Residents raise alarms about animal shelter site and surveillance cameras

At the start of the meeting several residents addressed council during the public comment period. Tressie Sharkey raised detailed questions about the animal-care center feasibility study: she highlighted fundraising projections that estimated $4,700,000 would be needed in the first five years to cover operating expenses, asked how fundraising costs are budgeted, and warned that siting a shelter near a rock quarry, railroad or floodplain would expose animals to stress and hazards.

Shortly after, Evan Oak urged the council to reconsider funding for Flock cameras and called the systems a privacy risk. He cited national reports of misuse of ALPR systems and said the city had committed about $1,400,000 in equipment and a recurring $400,000 annual cost. "These cameras are nothing but a violation of our 4th amendment right to privacy," Oak said. Council acknowledged the concerns and later took up a full debate on LPR policy.