theft (ORT) Task Force positions are funded by a state grant that ends at the close of the current year. The grant will fund the 12 associated license plate readers for one additional year. The city currently operates 25 Flock cameras paid for by the city and 12 funded by the ORT grant.
- Search Capabilities and Training: Commander Little stated that the system does not allow searches for specific individuals but permits searches by license plate, partial plate, make, color, vehicle type, or specific features. Officers using the database undergo specific training. The agency has used mobile ALPRs since 2013.
- Vendor Status: The agency previously used Motorola/Vigilant but switched due to technological limitations. They are currently testing Axon license plate readers but have not made a decision to switch vendors. The current contract with Flock runs through September of the following year.
- Legal Authority and Indemnification: The City Attorney stated that the City cannot impose policy requirements on the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department (VCSO) regarding their use of Flock, as the City contracts for services but does not have employee authorization over the VCSO. However, the City Attorney confirmed that the VCSO indemnifies the City for claims related to their services. If a lawsuit arises from how the VCSO accessed information, it would be tendered to the Sheriff’s Department for defense.
- Data Breach Explanation: Regarding the 2025 incident where data was accessible for national searches, Commander Little stated that no VCSO personnel toggled the switch. The possible causes were a Flock employee action or a system bug. He indicated a system bug was the most logical explanation, as Flock was performing system updates at the time. Flock has since updated their code to prevent agencies outside California from searching California law enforcement data.
- Accountability and Misuse: Commander Little stated that if personnel misuse the system, an internal investigation will occur, and discipline will be administered if warranted. He noted that the data breach itself did not violate SB 54 because the VCSO did not share the data. Accountability for the system bug would be addressed through contract review, potentially leading to contract cancellation or a switch to a different vendor.
- Interagency Access: The VCSO has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with 58 other law enforcement agencies in California. These agencies can search the database if they provide a case number, criminal offense code, and reason for the search. Agencies without an MOU must make a request to the Sheriff’s Office, which is verified and approved by a human.
- Public Works Cameras: The Public Works Director explained that temporary video cameras placed by the Traffic Division are used to count vehicle volumes for infrastructure planning. These are distinct from the ALPRs.
- Transparency: Commander Little stated that weekly audits are conducted by the Director of Crime Analysis to ensure no out-of-state or federal agencies are searching the data. These audit findings are not currently posted on the transparency dashboard but are available via public records request.
Public Comment
- Twelve public speakers addressed the Council. Comments included:
- Concerns about camera placement near schools and churches, specifically on Las Posas and Crestview.
- Allegations that the Council ignored constituent concerns during the previous expansion of the system.
- References to a class-action lawsuit involving Flock and the Ventura County incident.
- Questions regarding the change from daily to weekly audits and the lack of communication regarding this change.
- Concerns about data retention by outside providers and the potential for data to be used for purposes not initially stated.
- Arguments that Flock cameras create a nationwide mass surveillance network, citing ACLU concerns and Fourth Amendment implications.
- Requests to cancel Flock contracts and remove cameras.
- Criticism of the 2025 data breach, noting it took nearly 10 months to audit and that Flock did not proactively alert partner agencies.
- Concerns about the lack of trust in the vendor and the opacity of the system.
- Arguments against mass surveillance, citing cases of misuse in other jurisdictions (San Francisco, San Diego, Riverside).
- Concerns about the evolution of ALPR technology to include radio frequency (RF) and Bluetooth tracking, creating identity trails.
- References to the Supreme Court case Carpenter v. United States and the recent Chatter v. United States ruling regarding privacy expectations in aggregate movement data.
- Suggestions that the City should not rely on a single provider and that all surveillance agreements should be publicly available with no redactions.
- Concerns about AI integration in Flock systems and the potential for tracking individuals based on physical descriptions.
- Questions about red light cameras, data security, and how ALPR data helped identify a suspect in a burglary case.
Council Statements and Actions
- Vice Mayor: Acknowledged public concerns regarding misuse, privacy, and transparency. Requested that the VCSO seriously explore other ALPR vendors to prepare for a potential switch. Requested that the Policy Committee review the Flock contract for language changes to enhance oversight. Proposed establishing a citizens committee to receive regular updates and provide input to the Council.
- Council Member: Supported the Vice Mayor’s proposals to review alternative vendors and contract language. Expressed support for adding ALPR information to the City’s "hot topics" section for transparency. Suggested holding future community dialogues in more accessible locations, such as the Camarillo Library, and expanding outreach to parents and schools.
- Council Member: Stated that courts have ruled ALPRs legal, that they are at fixed locations, and that VCSO has implemented guardrails. Noted that there have been no false arrests in Ventura County, data is deleted after one year, and the system helps solve crimes. Cited the cost-effectiveness of ALPRs compared to additional patrol officers. Stated that while not "married" to Flock, they would support a different vendor if it better protects residents.
- City Manager/Staff: The City Manager noted that the item is "Receive and File." The Council requested that Commander Tennyson investigate the specific camera placements mentioned by public speakers (near the church and high school) and report back through the City Manager.
Decision
- The item was received and filed. No vote was taken on the ALPR system itself, as it was a report item. The Council directed staff to investigate specific camera placements and to review the contract and vendor options as requested by the Vice Mayor and other Council members.
Closed Session Report
- The board reported that a closed session was conducted earlier in the evening regarding two matters. It was stated that no reportable action was taken during that session.