City Council - Special Study Session - September 16, 2026 3PM

The City Council of Cathedral City held a special study session on September 16, 2026, focusing primarily on the Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) program used by the Cathedral City Police Department. Chief Sanchez presented a detailed overview of the ALPR technology, its operational use, privacy safeguards, and accountability measures, emphasizing that the system is designed to identify vehicles, not individuals, and that data retention is limited to 30 days. The discussion included the program's effectiveness in supporting criminal investigations, policy compliance with California law, and the department's strict controls on data access and sharing, particularly excluding federal immigration agencies. Public comments raised concerns about privacy, potential misuse, and the expansion of surveillance capabilities, while council members discussed the balance between public safety and civil liberties. The meeting concluded with a decision to move the next study session item on the capital improvement program to the regular meeting agenda.