September 21, 2026 City Council Minutes Page|1
SPECIAL CHICO CITY COUNCIL MEETING - September 21, 2026 Minutes
1. CALL TO ORDER AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER - Mayor Reynolds called the Special Council Meeting to order at 6:08 p.m. in the Council Chamber located at 421 Main Street, Chico, CA.
1.1. ROLL CALL
Present: Goldstein, Hawley, O'Brien, van Overbeek, Winslow, Bennett, Reynolds
Absent: None
1.2 Closed Session Announcement
September 15, 2026, Closed Session Announcements - City Attorney Ryan Jones City Attorney Ryan Jones announced that Council met with staff on the Special Closed Session matters on September 21, 2026.
2.3 Existing Litigation - Believe in Chico v. City of Chico - Council was briefed and direction was provided; no formal action was taken. Councilmember van Overbeek recused himself on this item due to owning property within 500 hundred feet from the area being discussed. He left the room.
2.4 Existing Litigation - Thai Thao v. City of Chico - Council was briefed and direction was provided; no formal action was taken.
2.5 Labor Negotiations - John Brunk v. City of Chico - Council was briefed and direction was provided; no formal action was taken. Councilmember Hawley recused herself from this item due to knowing the plaintiff.
2.6 Anticipated Litigation - Council was briefed and direction was provided; no formal action was taken.
2. SPECIAL AGENDA - Pursuant to Government Code § 54954.3(a), the City Council was prohibited by law from considering any other business at this meeting.
2.1. MAYOR REYNOLDS REQUEST - AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER DISCUSSION At its meeting of 8/18/26, the Council voted to agendize a discussion about the Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) program to be brought back at the same time as when staff will be presenting information about the program at the second meeting in September.
2.2. AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER (ALPR) REPORT - PROGRAM REVIEW The report and staff presentation provided an internal review of the history of the ALPR program, administration, data sharing, and legal considerations.
Addressing the Council on this on matter were Margaret Swick, Chris Nelson, Mary Kay Benson, Diane Suzuki, LeAnn Jenswold, Jacquline Lopez, George Gold, Daniel Dewitt, Sharon Johnson, Julie Threet, Bill Monroe, Ann Polivka, Loree Monroe, Matt Gonzalez-Jonson, Charles Withuhn, Sheryl Sanchez, William Bynum, Sam Barber, Kimberlee Michel, Gennesis Ospina, Shelby Hebert Mike Schultz, Alysia Krafel, and Julian Zener.
Winslow/ Goldstein – Original Motion
A motion was made by Councilmember Winslow and seconded by Councilmember Goldstein that the City Council establish a Citizens’ Oversight Commission appointed by the City Council with the first task of recommending safeguards for City surveillance data and minimum standards for data sharing with other agencies in the State of California. And secondly, in the meantime the City shut off the Motorola subscription.
September 21, 2026 City Council Minutes Page|2
O’Brien / van Overbeek - 1st Substitute Motion
Councilmember O’Brien made a substitute motion seconded by Councilmember van Overbeek to direct the City Attorney to review the current policy and draft a new policy that protects the City and protects the community and bring that back for editing by the Council. And second, spend $6,000 on the technology that Motorola offers to enhance the audit.
Hawley / Goldstein – 2nd Substitute Motion
A second substitute motion was made by Councilmember Hawley and seconded by Councilmember Goldstein that the City keep the current ALPR system but cease all data sharing with in-state California agencies as well.
Goldstein asked for a friendly amendment that staff assess where the sites for these cameras are the most useful for solving crimes in this City and bring back more information on the benefits and costs. Additionally, if there's an opportunity to reduce the number to just the entrances and exits of town that are essential so the City can save money. This friendly amendment was accepted with the caveat from Councilmember Hawley that staff return with a limited number of staff who have access to the data as well as the limited number of cameras.
The second substitute was taken first where the motion failed by the following vote:
AYES: Goldstein, Hawley, Winslow
NOES: O'Brien, van Overbeek, Bennett, Reynolds
O’Brien / van Overbeek - 1st Substitute Motion
Substitute motion to direct the City Attorney to review the current policy and draft a new policy that protects the City and protects the community and bring that back for editing by the Council. And second, spend $6,000 on the technology that Motorola offers to enhance the audit and moving forward for all audits in the future.
Mayor Reynolds asked for clarification as there were items that needed addressing in Mr. Struther’s report which included:
• RECOMMENDATION 01 - Continue using the audit checklist, for consistency in the audit process and ease of transferring information to the public. Each audit to be summarized and properly redacted upon creation to streamline release.
• RECOMMENDATION 02 - Conduct a comprehensive review of Lexipol policy changes with the City Attorney's Office. Produce and publish new policy.
• RECOMMENDATION 03 - Revise and generate a comprehensive data sharing MOU reflecting Council's directions moving forward.
Councilmember O’Brien indicated that those items would be part of the City Attorney review and addressed through the development of a policy on how this will move forward, including revised MOU’s and ongoing audits. The policy will provide guardrails.
Mayor Reynolds made a friendly amendment to add a fourth item, which would include an additional community meeting as suggested, whether it ended up being multiple meetings or just one.
Councilmember O’Brien accepted that as a friendly amendment.
September 21, 2026 City Council Minutes Page|3
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: O'Brien, van Overbeek, Bennett, Reynolds
NOES: Goldstein, Hawley, Winslow
Due to the 1st substitute motion carrying, the original motion was not acted on.
2.3. COUNCILMEMBER VAN OVERBEEK REQUEST - Review of Automated License Plate Reader Program - This item was continued until the meeting when the results come back for Item 2.2.
At its meeting of 9/1/26, the Council voted to agendize a discussion to form an ad hoc committee to have a third party review the report from Chico Police Department in regard to their Automated License Plate Reader program. At its meeting of 9/15/26, the Council voted to continue this discussion after the Chico Police Department Presentation.
3. ADJOURNMENT – Adjourned at 8:50 p.m. to the October 6, 2026, Closed Session meeting at 5:00 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. followed by the Regular City Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 421 Main Street, Chico.
Date Approved: /drp 10/6/26
_______________________________
Deborah R. Presson, MMC, City Clerk
September 21, 2026 City Council Minutes Page|4
SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION MEETING OF THE CHICO CITY COUNCIL - September 21, 2026 Minutes
1. CALL TO ORDER AT 5:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER - Mayor Reynolds called the Special Closed Session meeting of September 21, 2026, to order in the Council Chamber located at 421 Main Street, Chico, CA.
1.1. ROLL CALL - All members were present.
2. SPECIAL AGENDA – Pursuant to Government Code § 54954.3(a), the City Council was prohibited by law from considering any other business at this meeting.
2.1. CLOSED SESSION PUBLIC COMMENTS OR COUNCIL DISQUALIFICATIONS - None
2.2. RECESS INTO CLOSED SESSION IN CONFERENCE ROOM 2
2.3. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION: Pursuant to Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(a): BCSC: Case No. 25CV01135 - Believe in Chico v. City of Chico - Council was briefed and direction was provided; no formal action was taken.
2.4. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION: Pursuant to Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(a): BCSC: Case No. 23CV02465 - Thai Thao v. City of Chico, et al. - Council was briefed and direction was provided; no formal action was taken.
2.5. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION: Pursuant to Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(a): BCSC: Case No. 23CV02301 - John Brunk v. City of Chico, et al. - Council was briefed and direction was provided; no formal action was taken.
2.6. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION: Pursuant to Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(4): Two (2) cases. - Council was briefed and direction was provided; no formal action was taken.
3. ADJOURNMENT – Adjourned at 6:02 p.m. to the September 21, 2026, Special Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 421 Main St. Chico.
Date Approved: /drp 10/6/26
_______________________________
Deborah R. Presson, MMC, City Clerk