Flock and all ALPRs are on the agenda at this week’s Elk Grove City Council meeting! Whether you come to comment or come to support from the audience, your presence makes a difference. Let’s pack the chamber—AGAIN!
Rather than responding to our multiple requests to meet with city officials to discuss the findings of the community audit, the City has instead added an “ALPR presentation” to the next City Council meeting agenda. While this doesn’t allow for a transparent, collaborative dialogue between community members and the local government, or provide an opportunity for Q&A with city officials, it IS another opportunity for us to tell the City that we do not want mass surveillance in our community!
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9th AT 6:00 PM
Elk Grove Council Chambers
8400 Laguna Palms way
Elk Grove, CA
(Across the street from City Hall)
Two Opportunities to Comment
1. General public comment period for “Non-Agenda” Items
This is a great time to speak generally about your opposition to Flock, Axon, and all ALPRs. You can prepare a statement of up to three minutes to make during this time. Commenters are called to speak during Item 5 of the Agenda. Example comments, recent news stories, and other educational resources are available here on our website to help you craft a comment. Our unified ask is to “Cancel the Flock ALPR contract and do not replace it with another ALPR vendor.”
2. “Agenda Item 9.1” – ALPR Presentation by Elk Grove PD
The public comment period for this agenda item will be after the police department gives a presentation on ALPRs. We do not know what this presentation will include, but based on prior statements by EGPD, we expect there to be some misinformation presented. If you would like the opportunity to comment on or provide an alternate perspective for anything that the police department says during their presentation, sign up to make a comment on Agenda Item 9.1.
Logistics
PLEASE NOTE: You can comment during BOTH the General public comment period for non-agenda items AND the comment period for Agenda Item 9.1. You get three minutes for EACH comment, unless the Mayor chooses to reduce comment times to two minutes or even one minute per comment. You can also choose to comment during just one or the other of the two comment opportunities! Whatever works best for you.
To comment, fill out a blue speaker card at (located the back of the room) and give it to the Assistant City Clerk who sits at the single desk along the left wall. If you want to speak during BOTH comment opportunities, you will need to fill out TWO blue cards. On one, check the box for “Non-Agenda” comments. On the other, check the box for “Item on the Agenda” and write “Item 9.1.” You do not need to include any personal info beyond your first name, if you don’t want to. You can even use an alias first name, if you are more comfortable with that.
Can’t Attend the Meeting In-Person? Make a Comment Via Zoom or Phone!
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81042392381?pwd=bch7yguWASqj6ita4ZA2eW2lMt7CPR.1
Use the “raise hand” feature in Zoom when an item is called by the Clerk so staff will be alerted that a remote participant wishes to comment on that item. Virtual commenters have the same 3 minute time limitation and will typically be called on after all in-person commenters for that item.
- Phone: Dial 720-707-2699, 253-215-8782, or 312-626-6799
- When prompted, enter 810 4239 2381, followed by #
- Press # to skip the participant ID
For those using a landline or mobile telephone, the “raise hand” feature can be activated by pressing *9. Virtual commenters have the same three-minute time limit and will typically be called on after all in-person commenters for that item.
Can’t Join Virtually or In-Person? Email or Call in Advance!
Submit email/phone comments before 4:00 p.m. this Wednesday, September 9th. Email the Mayor, your Councilmember and the City Clerk. In the subject line of the email, put “Public Comment for next City Council meeting”. Find your council member, their contact info, and example comments on our website.
Do Something Today!
In the meantime, will you take a minute to sign the petition to get ALPRs out of Elk Grove? And after you sign, can you share it with five people you know who live here?
The movement here is growing and we have several things coming up that we will be announcing through our Email list and Signal announcement group very soon. Sign up to get notifications and stay tuned! Thank you for helping get ALPRs out of Elk Grove!
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