Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: DISCUSS POTENTIAL ALPR ITEM FOR EVALUATION BY
THE COMMUNITY-POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Date: August 11, 2026
Written by: Damien O'Bid, City Manager
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council discuss if the Community Police Advisory Committee should review the utility and policy considerations around automated license plate readers and provide recommendations to the City Council.
Background
At the City Council meeting on July 28, 2026, under Direction on Future Agenda Items, the City Council requested that an item be brought back to City Council to determine if there is interest in having the Community Police Advisory Committee review the use of and policy considerations around automated license plate readers (ALPR).
Analysis/Discussion
The use of ALPR technology has been the subject of several City Council discussions in recent years. The most recent agendized discussion was on May 27, 2025, when the City Council reduced data retention to 1 month, allowing 1-1 data sharing with select other California law enforcement agencies and allowing access to certain public ALPRs, such as those at Cotati businesses to assist in solving crimes. Also, as requested by the City Council, the use of ALPRs in 2025 was included in the Police Chief’s annual report to the community, presented to the Community Police Advisory Committee and City Council. The May 27, 2025 staff report is attached for reference.
If the City Council directs the Community Police Advisory Committee to review ALPRs, it is recommended that the City Council also includes specific questions that it would like this committee to consider. Presumably, any evaluation and potential recommendations would then be reported back to the City Council.
In terms of timing, the current fixed ALPR service agreement runs through October 2027.
Financial Considerations
There is no direct financial impact if the City Council directs the Community Police Advisory Committee to review ALPR technology. Depending on the level of the review, it would take some to a significant amount of staff time to provide and/or synthesize the requested information for the committee.
Environmental Issues
Where it can be determined with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA review.
This general rule can be applied to activities which could be subject to the CEQA process, but which logic dictates should not be subject to CEQA review. Therefore, based on the information provided above, the proposed resolution is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 14.03.021 of the CEQA Guidelines in that there is no possibility that the activity may have a significant impact on the environment.