09-21-2026 Lakewood City Council Study Session Video

The Lakewood City Council held a virtual study session on September 21, 2026, focusing primarily on the use and procurement of automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology and the potential implementation of an automated vehicle identification system (Avis) for traffic enforcement. The police department presented detailed information about their current ALPR system provided by vendor Flock, including its operational safeguards, data retention policies, and legal compliance with Colorado state laws. Council members expressed significant concerns about privacy, data sharing, and vendor contract terms, particularly regarding Flock's broad contractual rights to access data under certain conditions. The council discussed the challenges with the Avis program, including vendor contracting issues and staffing constraints, which have delayed its implementation despite a 2024 ordinance requiring a pilot. After extensive discussion, the council voted unanimously not to renew the contract with Flock when it expires in January 2027 but agreed to continue the current contract until then while staff explores alternative ALPR vendors and develops policy-level discussions on data privacy and sharing. They also agreed to revisit the Avis program procurement in parallel, emphasizing the need for community engagement and robust privacy safeguards before moving forward.