SPRINGFIELD, IL – Springfield’s City Council passed an ordinance to renew a contract for use of a bulk of license-plate-reading-cameras after debate on July 7.
The council also passed an ordinance that allows the Lincoln Library to accept a $1 million grant so that they may renovate the first floor of the library.
Here’s what you need to know.
Council passes license plate renewal, with amendment
The debate over whether to renew 83 of the city’s 138 Automatic License Plate Recognition cameras through Flock Safety was lengthy, with the ordinance ultimately receiving unanimous support.
The ordinance authorized payment of more than $500,000 for use of the cameras from March 2026 through February, 2028.
Multiple members of the public spoke in opposition to it.
Ward 2 Ald. Shawn Gregory introduced an amendment that will require the Springfield Police Department to immediately (no later than 24 hours) notify the city council about a breach of data or misuse of data, should that happen, in addition to providing an annual report to council.
Council added some changes to Gregory’s amendment before passing it and the ordinance itself. One of the changes allows SPD officers assigned to federal task forces.
Deputy Chief Andrew Dodd, who addressed the council in absence of Chief Joe Behl, expressed concern with the requirement to immediately notify council of security breaches and misuse, adding that presenting to council about any potential internal misuse of data within seven days would be too soon and it would not be enough time before releasing information about an investigation.
Reporting to the council any disciplinary, administrative, or criminal investigation in those timeframes may be “extremely difficult,” Dodd said.
These presentations would be verbal, and delivered in executive session.
Some of the changes will be heavier lifts than others, but the department has no problem reporting up to the council and making sure it follows its own policies as well, the deputy chief said.
Springfield police will need to find an internal mechanism in order to satisfy the council’s requirement of the department to provide an annual report containing things like the total number and location of the cameras and the crime-related data through the use of the cameras, Dodd said.
Ward 8 Ald. Erin Conley, who has expressed concerns with the technology as it pertains to privacy, said she wants to know if data is misused, even if it is basic information.
“I think as long as there’s an understanding that this is not — seven days, you need to have everything done and tied up with a bow, but an acknowledgement that — in our oversight function — we do want to know when this happens and we would like to know, how did you handle it?”, she said.
Conley was one of the alderpersons whose vote on the ordinance was swayed since discussing with Behl, Dodd, and debating among alderpersons.
“I’ve had way too many constituents reach out, I’ve had so many conversations within the last week with concerns around this company — to be very clear, not concerns around our police department, but concerns around the company and how this data is used. I think the fact that it requires a proactive council action to reduce any of these standards and protections in here — I really appreciate putting that in place and I am more comfortable voting for this contract,” she said.
Mayor Misty Buscher admitted that the City of Springfield does not track data well across its agencies, and said it is something she has been pushing for, adding that data shows whether something is successful or failing.
Buscher said she has been working with SPD to update a transparency portal, saying “there was a lot of data that we were wanting that we’re starting to build.”
Lincoln Library to make improvements
City Council passed an ordinance to accept $1 million in grant funds for the Lincoln Library, which comes from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Renovations to the first floor of the library could begin as soon as October, Lincoln Library Director Gwen Harrison recently told the SJ-R.
Renovations include more dedicated spaces for teens.
Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Springfield renews controversial police tech, accepts library upgrades
Reporting by Tom Ackerman, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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By Tom Ackerman, Springfield State Journal-Register | USA TODAY Network
