Fort Collins postpones Flock policy item to June 16 after absences, as residents urge end to camera program

Fort Collins City Council postponed its planned discussion of Flock license-plate-reader data retention and sharing until June 16 after council absences, with City Manager Kelly DiMartino saying the item was withdrawn so the full council could participate. Even without the scheduled Item 17 debate, the issue dominated general public comment Tuesday as residents pressed the city to reconsider or end the automated license-plate-reader program.

DiMartino told council at the start of the meeting that the Flock retention and data-sharing item was being delayed "to ensure that we have the benefit of the full council for that item." Speakers who had signed up for Item 17 were shifted into general public comment instead.

Mayor Emily Francis said 19 people had registered to speak before 5:30 p.m., and public comment quickly turned to Flock cameras, retention periods, audits, constitutional concerns and questions about data sharing, including whether information could reach federal immigration authorities through other agencies. Residents also urged council to adopt what some referred to as "Option 4," ending the program entirely.

Marge Norskog, a District 2 resident, warned council against relying on policy alone to govern the technology. She pointed to a recent Denver City Council debate over a similar surveillance contract and said Fort Collins could face the same kind of pressure if it approves the system before setting stronger rules. Norskog argued that automated license-plate readers can compile location histories and "build a pattern of life" without a warrant.

"Fort Collins needs more than a surveillance policy," Norskog told council. "We need an ordinance." She said local rules should clearly define the city's values and set the terms for any surveillance technology used in Fort Collins.

The Flock item is now scheduled to return June 16, when the full council is expected to take up retention and data-sharing rules for the camera system.