Cañon City Council voted unanimously May 18 to defer action on a $45,000 license plate reader contract renewal and called a special meeting for June 8, after residents raised documented concerns about the surveillance technology’s data security and misuse by law enforcement officers in other jurisdictions. The council also rejected an $817,008 bid to build Clocktower Plaza and approved a $49,609 consultant to assess the city’s development permitting process end to end.
The Flock Safety contract, which must be exercised by the end of June, covers 15 automated license plate reader cameras the Cañon City Police Department uses to generate investigative leads and real-time alerts on wanted vehicles. Police Chief John Schick told the council the system has helped officers recover stolen vehicles, apprehend suspects in violent crimes, and locate a suicidal individual who fled the area. He said the department enforces a 30-day data retention policy, logs every search by user ID and offense type, and has negotiated new contract terms requiring Flock to anonymize any city data used for product development, delete all city data upon contract termination, and provide an annual transparency report. Mayor Phil Lund left the meeting before the vote, and Mayor Pro Tem Amy Schmisseur presided for the remainder.
Three residents spoke against renewal. A retired Marine signals intelligence specialist told the council that Flock captures data on every vehicle passing a camera without a triggering violation, that the stored data is searchable without a warrant by any law enforcement agency the city grants access to, and that documented cases show officers in Wisconsin, Kansas, and California used the system to conduct unauthorized surveillance of personal acquaintances. Council Member Sarah McCullar cited a February 2026 audit finding that Flock had inadvertently shared Ventura County, California data with out-of-state and federal agencies after a national lookup feature was reactivated without explanation, and a separate case in which federal immigration agents accessed a California department’s data without its knowledge. Council Member Jeremy Reeves said it was “irresponsible” to proceed knowing the city has no independent access to Flock’s back-end systems to verify compliance. A Flock Safety representative confirmed the city has no way to independently verify whether data is being shared outside contractual obligations. The June 8 special meeting at 6 p.m. will include a Flock presentation and public comment before any vote.
Council voted 5-2 to deny an $817,008.50 base bid from Gordon Construction of Colorado Springs to build Clocktower Plaza, a long-planned public gathering space at the corner of Third and Main streets. The project has been in development for nearly 15 years and carries a $350,000 state grant from the Department of Local Affairs, with $600,000 in local quality-of-life funds as the required match. The base bid excluded restrooms, shade sails, and catenary lighting — each an add alternate priced between $120,000 and $150,000. Business owner Greg DiRito told the council a hardscape-only plaza without amenities risked attracting homeless encampments rather than the foot traffic the project was designed to generate; citizen Mike Starika urged the council to redirect the funds to street repairs instead. Council Members Gerald Meloni and Sarah McCullar voted against denial. Mayor Pro Tem Schmisseur asked staff to contact the state about applying the DOLA grant to a revised design. City Administrator Ryan Stevens said construction costs are not decreasing and the grant expires June 2027.
Council approved unanimously a $49,609 contract with CityGate Associates to assess the city’s development services process from planning entitlement through certificate of occupancy. CityGate consultant Lisa Shaffer agreed at council’s request to extend the on-site visit by one day for in-person external stakeholder interviews and add an optional customer survey. Mayor Lund said the assessment should capture feedback from businesses that have declined to work with the city, not only current customers. It is CityGate’s first engagement in Colorado.
Council received and filed a clean 2025 agreed-upon procedures report on the city’s Referendum 2A street improvement fund. Auditor Kyle Logan of Logan & Associates said the review found no exceptions — all expenditures were properly authorized and consistent with what voters approved. The city’s finance department separately received a distinguished award from the Government Finance Officers Association for its 2024 reporting. City Administrator Stevens told the council that negotiations with the prospective new Royal Gorge Bridge operator are nearing completion, with one issue remaining, and set a goal of June 1 for finalizing the agreement.
On the consent agenda, council approved a $327,556.91 crack seal and chip seal contract with A1 Chipseal Company, a $12,650 re-roofing contract for the historic Catlin Cabin funded entirely by the Friends of the Museum, elevator maintenance with Otis Elevator, and a fiber optic installation deviation for Visionary. An $80,000 contract with Alfred Benesch & Company to inspect Royal Gorge Bridge Park assets ahead of a new operator taking over was pulled from consent for a conflict-of-interest recusal by Council Member Toney and approved 7-0 with Toney abstaining.
Council Member Schmisseur reported that the city is finalizing locations and nonprofit partners for a signage program directing residents to donate to homeless service organizations rather than to individuals, planned for launch at the June 1 meeting. A third public open house on the Western Gateway Plaza concept drew 125 to 150 people; the final plan returns to council in June. The Finance, Budget, and Public Works Committee discussed a $1.75 million grant funding Highway 50 lighting improvements and work at Charles Bronson and Four Mile Parkway.
Council adopted Ordinance 8 on second reading, repealing the city’s fire and EMS impact fee chapter and returning collection to the fire district. Council introduced Ordinance 9 on first reading, allowing registered design professionals to determine whether soils testing is required for residential additions up to 350 square feet. City Attorney Kathryn Sellars said the ordinance uses the word “amend” rather than “update,” reducing the risk of triggering mandatory energy code adoption under state law. Council adopted Ordinance 7 on second reading, broadening the Central Business District zoning classification for small recreational vehicle sales and adding defined use categories.
During opening public comment, Gail Dexter of the Royal Gorge Chamber Alliance announced an inaugural Putt in the Park fundraiser at Depot Plaza on May 30. Resident Rochelle Whitney told the council her property at 9th Street and Whipple has been uninhabitable for six weeks following flood damage linked to street reconstruction work and that a contractor’s insurance adjuster had not responded to a submitted foundation report; the reconstruction also eliminated one of two vehicle access points to her driveway. Public Works Director Leo Evans said he planned to inspect the site the following day.
Council recognized the Cañon City High School choirs, whose concert ensemble won first place at the Colorado state choral festival for the second consecutive year and whose newly formed jazz choir also took first place. HR Director Butch Batchelder recognized five employees for service milestones: Bryan Welding, Bender Lambrecht, and Chad Stoddart each reached five years with the city, and Samuel Nettles and Mandy Brown each reached ten years. Council proclaimed May 18 as National Museum Day and recognized the Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for June 1, 2026. The special Flock Safety meeting is June 8 at 6 p.m.
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