Elk Grove City Council
Regular Meeting, September 9, 2026
CITY OF ELK GROVE
Incorporated July 1, 2000
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
Mayor Singh-Allen called the regular City Council meeting of September 9, 2026, to order at 6:29 p.m.
Present: Mayor Singh-Allen, Vice Mayor Suen, and Council Members Brewer, Robles, and Spease.
Absent: None.
Vice Mayor Suen stated he would be participating in the meeting from a remote location for just cause permitted under Government Code Section 54953.8.3(c)(4) as he was traveling while on official business of a local agency, and that no individuals of 18 years of age or older were present in the room at the remote location from where he was participating in the meeting.
Council Member Robles read the Land Acknowledgement
Council Member Spease led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Singh-Allen asked that a moment of silence be observed.
APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
Motion: M/S Spease/Robles to approve the agenda as presented. The motion passed by the following vote: Ayes: 5 (Singh-Allen, Suen, Brewer, Robles, Spease); Noes: 0;
Absent: 0.
CLOSED SESSION
None.
PRESENTATIONS / ANNOUNCEMENTS
4.1 Council Member Brewer presented a recognition to Elk Grove Youth Baseball's 10-year old and under All Star team for outstanding performance in the 2026 regional and World Series championships.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT:
Lindsey Halsell, Sapphy, Ellen, Sufia Singh, Justin D, Alison Randall, and Dan raised concerns regarding the use of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology, believing personal rights were being violated by such systems. Several speakers believed the contract with Flock should be cancelled, the City should end use of all ALPR Elk Grove City Council
Regular Meeting, September 9, 2026
technologies, and the City should address the community audit that identified issues of the current ALPR system used by the City. Issues regarding personal rights included constitutional rights of warrantless searches, exploitation of ALPR systems to conduct mass surveillance, cross state enforcement by external agencies, and the nature of the contractual agreement with a third party and the third party’s access and ability share data (raising concerns of how the data could be used in conjunction with other emerging technologies to facilitate mass tracking and surveillance by routinely collecting information on people’s movements). Concerns were raised of how data from the ALPR systems was accessed, protected, and shared, how long the data was retained, and errors and/or misuse reported of ALPR systems leading to improper actions. Speakers were critical of the audit methodology by the City of ALPR systems, cautioned that City data be better protected, and requested data be provided on how ALPR systems assist law enforcement and effect crime statistics.
Constance Conley, Eileen Conwell, George Murphey, and Amelia Vankeuren spoke in regards to preserving the Rural Area of Elk Grove, submitted the Rural Roots booklet (filed) of testimonials of residents and histories of Rural Elk Grove.
Carlos Zamarripa shared his experience of living in the Rural Area of Elk Grove, and opposed the pending application of the Summer Villas Project.
Jerome Candelaria shared his experience of living in the Rural Area of Elk Grove, and noted attending a workshop regarding the Summer Villas Project, raising concern how the project would affect the riparian zone in the area of the project.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION
City Manager Jason Behrmann reviewed the Administrative Report for September 9, 2026 (filed).
Council Member Brewer noted the opening ceremony on October 10, 2026 of the new Elk Grove Library Branch, with the opportunity to meet Patricia Sandefur (whom the Meeting Room is named in honor for Ms. Sandefur’s legacy of service to the library system),. Mr.
Brewer received confirmation that communications would be going out to highlight the upcoming Elk Grove History Week in Elk Grove hosting events September 20-26, 2026.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
Motion: M/S Brewer/Suen to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion passed by the following vote: Ayes: 5 (Singh-Allen, Suen, Brewer, Robles, Spease); Noes: 0; Absent: 0.
Agenda Item No. 7.1: Approved City Council meeting minutes of the August 26, 2026 regular meeting.
Elk Grove City Council
Regular Meeting, September 9, 2026
Agenda Item No. 7.2: Received report on City Manager approved purchases and contracts authorized by Elk Grove Municipal Code Chapter 3.42 Contracts and Purchasing, and projects awarded under the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act, filed through September 1, 2026.
Agenda Item No. 7.3: Received report on Requests for Proposals, Qualifications, and Bids.
Agenda Item No. 7.4: Received the Monthly Holdings and Investment Report for the month ending July 31, 2026.
Agenda Item No. 7.5: Adopted Ordinance No. 08-2026 finding the proposed moratorium is not a project as defined in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5) and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption); and imposing a two (2) year moratorium on any new entitlement approvals for Personal Storage Facilities in the City of Elk Grove (Second Reading).
Agenda Item No. 7.6: Adopted Resolution No. 2026-188 authorizing the City Manager to execute a grant agreement with the California Department of Parks and Recreation for the 2025 Historic Preservation Fund Grant for a historic preservation program, and amending the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget for the Community Development Department in the amount of $10,500.
Agenda Item No. 7.7: Adopted Resolution No. 2026-189 dispensing with the formal request for proposal procedure pursuant to Elk Grove Municipal Code Section 3.42.188(B)(3) and authorizing the City Manager to execute the first amendment to the Goods and Services Contract with Changing Environments, Inc. (Contract No. C-21-632) for a term of five years through November 10, 2031, and authorizing two successive one-year renewals unless cancelled as provided, and adding $286,200 (for a total contract amount not to exceed $535,200).
Agenda Item No. 7.8: Adopted Resolution No. 2026-190 authorizing the City Manager to dispense with the formal procurement procedures pursuant to Elk Grove Municipal Code Chapter 3.42, approving and ratifying prior payments and purchases, and authorizing the City Manager to execute all contracts and related documents or agreements for Citywide technology services and equipment, exempting such recurring operational maintenance agreements and related hardware purchases from standard contract authority thresholds, provided such amounts do not exceed the amounts approved by the City Council for such purposes in the annual budget.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
REGULAR AGENDA ACTION ITEMS / RECOMMENDATIONS
Agenda Item No. 9.1: Receive a presentation of the Elk Grove Police Department’s Automated License Plate Reader technology.
Elk Grove City Council
Regular Meeting, September 9, 2026
RECOMMENDATION
Receive a presentation of the Elk Grove Police Department’s Automated License Plate Reader technology.
With the aid of a visual presentation (filed), Chief of Police Bobby Davis and Real Time Information Center Manager Andrea Cortez, gave a presentation of the Elk Grove Police Department’s Automated License Plate Reader technology.
Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper and Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho provided comments on the effectiveness of Automated License Plate Reader technology in assisting local law enforcement.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Lindsey Halsell, Logan, Sapphy, Ellen, Shawna Valencia, Warren Bell, Justin D, Jeff Toone, Yev Beregovyy, Adela, Eli, Dan, Brian Hofer, Yadi, Matt, and Katelyn raised concerns regarding the use of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology, believing personal rights were being violated by such systems. Several speakers believed the contract with Flock should be cancelled or other vendor identified, and the City should end use of all ALPR technologies unless the City could address the community audit and implement policies and on-going audit practices to ensure proper use of ALPR technologies. Issues regarding personal rights included constitutional rights of warrantless searches, exploitation of ALPR systems to conduct mass surveillance, cross state enforcement by external agencies, and the nature of the contractual agreement with a third party and the third party’s access and ability share data (raising concerns of independent actions by third party vendors for installing cameras and accessing data, and how the data could be used in conjunction with other emerging technologies to facilitate mass tracking and surveillance by routinely collecting information on people’s movements). Concerns were raised of contradictions in information released by the City regarding the ALPR Program, how data from the ALPR systems was accessed, protected, and shared or sold, how long the data was retained, and errors reported of ALPR systems leading to improper enforcement actions. Speakers were critical of the audit methodology and practices to date by the City of ALPR systems and concerned that accountability on the use of ALPR systems would not be available to the public, skepticism was expressed that few statistics or data were provided in the presentation (and that most success instances were anecdotal), and cautioned that City data be better protected and not accessible by external parties.
Ricky Pal shared the benefits to the Parkgate community in implementing an ALPR system in 2022, and though recently the ALPR system cameras were vandalized, Mr. Pal appreciated the concerns raised by speakers to ensure the systems had appropriate oversight.
Loreen Pryor believed strong policy was needed when implementing powerful technological tools, voiced appreciation for the presentation in answering several questions, but cautioned to continue to analyze the use of the technology to ensure adequate policy implementation and provide accountability to the public.
Elk Grove City Council
Regular Meeting, September 9, 2026
City staff provided replies to comments made and questions of the City Council:
Regarding record retention of the ALPR system, if a matter was utilized for a case the responsive files would be downloaded and retained for a year, otherwise files were removed after 30 days;
The City abided by court rulings and maintain ALPR systems as legally permitted to use by law;
City ALPR systems used no video recording and provide no continuous movement of an individual;
Use of ALPR systems required multiple steps to verify appropriate access and use of the systems;
Drone as First Responder (DFR) cameras were set to the horizon at the time when dispatched and until they arrived at the location dispatched to, and did not alter the camera view while in transit to the dispatch location;
Misuse of ALPR systems would be enforced, internal investigations opened, and progressive discipline implemented per department policy, to ensure the technology was being used appropriately;
The City was not obligated to any particular vendor, and would seek remedy for any vendor breaching contract. The effectiveness of ALPR as a tool for law enforcement encouraged the City to work with a vendor that can support implementation of an ALPR system that meets City standards; ALPR systems were audited every 90 days, but by the nature of Real Time Information Center (RTIC) staff accessing the system on a regular basis, system validation was a constant process of audit by RTIC staff seeing the nature of searches being conducted (source jurisdiction requesting searches and the Reason Code fields entered);
With updates to technology, new practices and policies were most effectively propagated through official memos as directives from the Police Chief, and such messaging was reinforced through postings on systems to the organization; ALPR systems were accessed by detectives, patrol officers, RTIC staff, and dispatch staff, as well as an ALPR Committee of City staff users; Information to review on audit reports highlighted the difference between data requests received as opposed to data returns in response to a request (so, though number counts of inquiries may be high, the actual data response when verified and provided was much lower), and providing such clarifying information may help inform the ongoing system audits;
When contract terms changed or new Terms and Conditions were issued under a new product release or update, those terms were reviewed by the City legal team; and
When software was installed, the default sharing was set to no sharing (least privilege) and required a City system administrator to grant permissions for which data can be shared.
By consensus, the City Council waived the rule of procedure not to consider new business after 10:00 p.m. and to proceed with the remainder of the agenda.
Council Member Spease encouraged discussing with the vendor to remove program features not capable in the system (receiving affirmation that no video was implemented Elk Grove City Council
Regular Meeting, September 9, 2026
in Elk Grove ALPR systems and to remove search functions reliant on having deployed video systems). Mr. Spease addressed concerns raised by speakers regarding the safety of systems and access to data, and believed Flock abided by best practices for cybersecurity measures and implemented proper security protocols for where data was stored and how it was accessed.
The City Council deliberated on the matter noting the benefits of ALPR technologies (as tools for law enforcement, potential for loss prevention, and closure to victims and survivors of crime), expressed confidence that appropriate safeguards were being implemented, reviewed, and refined by staff; and though instances and issues were being raised of poor practices in other jurisdictions across the nation, confidence was expressed in how City staff were implementing proper protocols and security of City ALPR systems.
The City Council appreciated the concerns of the public raised for the use of emerging, evolving technologies, and believed City staff demonstrated use of the technology in a responsible manner, and adhered to being proactive to evolve practices and leverage resources to continue to safeguard processes balancing public safety with individual privacy.
The City Council received and filed the presentation.
COUNCIL COMMENTS / REPORTS / FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Vice Mayor Suen and Council Members Brewer and Robles had no items to report.
Council Member Spease attended the Sacramento Metropolitan Cable Television Commission Board meeting, and noted the upcoming meeting of the Sacramento Transportation Authority (STA) Board.
Mayor Singh-Allen noted the upcoming meeting of the Sacramento Transportation Authority (STA) Board.
ADJOURNMENT
With no additional business to conduct, the September 9, 2026, City Council meeting was adjourned at 10:08 p.m. in memory of Arnie Zimbelman.
JASON LINDGREN, CITY CLERK
ATTEST:
BOBBIE SINGH-ALLEN, MAYOR