Atherton Responds to Grand Jury Criticism of License-Plate Cameras, Orders Policy Follow-Up

ATHERTON — CALIFORNIA58 LOCAL. On October 21, Atherton’s Town Council reviewed a San Mateo County civil grand jury report about automated license-plate reader cameras and the town’s response to the report’s findings. Police Chief McCulley presented policy revisions and remaining areas of work.

What residents should know

According to the town manager’s official council recap, sharing of license-plate reader data with two private university security departments has ended. The camera policy is now available through the town’s website and transparency portal, with criteria for approval and review of other sharing partners.

The city manager’s report says the data retention policy is being reconciled to a 30-day standard. Contract language requiring vendor Flock Safety to comply with California law remained under negotiation at the time of the meeting. That means not every corrective step was finished on October 21.

Councilmembers authorized a formal response to the grand jury and requested that the revised policy return at the next meeting. Residents concerned with surveillance, privacy and public-safety benefits should review the policy and future amendments rather than assume the use of cameras has ended.

The town’s official recap is a summary of council proceedings, not proof that all outside parties independently approved the updated system.

Primary source: Official municipal report or notice. Check the issuing agency for later changes to planned dates or policies.

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