A $226,000 contract for 35 police surveillance cameras in downtown Hermosa Beach was unanimously approved in concept by the city council at a January city council meeting. The proposal was unanimously rejected at Tuesday night’s city council meeting, following comments from resident JD Wilcox.
Wilcox contended that the proposed wireless system would be subject to hacking, utilized low resolution cameras and invited constitutional challenges.
The digital camera expert  proposed a fiber optic cable system to prevent hacking and not allowing the video to be viewed without a search warrant.
Without the search warrant requirement, Wilcox pointed out, the videos would be subject to public record requests.
Hermosa Beach Police Chief Sharon Papa responded by noting that Santa Monica and Huntington Beach have similar wireless surveillance systems and that the seven contract bids were reviewed by a committee that included former Hermosa Beach Police Chief Greg Savelli and Los Angeles Police Department systems analyst Sandra Russell.
Papa added that the department’s two surveillance cameras on the pier lifeguard headquarters were helpful in deploying officers over the July 4 weekend and that two burglary suspects were recently apprehended after being identified on civilian surveillance cameras.
AÂ two hour council discussion followed, ending with the council referring the proposal back to the city staff for further study.
AÂ motion by councilman Hany Fangary to approve the camera contract was seconded by Mayor Pete Tucker.
That motion failed 3-2. Three subsequent motions to approve the contract also failed.
“I agonized over this for months,” Councilwoman Carolyn Petty said. “What [initially] swayed me [in favor] was my unconditional support for the police chief. I didn’t go with my intuition. I don’t like to flip flop, but philosophically, I’m opposed to cameras looking at residents when anyone can file a public record request to view the video. I can’t support it.”
Councilman Michael DiVirgilio said  he also was philosophically opposed to surveillance cameras, except in “alleys, parking garages and [outside] bathrooms, but not on Pier Plaza or Hermosa Avenue.”
“We’re going in circles. I don’t believe in watering down what the chief and staff recommended. Let’s get real,” Mayor Tucker said.
“I agree with the mayor,” Fangary said. “We gave the police department direction. They propose cameras on Pier Plaza, the parking lots and Hermosa Avenue. I don’t see why we should deviate from the chief’s plan.”
“Can we limit the availability of the images so they are not available through public record requests?” Councilwoman Nanette Barragan asked city attorney Michael Jenkins.
Jenkins responded, “No.”
Barragan then indicated she would support Fangary’s motion, with the provision that the staff investigate using fiber optic cable, rather than a wireless system.
“Why award a bid for a wireless system while asking staff to explore another system? Your motion is inconsistent,” attorney Jenkins advised Barragan.
“If you want to explore fiber optics, continue this item,” City Manager Tom Bakaly suggested.
On a motion from councilman DiVirgilio, the council voted unanimously to instruct staff to reject all of the bids and investigate a fiber optics system. ER
