From: Ellen Obstler
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 12:59 PM
To: City Council <[email protected]>
Cc:
Subject: Agenda item 7
Councilmembers,
Sebastopol has the best surveillance protections in Sonoma County. Yet you are considering exempting traditional security cameras from your technology ordinance. The proposed amended 8.80.030 D would allow the City to use images, videos and audio from traditional security cameras, like Ring cameras, without any protections. I cannot fathom how that is a good idea. Even Amazon left its partnership with Flock after the outcry over a superbowl ad for Ring cameras aired where people saw, even though the cameras can help find lost pets, they also can capture much more.
Exempting traditional security cameras from the ordinance would render the ordinance meaningless. Your current ordinance already allows law enforcement to temporarily acquire or use surveillance technology in emergency circumstances. Sec. 8.80.040. Rather than gut the ordinance, if there’s a need, expand the definition of what constitutes “exigent circumstances that would expose [] citizens to a major risk to the public safety.” Sec.
8.80.125.
You are being asked to decide whether Sebastopol will continue to be a leader in protecting our civil liberties or will be a leader in violating them.
Please choose wisely.
Ellen Obstler