Stanwood City Council Regular Meeting: September 10, 2026

The Stanwood City Council convened on September 10, 2026, at 7:00 PM (adjourning at 8:35 PM) with Councilmember Bergman excused from attendance. The primary focus was a detailed presentation by Police Chief Jason Toner on the city's Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras, followed by extensive public comment for and against the program. The council also debated and adopted Resolution 2026-15, updating the city's personnel policy to allow for paid time off conversion.

Consent Calendar

• Councilmembers approved vouchers and payroll, the meeting minutes from August 13, 2026, and the appointment of Matthew Mattson to the Parks and Trails Advisory Committee. The motion (by Councilmember Wheatley, seconded by Councilmember Hicks) carried unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

Flock Safety Cameras

• Peter Bevington (Camano Island): Opposed the renewal of the Flock Safety contract, arguing the system constitutes AI-powered mass surveillance that creates an inherent risk of abuse which outweighs its safety benefits.
• Tim Schmitt (Stanwood): Expressed support for retaining the cameras but urged the council to implement better policies to govern their use and address privacy concerns, advocating for reform over elimination.
• Tanya Lopez (Camano Island): Strongly opposed the cameras, reporting that her family's two vehicles were logged 97 times in 21 days by the Stanwood cameras. She cited a Wired magazine article on Flock's expanding AI capabilities and argued such pervasive government surveillance is a deep invasion of privacy.
• Mary Ellen Wood (Warm Beach): Urged the council to let the Flock contract expire, stating her discomfort with mass data collection would lead her to shift her shopping to communities without such systems.
• Abigail Gae (Stanwood): Called the program a misallocation of funds and an invasion of privacy that does not make her feel safer, arguing it diminishes the character of the community.

Closing Comments

• Tim Schmitt: Thanked the Chief for his presentation and stated it alleviated his concerns, voicing support for retaining the cameras.
• Tim Schmidt: Criticized the council for placing a public records settlement on the consent agenda in a previous meeting, arguing such a significant issue deserved a more prominent roll call vote.
• Peter Bevington: Thanked the council and the community for engaging in what he characterized as a respectful and thorough democratic debate.

Discussion Items

Police CompStat Report & Flock Safety Camera Presentation

• Chief Jason Toner delivered a comprehensive update on the city's Flock Safety ALPR cameras, emphasizing compliance with the new Washington State Senate Bill 602. Key updates included restricted search reasons (stolen vehicles, missing persons, felonies), a strict 21-day data retention policy, and the prohibition of sharing data with immigration enforcement. The city has 14 total cameras (13 actively operating, 1 off pending relocation away from a restricted zone). In the previous 30 days, the system captured 98,479 vehicles and generated 83 “hot list” hits (stolen vehicles or wanted persons flagged across agencies). The annual contract cost is $44,000.
• Councilmembers questioned Chief Toner on the metrics of the “hot list” hits, the cost structure if cameras were removed, and the system's potential future capabilities. Chief Toner confirmed the system does not use facial recognition, and that independent probable cause is required for any stop, positioning the cameras as a force multiplier for the small police department.

Adopt Resolution 2026-15: Personnel Policy and Procedure Manual Update

• Director David Hammond presented a policy update creating an optional paid time off (PTO) conversion program for eligible non-represented employees aged 57 and older. The goal is to reduce the city’s accumulated PTO liability (recorded at $397,000 in 2025) and enable smoother succession planning. Employees would be required to use at least four weeks (160 hours) of PTO annually and would be limited in how much leave they could cash out upon retirement under the new program.
• Councilmember Shepro raised concerns about the potential budget exposure if multiple senior employees utilized the program simultaneously, and he expressed doubt that the financial benefits of the policy outweighed its costs.
• Councilmember Hicks echoed the need for full information and understanding before implementing the policy.
• The motion passed on a vote of 4 to 2. (Councilmembers Gaumond, Cowan, Robb, and Wheatley in favor; Hicks and Shepro opposed).

Key Outcomes

• The consent agenda (vouchers, payroll, minutes, and PTAC appointment) was approved unanimously.
• Resolution 2026-15 (Personnel Policy Update) was adopted on a vote of 4-2.
• The upcoming Flock Safety contract renewal was positioned as a major decision for the council. Councilmember Shepro noted the absence of public opposition when the contract was originally approved two years ago, contrasting it with the high turnout and strongly held positions expressed during this meeting's public comment period.
• Councilmember Shepro stated he came into the meeting prepared to vote for the Personnel Policy resolution but developed doubt based on the discussion, explaining his “no” vote.
• Councilmember Robb welcomed new Parks and Trails Advisory Committee member Matthew Mattson and new Planning Manager Chris Holland.