Board approves two-year extension and $138,000 amendment for Homemakers neighborhood license-plate camera program

The Solano County Board of Supervisors approved a first amendment to the county’s agreement with Flock Group, Inc., adding $138,000 to continue operation of 23 license-plate reader cameras in the Homemakers neighborhood for two additional years and approved an appropriation transfer of $69,000 to fund the first year.

Why it matters: county staff said the camera network has produced data the sheriff's department used in investigations and that the system is governed by the sheriff’s automatic license-plate reader (ALPR) policy. Supporters said the cameras help identify stolen vehicles and wanted plates and contributed to arrests.

What staff reported: a presenter identified as Alan said the two-year pilot produced about 6,400 “hits,” 3,300 “hot list” hits, nearly 2,900 lost-or-stolen-vehicle plates identified, 118 stolen vehicles identified and two felony vehicles. He said the 23 cameras helped solve 34 cases and led to 16 arrests during the 2024 reporting period. Alan also said the sheriff’s department manages the data, does not sell it or use it for third-party commercial purposes, and that the program conforms to ACLU criteria the county uses for privacy protections. The board approved the amendment by a 5-0 vote.

Implementation and funding: the amendment funds two additional years of camera operation. The board approved a transfer of $69,000 from the Homemakers loan fund to pay the first year; future funding beyond the two-year amendment was not decided at the meeting.

Board action: vote recorded as 5-0 to approve the amendment and appropriation transfer. The sheriff’s department remains the data custodian and staff said technical or administrative amendments to the contract may be executed by the county administrator or sheriff’s designee.