SAN MARCOS CITY COUNCIL
The council voted five to two to postpone a $124,068 amendment to the contract with Flock Group, Inc. for additional equipment for the police department’s license plate recognition technology at Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting. San Marcos City Council Member Amanda Rodriguez made a motion to postpone contingent upon a policy in place that governs how the technology is used before approving the item. She said this was previously discussed during a Visioning session.
San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge said the policy was originally created in 2022. He said it is a four page document that is reflective of the accredited standard of Texas Best Practice, so it reflects what all departments in the state are doing. He said they are just adding additional cameras, but this technology has already been in use. He “respectfully requested” that it be approved.
“I’m not sure how we’re going to optimize a policy that already meets accreditation standards,” he said.
Rodriguez said they “may be the best standards in Texas” but not nationwide. She said there are other states and other cities that have addressed the 30-day storage for the camera data.
“There have been plenty of things addressed as far as data usage, data retention, data sharing, so that’s what I’m asking that we sit and revisit, specifically that 30-day storage. … There are other states and other cities that have actually addressed that 30-day window to say, ‘Do we need that many if the person’s not necessarily on a list worthy of our concern?’” Rodriguez said. “I’m not objecting that there are potential good uses for these cameras. What I’m saying is that until we address those things, then we can bring it back.”
Standridge said 30 days gives citizens and detectives enough time to be aware of the crime and to do the follow-up investigation.
I believe that 30 days is appropriate,” Standridge said. “Anything shorter than that and we are going to be deleting evidence.”
San Marcos City Manager Stephanie Reyes said that the policy can be revised and be shared with the council, but it is ultimately Standridge’s decision.
“The policy, as I understand, is under the Chief’s purview,” she said.
Standridge said that he was hired to promulgate policy but was curious what the implications of this postponement might be.
“I’m the purveyor of policy because of my position. You all hired me to promulgate and enforce policy. The policy doesn’t come from this body. Now you’re talking about co-creating policies. That’s a remarkable departure from what we have always done,” Standridge said. “So I’m seeking clarification. Are we now delegating my authority to this body to promulgate policy.”
San Marcos Attorney Sam Aguirre said that because the council is responsible for funding the cameras, they can have their own policy, which would be more of a “twoway conversation” than a removal of duties for Standridge.
“The chief is correct,” Aguirre said, adding that there is still a caveat. “At the end of the day, the council is providing funding for procurement or not procurement, so it is within your realm … You really aren’t stepping into his shoes, but at the same time, you’re reviewing a procurement and whether you’re going to approve it or not under conditions that are satisfactory to you.”
San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson said she would be voting against the postponement but was willing to have the conversation at a later date as far as revising the policy.
Rodriguez clarified the postponement would be until June when there is council review of the policy. Hughson and San Marcos Council Member Matthew Mendoza cast the dissenting votes.
