Summary

Council approves police data limits

San JoseMar 10, 20261 min read

At a glance

Quick context to catch up fast.

The Council approved changes to the Police Department’s Automated License Plate Reader data rules, including cutting the default data retention period from one year to 30 days and limiting camera placement near certain reproductive health care and religious sites.

Committees mentioned

Open the committee coverage hubs tied to this summary.

City Council

Topics discussed

Public SafetyCommerce

View official document

Was this summary helpful?

Your feedback helps us prioritize what to improve next.

What this means

The Council changed how the city’s license plate reader system can store and collect data. The default retention period was shortened from one year to 30 days, which means police data will be deleted sooner unless a different rule applies. The Council also restricted camera placement so the system cannot be positioned to capture vehicles entering or leaving locations primarily used for abortion services or religious observance. The Council also accepted a report on the program and added a clarification to the public transparency portal.

Key decisions

Follow the major takeaways from this briefing.

Approved changes to the Police Department Automated License Plate Reader Data Usage Protocol, including reducing the default data retention period from one year to 30 days.
Prohibited Automated License Plate Reader cameras from being placed to capture vehicles entering or exiting reproductive health care facilities primarily providing abortion services or locations primarily used for religious observance.
Accepted the Police Department Automated License Plate Reader program report and approved a clarification to the public Automated License Plate Reader Transparency Portal.
Accepted the report and recommendation to achieve a net reduction in Police Department overtime spending.
Approved an ordinance establishing the Alameda Business Improvement District.

Timeline & follow-ups

Action items flagged by the community.

No follow-ups have been shared yet. Add one in the community board below.

Meeting information

Details and records from this meeting.

City Council

Mar 10, 2026, 8:30 PMCouncil Chambersscheduled

Agenda

Please scroll to the end for information about the City Council Agenda and for the Rules of Conduct of the meeting.
Public Comment in Person Only
For live translations in over 50 languages, please go to https://attend.wordly.ai/join/FAYU-7105
American Disability Act
To request an alternative format agenda under the Americans with Disabilities Act for City-sponsored meetings, events or printer materials, please call (408) 535-1260 as soon as possible, but at least three business days before the meeting.
Accommodations
Any member of the public who needs accommodations should email the ADA Coordinator at ADA@sanjoseca.gov or by calling (408) 535-8430. The ADA Coordinator will use their best efforts to provide reasonable accommodations to provide as much accessibility as possible while also maintaining public safety in accordance with the City procedure for resolving reasonable accommodation requests. • Adaptaciones para discapacitados serán proporcionadas a pedido. Mande correo electrónico ADA@sanjoseca.gov; Llame (408) 535-8430. • Bất kỳ ai trong công-đồng cần sự hỗ-trợ xin gửi điện-thư cho Điều-phối-viên ADA theo địa-chỉ ADA@sanjoseca.gov hoặc gọi đến số (408) 535-8430.
THE LEVINE ACT
The Levine Act requires a Party in a Proceeding before the City of San José that involves any action related to their contract, license, permit, or use entitlement to disclose any campaign contributions to City elected or appointed officials totaling more than $500 within the 12 months prior to the City decision. A Participant to a Proceeding may voluntarily report a campaign contribution. For more information: https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/appointees/city-clerk/levine-act/-fsiteid-1#!/
How to observe the Meeting (no public comment):
1) Cable Channel 26. 2) https://sanjoseca.gov/news-stories/watch-a-meeting 3) https://youtube.com/CityofSanJoseCalifornia 4) By Phone: (888) 475 4499. Webinar ID is 935 5874 4255. Alternative phone numbers are: US: +1 (213) 338-8477 or +1 (408) 638-0968 or (877) 853-5257 (Toll Free). 5) Online at: https://sanjoseca.zoom.us/j/93558744255 Use a current, up-to-date browser: Chrome 30+, Firefox 27+, Microsoft Edge 12+, Safari 7+. Certain functionality may be disabled in older browsers including Internet Explorer.
How to submit written Public Comment before the City Council Meeting:
By email to city.clerk@sanjoseca.gov by 8:00 a.m. the day of the meeting. Those emails will be attached to the Council Item under “Letters from the Public.” Please identify the Agenda Item Number in the subject line of your email.
How to provide spoken Public Comment during the City Council Meeting:
You may speak to the City Council about any discussion item that is on the agenda, and you may also speak during Open Forum on items that are not on the agenda and are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council. Please be advised that, by law, the City Council is unable to discuss or take action on issues presented during Open Forum. According to State Law (the Brown Act) items must first be noticed on the agenda before any discussion or action. Each speaker generally has two minutes to speak per item. The total amount of time allocated for public testimony for each public speakers or for an agenda item may be limited at the Mayor’s discretion, depending on the number of speakers or the length of the agenda. (California Government Code Section 54954.3; Council Policy 0-37) Fill out a Yellow Speaker’s Card and submit it to boxes at the bottom of the Chambers. Do this before the meeting or before the item is heard. This will ensure that the name on the card is called for the item(s) that you wish to address, and it will help ensure the meeting runs smoothly for all participants by calling speakers in an orderly manner. You may remain anonymous, but please fill out a card so we may call you. You can put “anonymous speaker” or “no name” on the card. When the Council reaches your item on the agenda, the Mayor will open the public hearing and call your name. Please address the Council from the podium, which is located to the left of the City Clerk’s table. To assist you in tracking your speaking time, there is a display on the podium. The green light turns on when you begin speaking; the yellow light turns on when you have 30 seconds left; and the red light turns on when your speaking time is up.
Call to Order and Roll Call
Closed Session, Call to Order in Council Chambers - Cancelled
Closed Session Agenda
Regular Session, Council Chambers, City Hall
Evening Session, Council Chambers, City Hall – Cancelled *The previously scheduled Evening Session has been cancelled.
Pledge of Allegiance
Invocation (District 3)
San José Taiko
Orders of the Day
Items recommended to be added, dropped, or deferred are usually approved under Orders of the Day unless the Council directs otherwise.
Adjournment Recognition
Closed Session Report
CEREMONIAL ITEMS
Presentation of a proclamation recognizing the 28th Annual Mexica New Year Celebration (Yancuic Xihuitl) in San José, honoring Indigenous heritage and cultural continuity through the nation’s largest Aztec New Year ceremony and a vibrant three-day celebration of community unity. (Ortiz)
CONSENT CALENDAR
Notice to the public: There will be no separate discussion of Consent Calendar items as they are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be adopted by one motion. If a member of the City Council requests discussion on a particular item, that item may be removed from the Consent Calendar and considered separately.
Approval of City Council Minutes.
Final Adoption of Ordinances.
Final Adoption of Ordinances.
Approval of Council Committee Minutes.
Approval of Council Committee Minutes.
Mayor and Council Excused Absence Requests.
Mayor and Council Excused Absence Requests.
City Council Travel Reports.
Report from the Council Liaison to the Retirement Boards.
Second Quarter Financial Reports for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. - DEFERRED TO 3/24/2026 PER ADMINISTRATION
Franchise Agreement with LS Power Grid California, LLC for Electric Services in Public Rights-of-Way.
Actions Related to the 10304 - Welch Park Restrooms Renovation Project.
STRATEGIC SUPPORT
Report of the City Manager, Jennifer Maguire (Verbal Report).
Labor Negotiations Update.
City of San José Investment Policy Annual Review. - DEFERRED TO 3/24/2026 PER ADMINISTRATION
City Council Focus Areas Status Report for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES
Automated License Plate Readers Data Usage Protocol Update.
Police Department Overtime Spending.
TRANSPORTATION & AVIATION SERVICES
ENVIRONMENTAL & UTILITY SERVICES
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES
COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
REDEVELOPMENT – SUCCESSOR AGENCY
LAND USE
Notice to the public: There will be no separate discussion of Land Use Consent Calendar (Item 10.1) as they are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be adopted by one motion. If a member of the City Council requests discussion on a particular item, that item will be removed from the Land Use Consent Calendar (Item 10.1) and considered separately.
Land Use on Consent Calendar
No Land Use items on Consent Calendar.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Land Use - Regular Agenda
Open Forum
Members of the Public are invited to speak on any item that does not appear on today’s Agenda and that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council. Members of the public may only speak at Open Forum once.
Adjournment
All public records relating to an open session item on this agenda, which are not exempt from disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act, that are distributed to a majority of the legislative body will be available for public inspection online at https://sanjose.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx or at the Office of the City Clerk at San José City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara Street, Tower 14th Floor, San José, CA 95113 at the same time that the public records are distributed or made available to the legislative body. Any draft contracts, ordinances and resolutions posted on the Internet site or distributed in advance of the Council meeting may not be the final documents approved by the City Council. Please go to the Clerk’s Records Database https://records.sanjoseca.gov/Pages/Search.aspx for the final document, or you many also contact the Office of the City Clerk at (408) 535-1260 or CityClerk@sanjoseca.gov.

Council approves police data limits

At a glance

Committees mentioned

Topics discussed

What this means

Key decisions

Timeline & follow-ups

Meeting information

City Council

Agenda

Documents from this meeting

Recent documents

Civic leadership