City Council - September 15, 2026

The City Council of Santa Barbara held a meeting on September 15, 2026, which included significant discussions on procurement and policy related to automated license plate reader (ALPR) camera systems. The council reviewed options regarding the replacement of the terminated Flock camera contract, with staff recommending either postponing any new ALPR system until a comprehensive policy review is completed or proceeding with a contract for the Vercada system under existing policies with quarterly public updates. After extensive public comment expressing privacy concerns and potential misuse of ALPR technology, the council voted 6-2 to delay contracting for a new ALPR system until after a thorough policy review and community engagement process, estimated to take up to a year. The council also discussed the need to clarify and update conflicting city and police department policies on data retention and sharing, particularly regarding access by federal and state agencies. Additionally, the council received a detailed presentation on 14 statewide ballot initiatives for the November 2026 election, focusing on housing, taxation, and local control measures, and provided direction to staff to return with formal positions on select propositions including support for Proposition 1 (statewide housing bond) and opposition to Proposition 43 (special tax approval requirements). The meeting concluded with committee reports and announcements of upcoming community events.