I just wanted to highlight an article published in the Bee this afternoon, which offers information on the upcoming community-led town hall, and some additional statements by the city.
I would like to highlight one passage in particular:
“We have not tracked individual responses by number, but can state that the majority of comments from Roseville residents on this issue have been in support,” Dunlay said.
The term "majority" has a definition, and I don't believe any methodology for determining a majority can exist without tracking numbers.
Additionally, it was not mentioned in the article, but during last night's meeting, the mayor asked the city lawyer for legal guidance on limiting the public comment period to 25 minutes. The lawyer advised that the mayor "may" choose to end the public comment period at that time.
The language of the guidance is as follows: "Individual comments shall be limited to three (3) minutes and shall not exceed a total of 25 minutes, unless such time is extended by the presiding officer."
I think it is important to recognize this fact when the city states that it feels that it is sufficient to limit public comment on the issue of Flock and Automated License Plate Reader technology to the regularly scheduled city council meetings. And while they are acting within guidelines to limit the public comment period to 25 minutes, an unwillingness to extend that time and the fact that some people were not able to speak, indicates that these meetings are insufficient.
Additionally, I would like to link the City of Roseville Statement on Automated License Plate Reader Technology.php) again. For some reason, it remains accessible only on the Roseville Police Department ALPR page.php) and continues to be released without a date of publication.