HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 14509
City of Palo Alto (ID # 14509)
City Council Staff Report
Meeting Date: 6/20/2022 Report Type: Consent Calendar
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Title: SECOND READING: Adoption of an Ordinance Amending the City's
Surveillance and Privacy Protection Ordinance to Exempt the Foothills Fire
Early Warning System (PAMC 2.30.680). (FIRST READING: June 6, 2022:
PASSED: 7-0)
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Office of Emergency Services
This was heard by the City Council on June 6, 2022 for a first reading and was approved 7- 0. No
changes were made to the Ordinance; it is now before you for a second reading.
Attachments:
• Attachment A - Ordinance amending PAMC 2.30.680 to exempt fire detection
technologies from the Surveillance and Privacy Protection Ordinance
NOT YET ADOPTED
251_20220519_ts24 1
Ordinance No. ____
Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending the Surveillance and
Privacy Protection Ordinance to Exempt the Foothills Fire Early Warning System
The Council of the City of Palo Alto ORDAINS as follows:
SECTION 1. Findings and Declarations. The City Council finds and declares as follows:
A. In 2018, the City Council adopted the Surveillance and Privacy Protection Ordinance, now
codified at PAMC 2.30.620 et seq.
B. The City Council now desires to exempt certain technology related to fire detection from
the provisions of the Ordinance.
SECTION 2. Section 2.30.680(c) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby amended as
follows to add new subsection (6) (new text is underlined, deleted text in strikethrough):
(c) "Surveillance technology" means any device or system primarily designed and
actually used or intended to be used to collect and retain audio, electronic, visual, location, or
similar information constituting personally identifiable information associated with any specific
individual or group of specific individuals, for the purpose of tracking, monitoring or analysis
associated with that individual or group of individuals. Examples of surveillance technology
include drones with cameras or monitoring capabilities, automated license plate readers, closed-
circuit cameras/televisions, cell-site simulators, biometrics-identification technology and facial-
recognition technology. For the purposes of this chapter, "surveillance technology" does not
include:
(1) Any technology that collects information exclusively on or regarding city employees
or contractors;
(2) Standard word-processing software; publicly available databases; and standard
message tools and equipment, such as voicemail, email, and text message tools;
(3) Information security tools such as web filtering, virus detection software;
(4) Audio and visual recording equipment used exclusively at open and public events,
or with the consent of members of the public;
(5) Medical devices and equipment used to diagnose, treat, or prevent disease or
injury;.
(6) Any technology used as part of the Foothills Fire Early Warning System to detect
fires within the following area:
West Side: Skyline Blvd (Hwy 35) from Route 84 (Woodside Rd/La Honda Rd.) to Hwy 9
North Side: Route 84 from Skyline to Alameda de las Pulgas
East Side: Alameda de las Pulgas to Santa Cruz Ave to Junipero Serra Rd. to Foothill Expwy.
South Side: Draw a line from the intersection of Hwy 9 at Hwy 35 to the intersection of
Foothill Expwy at Magdalena
NOT YET ADOPTED
251_20220519_ts24 2
SECTION 3. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is
for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent
jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance.
The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and each and every
section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not declared invalid or unconstitutional without
regard to whether any portion of the Ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or
unconstitutional.
SECTION 4. The Council finds that adoption of this Ordinance is not a “project” within
the meaning of CEQA.
SECTION 5. This Ordinance shall be effective on the thirty-first date after the date of
its adoption.
INTRODUCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
NOT PARTICIPATING:
ATTEST:
____________________________ ____________________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
____________________________ ____________________________
Assistant City Attorney City Manager
____________________________
Director of the Office of Emergency Services
____________________________
Fire Chief