How to Speak at Your City Council Meeting

A step-by-step guide to making your voice heard at local government meetings about ALPR surveillance.

Why Your Voice Matters

City council meetings are where decisions about ALPR surveillance are made. Your participation can make a real difference in protecting privacy rights in your community.

Before the Meeting

1. Research Your City's Process

  • Find the meeting schedule on your city's website
  • Check if you need to register to speak (some cities require sign-up)
  • Know the time limits for public comment (usually 2-5 minutes)
  • Review the agenda to see if ALPR is already being discussed

2. Prepare Your Remarks

Keep your comments:

  • Brief and focused - stick to 2-3 key points
  • Personal - share how surveillance affects you and your family
  • Fact-based - cite specific concerns about privacy and costs
  • Solutions-oriented - suggest alternatives or policy changes

3. Know the Key Facts

Each point below has a source.

The chief's case

Expect the police chief to make a reasonable case, and prepare for it rather than dismissing it. The Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police said in a statement during the SB26-070 debate that "in many investigations, especially those involving violent crime, sexual assault, organized theft and missing persons, leads develop over days or weeks, not just hours." Departments will cite recoveries. Avon's chief reported 104 investigations assisted, 24 arrests, and 11 stolen vehicles recovered since early 2024, and Denver's mayor's office said cameras contributed to more than 40 percent of homicide investigations in 2025. Those are the cities' own counts and have not been independently checked. Then ask two questions with yes-or-no answers: will the city adopt the vendor's own 7-day retention recommendation, and will it publish its sharing list?

Records and your right to speak

If you want the contract, the invoices, or the retention policy, ask the city clerk under the Colorado Open Records Act. Plate data and search logs held by the police department fall under a different law, the Criminal Justice Records Act, which lets the department refuse them, so do not file one request for both. The Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition's template and tip sheet are linked below. Under the state's open meetings law you have the right to attend and to speak during public comment.

During the Meeting

City council meeting

Arrive Early

  • Get there 15-30 minutes before the meeting starts
  • Sign up for public comment if required
  • Observe the meeting format

When It's Your Turn

  1. State your name and address clearly
  2. Thank the council for their time
  3. Make your key points concisely
  4. Request specific action (vote no, demand transparency, etc.)
  5. Thank them again and sit down

Example Opening

"Good evening, my name is [Name] and I live at [Address] in [City]. Thank you for allowing me to speak. I'm here to voice my concern about the proposed ALPR system..."

After the Meeting

Follow Up

  • Send a thank-you email to council members who listened
  • Share what happened on social media
  • Connect with others who spoke or attended
  • Attend future meetings to show continued engagement

Stay Informed

  • Monitor when ALPR items come up for vote
  • Read meeting minutes and follow-up reports
  • Track your representatives' positions on privacy issues

Tips for Success

Do:

  • ✅ Be respectful and professional
  • ✅ Speak clearly and at a moderate pace
  • ✅ Bring written copies of your remarks
  • ✅ Bring supporters to show community concern
  • ✅ Dress appropriately (business casual recommended)

Don't:

  • ❌ Interrupt or argue with council members
  • ❌ Use inflammatory language
  • ❌ Go over your time limit
  • ❌ Read lengthy documents verbatim
  • ❌ Make personal attacks

Resources

Bring one specific, checkable fact about your own city: its retention period, its camera count, or its sharing list. The city pages on this site and the resources page can help you find one.