South Pasadena Regular City Council Meeting - February 18, 2026

The South Pasadena City Council meeting on February 18, 2026, focused heavily on public safety technology and community event support. A significant portion of the discussion centered on the Flock Safety automatic license plate reader (ALPR) system used by the police department. Council members and staff debated the benefits of the ALPR system in crime prevention and investigation against concerns about privacy, data ownership, and compliance with California state laws. The contract terms with Flock Safety, including data retention, sharing policies, and potential termination fees, were scrutinized. The council considered options such as scaling back the number of cameras, exploring alternative vendors, and developing a hybrid model to balance public safety needs with privacy protections. Additionally, the council discussed waiving a $5,000 special event fee for the South Pasadena Educational Foundation's annual Party GR fundraising event held at the Aoyo Seco Golf Course, recognizing its importance in supporting local schools despite logistical challenges related to event setup and teardown. The meeting concluded with a motion to approve the fee waiver and explore a memorandum of understanding with the school district for future event fee arrangements.