Title
Introduction of Ordinance (Surveillance Technology) to Require City Departments to Obtain City Council Approval Before Acquiring Surveillance Technology and to Require an Annual Surveillance Report Concerning the City's Use of Surveillance Technology.
The Ordinance is Exempt from Environmental Review under Section 15378(b)(2) of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines. (City Manager 10030100)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
At City Council's request, staff prepared a Surveillance Technology Ordinance. The Ordinance would require that before any City of Alameda (City) department obtain surveillance technology (as broadly defined), it must (1) submit to the City Council a detailed Surveillance Impact Report, and (2) obtain City Council approval. In addition, annually each department that has used surveillance technology must submit to the City Council a Surveillance Report illustrating how the technology was used and that its use was consistent with the uses permitted under the Ordinance.
BACKGROUND
Surveillance technology is pervasive, whether in stores, outside of homes, or along public rights of way. Although the use of such technology may deter criminal activity or be useful in helping solve crimes, its use may also be invasive and tread on an individual's right to privacy. Accordingly, the City's acquisition and use of surveillance technology must be balanced with the need to investigate and prevent crimes as well as the need to protect the community's right to privacy.
In December 2019, City Council adopted Resolution 15625 (Exhibit A) adopting three policies concerning how the City would safeguard privacy rights: A Privacy Policy, a Data Management Policy, and a Policy Prohibiting the Use of Facial Recognition Technology. At that same meeting, City Council, to further safeguard privacy rights, directed that staff prepare a Surveillance Technology Ordinance (a number of other citie...
Click here for full text