August 24th, 2026 City Council Meeting

The City of Lansing, Michigan City Council held a meeting on August 24, 2026, with significant focus on public safety and surveillance technology procurement. A major agenda item was the discussion and subsequent vote on a resolution to terminate all city contracts with Flock, a provider of AI-powered automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras, and to prohibit future agreements with similar surveillance technology vendors. The resolution passed with a 7-1 vote after extensive public comment expressing concerns about privacy violations, misuse of surveillance data, and the impact on community trust. The Lansing Police Department Chief provided a detailed presentation on the use, security, and policies governing the Flock system, emphasizing its role in investigations rather than crime prevention. Additionally, the council approved a noise waiver for ongoing construction projects and discussed ordinances related to housing stability funding and city charter amendments. The meeting highlighted community engagement on surveillance technology procurement and set the stage for potential future ordinances regulating such technologies.