LEAGUE CITY — In a move designed to resolve months of debate over local surveillance technology, the League City Council voted unanimously to establish a binding operational protocol that will automatically remove and disable all police-operated Flock Safety license plate reader cameras if residents vote against the technology this November.

The resolution passed Tuesday, following widespread discussion over Proposition A, a measure appearing on the upcoming local ballot that asks residents:

“As a nonbinding statement of voter preference, should the League City Police Department continue using automated license plate reader cameras at fixed locations on public roadways for law enforcement purposes?”

Because Proposition A was structured as a nonbinding advisory referendum, city officials faced questions from residents regarding whether council members would honor the election’s outcome. In response, Mayor Nick Long proposed the contingent resolution to create an automatic, legally structured follow-through.

What Happens If Proposition A Fails

If a majority of voters cast “No” ballots, the newly passed measure triggers a set of mandatory directives immediately upon the official canvass of the election:

• 72-Hour Removal Window: City staff and vendor representatives must remove all 55 fixed public roadway ALPR cameras within 72 hours. If physical removal cannot be completed within that window, staff are required to bag or cover the cameras to immediately stop data capture until full removal occurs.
• HOA Rights-of-Way Operations: The City Manager is instructed to identify any Flock cameras operated by homeowners’ associations in municipal rights-of-way, issue removal notices, and terminate or decline to renew applicable city permits.
• Contract Termination: The resolution directs the City Attorney and City Manager to immediately pull the city out of its contractual agreements with vendor Flock Safety, following lawful termination processes and coordinating the return of equipment.
• Public Safety Budget Reallocation: The City Manager must identify remaining available funds from the Flock contract and present recommendations to reallocate those dollars toward alternative public safety initiatives aligned with community priorities.

Mayor and Council Address the Vote

Following the vote, Mayor Nick Long released a public statement confirming that the resolution removes any administrative barriers or needed follow-up votes if the referendum passes unfavorably for the program:

“Yesterday the Council unanimously passed my resolution that lays out what will happen if the citizens vote ‘No’ on Flock. This will all happen automatically and require no further action from Council.

1—Staff will take down, disable or bag all Flock cameras within 72 hours of the vote being certified.

2—The City Attorney will remove the City from the Flock contract immediately.

The Council has demonstrated that it is serious about following the will of the people. Every member has stated so publicly and now we have put that commitment into law.”

During council proceedings, council members echoed the sentiment that public sentiment would dictate the future of the technology. “Let me preface this by saying, I support the cameras,” noted Council Member Andy Mann. “Having said that, if the citizens don’t want them, we are going to rip them out of the ground.”

Public Debate and Next Steps

The use of Flock Safety cameras in League City has drawn significant attention from both supporters and privacy advocates. Local law enforcement officials have noted that the 55-camera system has assisted in over 300 criminal investigations and helped recover roughly $1 million in stolen property. Conversely, critics have raised concerns regarding automated data collection, potential misuse, and overall surveillance limits in public spaces.

The resolution’s provisions will only take effect if the election canvass establishes a majority “No” vote on Proposition A. If voters approve the continued use of the cameras, the resolution will not take effect, and current law enforcement operations will proceed unchanged.