The meeting saw extensive deliberation over the potential deployment of LPR cameras in Lakeville. This technology was presented as a tool to improve public safety by assisting in the identification of vehicles associated with criminal activity, such as stolen cars or vehicles under Amber Alerts. A vendor representative from Flock outlined the features of their proposed system, emphasizing the use of solar-powered cameras mounted on poles at key entry points to the city. The cameras are designed to capture vehicle license plates and provide real-time alerts to law enforcement, facilitating swift responses to potential threats.

The proposed system would involve the installation of 20 cameras at significant ingress points to Lakeville, such as I-35 and major roadways like Kenwood Trail and Cedar Avenue. The initial installation cost is set at $7,050 for the 20 cameras, with a subsequent annual service fee of $3,000 per camera, leading to a first-year total of $60,000. Notably, this cost is offset by a 50% discount if the city acts by 2025, and funding is anticipated to be covered by repurposed city funds.

Despite the potential benefits, the proposal raised privacy concerns among council members and the public. The representative assured attendees that the cameras would not employ facial recognition technology and that data retention would be limited to 30 days unless needed for ongoing investigations. The system’s accountability is further strengthened by comprehensive audit logs documenting every instance of data access and the reasons for it.

The council’s considerations included the importance of transparency and maintaining community trust, with references to the city of Edina’s public-facing dashboard as a model for transparency. This dashboard provides real-time statistics on LPR camera effectiveness. The meeting also touched on the necessity of mutual aid agreements with neighboring agencies and how information sharing would be managed to ensure data security.

Alongside the LPR discussions, the council addressed a proposal for the Lakeville Fire Release Benefit plan, aimed at improving the recruitment and retention of firefighters. The plan involves reallocating portions of state aid funds received due to the city’s demographic growth. For the next two years, 9% of state aid would be allocated to full-time firefighters, with an anticipated increase to 30% after the current saber grant concludes in 2027. This reallocation is intended to maintain the fund above the requisite 110% funding level, thereby supporting both paid on-call and full-time firefighters. The proposal also included suggestions to adjust vesting schedules and incrementally increase benefit levels.

The council also delved into financial matters, examining revenue projections and budgetary adjustments for 2025 and 2026. A positive revenue variance of approximately $200,000 was reported, with contributions from fire and police services playing a role. The anticipated Saber grant is expected to add $377,000, while increased licenses and permits have generated an additional $210,000. The council highlighted the introduction of a communications fund with a $300,000 tax levy to counter declining cable revenue and noted the potential for enhanced collaboration on affordable housing initiatives.

Further discussions involved the downtown special service district, with council members considering the need for assessments and the possibility of dissolving or altering the district based on feedback from property owners. The council also addressed the opioid fund, with projections for future transfers to the general fund as staffing positions are filled.