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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-07 Emergency Traffic Routes and City Facilities Security Cameras Policy RESOLUTION NO. 2023-07 EMERGENCY TRAFFIC ROUTES AND CITY FACILITIES SECURITY CAMERAS 3 POLICY 4 RECITALS: 5 6 A. Whereas,the City of Ashland faces public safety risks associated with its urban-forest interface and climate change that requires increasing emergency preparedness efforts; and 7 8 B. Whereas, a number of the City's neighborhoods have limited emergency evacuation route options due to community topography,waterways and street configurations that necessitate the 9 public provision of real-time traffic route status information; and 10 C. Whereas, City emergency management operations can also benefit from timely information I I on community infrastructure status, crisis event circumstances, and community recovery efforts; 12 and 13 D. Whereas,the City's diverse operations and issues management increasingly call for the 14 timely monitoring of publicly accessed City sites of business or other work or at locations that may attract increased unlawful activity for the protection of the public, City staff and public 15 assets; and 16 E. Whereas,the availability of City staff to perform monitoring and reporting during emergency 17 events or at City facilities is severely limited; and 18 F. Whereas, cameras can be appropriately deployed to perform these important information 19 gathering and reporting functions; 20 NOW,THEREFORE,THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASHLAND,OREGON, 21 RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: 22 SECTION 1. The Council adopts the following Emergency Traffic Routes and Security 23 Cameras Policy. This policy is intended to establish a framework under which City-owned and 24 controlled cameras can be deployed for the following: a) For critical traffic routes and emergency management related locations within the City of 25 Ashland. Traffic management cameras are to provide real time,publicly available monitoring of 26 community evacuation route conditions and not for traffic enforcement purposes. City staff will coordinate making publicly available the traffic monitoring camera feeds through ODOT,AFN 27 or other sources as appropriate and available. Emergency management locations are those that 28 require infrastructure,event,recovery or training monitoring by emergency management staff for public health and safety purposes. 29 b) For enhanced security at City facilities or property that are not primarily intended to serve a �0 general public event or community congregation purpose(i.e., City offices, operations facilities and/or City staff or contractor jobsites and,public properties experiencing or with the potential fo increased unlawful activity). RESOLUTION NO. 2023-07 Page 1 of 3 I This policy intends to strike a balance between enhancing public safety and respecting individual 2 privacy rights. The deployment of security cameras in public spaces should always be accompanied by transparent and accountable practices to build public trust and support for such 3 measures. This policy is not intended to restrict any City staff member from utilizing a recording 4 device in the performance of their duties. 5 SECTION 2. PLACEMENT. The placement of deployed cameras under this policy is to enhance public safety and security for everyone in the area. Cameras will be placed in strategic 6 locations that are critical to public safety,the safety of City staff, and the protection of City 7 assets such as along critical arterial and collector evacuation route roadways, at single traffic entry neighborhood locations, at entrances and exits to City buildings, at City equipment 8 maintenance and materials storage locations, at critical utility infrastructure locations, and at 9 public spaces or areas that are or may experience an increase in unlawful activity. The placement of cameras will be based on a risk assessment that considers the likelihood of unlawful activity, 1 the potential impact of such activity, and the privacy concerns of the public. Cameras will be 11 directed,to the extent practicable,to minimize coverage of public spaces primarily intended for 12 public congregate activities. 13 SECTION 3. NOTICE. Signs will be posted at public facilities where cameras are deployed to 14 inform the public of their presence. 15 SECTION 4. RECORDING, RETENTION&ACCESS. The cameras may record, and the information will be stored in a secure manner.The recorded information will not be retained for 16 more than 14 days unless the recording is needed to further the investigation and/or prosecution 17 of unlawful activity. Access to recorded data will be restricted to authorized personnel who have a legitimate need to view it for the purposes of emergency management,public safety or law 18 enforcement. 19 SECTION 5. PROHIBITED ACTIVITY. City deployed cameras are not for the purpose of 20 traffic enforcement and will not intentionally be used to invade the privacy of individuals or 21 observe areas where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists. City owned cameras will not be used in an inequitable or discriminatory manner and will not target individuals or groups based 22 on actual or perceived characteristics such as race,ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual 23 orientation, gender identity or expression, economic status,homed status, age, cultural group or disability. 24 25 SECTION 6. DEPLOYMENT AND REMOVAL. Deployment and removal of cameras will be subject to the provisions of this policy and at the discretion of the City Manager. Camera 26 deployments may be either long-term or temporary in nature depending on priority and 27 placement needs, location circumstances and the availability of equipment. The City Manager may consult with any relevant staff member of member of the community in making 28 deployment/removal decisions. 29 SECTION 7. This resolution is effective upon adoption. 30 ADOPTED by the City Council this day of ,2023. RESOLUTION NO. 2023-07 Page 2 of 3 1 2 ATTEST: 3 4 5 Al Ach A ityy RecTirder (,u n,C r0-ruy1✓ 6 �}I t�Sai O(dd2 vYl ,i 7 SIGNED and APPROVED this day of , 2023. 8 9 10 I I Tonya Gr ham, Mayor 12 13 Reviewed as to form: 14 15 3J�1Py.1 iE:1./�,r oa �i�hht+f' ou 1 cGeary, Acting City Attorney 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 RESOLUTION NO. 2023-07 Page 3 of 3 Overview Deploying security cameras in public spaces can help deter unlawful activity and improve public safety. However, it is essential to ensure that these cameras are deployed in a way that does not unnecessarily violate individual privacy rights or become too intrusive.This policy is intended to establish a framework under which City-owned and controlled cameras can be deployed to safeguard City staff, City-owned properties, and public spaces that may experience an increase in unlawful activity. This policy intends to strike a balance between enhancing public safety and respecting individual privacy rights.The deployment of security cameras in public spaces should always be accompanied by transparent and accountable practices to build public trust and support for such measures. This policy is not intended to restrict any City staff member from utilizing a recording device in the performance of their duties. Purpose The purpose of deploying security cameras in public spaces is to enhance safety and security for everyone in the area.The cameras will be used to monitor and deter unlawful activity, identify those who commit unlawful acts and provide"evidence for prosecution as appropriate. Policy Placement Cameras will be placed in strategic locations that are critical to public safety, and the safety of City staff, such as high traffic areas,entrances and exits to buildings and public spaces and areas that may experience an increase in unlawful activity.The placement of cameras will be based on a risk assessment that considers the likelihood of unlawful activity,the potential impact of such activity, and the privacy concerns of the public. Notice Signs will be posted in public spaces where cameras are deployed to inform the public of their presence. Recording and Retention The cameras will record and the information will be stored in a secure manner.The recorded information will not be retained for more than 14 days unless the recording is needed to further the investigation and/or prosecution of unlawful activity. Access Access to the recorded data will be restricted to authorized personnel who have a legitimate need to view it for the purposes of public safety or law enforcement. Prohibited Activity City deployed cameras will not intentionally be used to invade the privacy of individuals or observe areas where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists. City owned cameras will not be used in an inequitable or discriminatory manner and will not target individuals or groups based on actual or perceived characteristics such as race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation,gender identity or expression, economic status, homed status, age, cultural group or disability. Deployment and removal Deployment and removal will be at the discretion of the City Manager.The City Manager may consult with any relevant staff member of member of the community in making deployment/removal decisions. Police Cameras It is understood that the Ashland Police Department uses cameras,both body worn and in-car dash mounted,that are public facing and record officers' interactions with the community. These cameras will continue to be deployed at the Police Chief's discretion and in keeping with current best practices and applicable state and federal laws.