City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Community Services
Meeting Date: October 5, 2026
Report #:2608-6630
TITLE
Approval of Surveillance Use Policy for Security Cameras at the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo; CEQA Status - Not a Project.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommend that the City Council approve the attached surveillance use policy for the use of security cameras to enhance security and safety and deter unauthorized or criminal activity at the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo (Attachment A).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo have a need to acquire and use surveillance technology to ensure the safety of animals, city assets, as well as safety of visitors, and staff, and the protection of city assets. Surveillance Use Policies have been developed for the facility to comply with the City’s Surveillance Technology Ordinance and include mitigations to ensure appropriate use of the information captured. Key elements are summarized in the Analysis section of this report.
BACKGROUND
Palo Alto’s Surveillance Technology Ordinance, codified PAMC § 2.30.6201, et seq., sets criteria and procedures to protect personal privacy in the acquisition and use of surveillance technology and provide for ongoing oversight. Security camera technology is “surveillance technology” as defined by the ordinance. The ordinance requires City Council approval of the acquisition of new surveillance technology and of a Surveillance Use Policy specific to each new approved technology. In approving new surveillance technology, the Council must determine that its benefits outweigh the associated costs and concerns. The ordinance sets forth specific 1 Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 2.30.620, et seq.;
https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0-0-0-62120#JD_2.30.620 elements that must be present in a Surveillance Use Policy, including limitations on use, access, and retention, as well as a description of compliance procedures.
ANALYSIS
Prior to approval of a new surveillance activity by the Council, the ordinance requires the completion of a Surveillance Evaluation, consisting of five specific elements below. Table 1 evaluates the use for the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo.
Table 1: Surveillance Evaluation for Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo
1. A description of the surveillance technology, including how it works and what information is captured
The surveillance technology will include security cameras and monitoring systems designed to capture real-time video. These devices will record activities around the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo. The four strategically placed security cameras focus on entry and exit points and animal management spaces. The technology also includes motion detectors and alarm systems that notify designated personnel of suspicious activities.
2. Information on the proposed purpose, use and benefits of the surveillance technology The primary purpose of implementing surveillance technology is to enhance the safety and security of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo, a high-traffic public facility that serves hundreds of guests daily, including children and families. The site houses live animals, specialized habitats, and valuable equipment, making it a significant City asset that requires appropriate protection. The proposed system will be used to monitor key entry and exit points and critical areas to deter unauthorized access, support real-time awareness of onsite activity, and provide reliable footage for incident response and investigation.
This need is reinforced by past attempted break-ins, highlighting existing vulnerabilities. The benefits of this technology include improved protection of animals, visitors, and staff; reduced risk of theft, vandalism, or unauthorized access; enhanced ability to coordinate with law enforcement when needed; and strengthened operational oversight, all of which support the City’s responsibility to maintain a safe, secure, and well-managed public facility. 3) The location or locations where the surveillance technology may be used Surveillance technology will be deployed through the installation of four cameras. No cameras will be installed inside buildings, as the primary objective is to monitor entry and exit points. The cameras will be strategically positioned around the premises to capture key ingress and egress locations and areas vulnerable to unauthorized access, vandalism, or attempted break-ins, particularly during after-hours periods. Surveillance use is strictly limited to these areas.
4) Existing federal, state and local laws and regulations application to the surveillance technology and the information it captures; the potential impacts on civil liberties and privacy; and proposals to mitigate and manage any impacts Surveillance technology will comply with applicable laws related to video recording. This includes Labor Code section 435, which forbids employers from recording in a restroom, locker room, or changing room. Lastly, the City is required to retain certain building security recordings under Govt. Code section 34090.6(a), currently one year.
Mitigation Actions: Access to surveillance footage will be limited to authorized City personnel for law enforcement purposes. Encryption and access control mechanisms will safeguard the footage.
5) The costs of the surveillance technology, including acquisition, maintenance, personnel and other costs, and current or potential sources of funding Costs will include the acquisition of the four surveillance cameras, associated hardware, alarm system, licensing, shipping, and professional services for the field technical installation time, monitoring systems, and storage. The budget will also cover encryption and secure storage solutions. The project costs would be paid for out of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Fund, AC-18001 JMZ Renovation. To streamline the procurement process and reduce administrative costs, we utilized the City’s California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS) contract, which is a procure program which allows us to purchase goods and services from pre-approved vendors at negotiated prices.
The project has a one-time cost of $63,705 and annual licensing fees of $2,561 are anticipated and will be absorbed into the operating budget.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
Surveillance technology costs for the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo will be funded through the JMZ Renovation Project, AC-18001, in the Capital Improvement Program. To streamline procurement and reduce administrative costs, the equipment and related services were purchased through the City’s California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS) contract. The project includes a one-time cost of $63,705. Ongoing annual licensing costs of $2,561 will be absorbed within the Junior Museum & Zoo operating budget.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
The Community Services Department coordinated with Palo Alto Police Department, Information Technology Department, Public Works and the City Attorney’s Office in developing this policy. Labor relations staff shared details of the proposed installation with the labor partner (SEIU) representing JMZ staff who could be impacted. SEIU confirmed they have no concern regarding the camera installation; the City has satisfied any meet and confer obligations with its labor partners.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Council action on this item is not a project as defined by CEQA because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo Surveillance Policy APPROVED BY:
Kristen O'Kane, Community Services Director