Councilman: Requiring Camera on Private Property Goes Too Far

At what point does personal privacy get trumped by public safety?

It was the question raised by Redlands City Councilman Jerry Bean at the council's last meeting, as the panel discussed whether or not to require a private property owner to install city-operated surveillance equipment.

The issue will come before the council again Tuesday.

If passed in its current form, the developer of 34 townhomes proposed for construction off of Occidental Drive, north of Brockton Avenue - near the University of Redlands - would become the first private development in the city required to install the cameras.

Police estimated it could cost the developer about $20,000.

The requirement concerned Bean who called it, “inappropriate” during the April 3 council meeting and tried to have the condition removed. His effort fell short in a 3-2 vote – Mayor Pete Aguilar, Mayor Pro-tem Paul Foster and Councilman Bob Gardner opposed to eliminating the condition.

Bean was bothered that the city was asking a property owner to spend tens of thousands for camera equipment that could invade the privacy of his residents. He argued that the small development may not be worth the expenditure.

His concern was not eased by a change in the condition’s wording that would aim the camera primarily at the entrance/exit area of the gated townhome community.

It sets a troubling precedent, he said.

“I think establishing a camera requirement like this in a private residential area is just a step too far on the concept of the surveillance cameras,” Bean said.

Developer BNY Inc., has been working with the city to build the townhomes in an area zoned for single-family homes. The city has been considering a new zoning designation for the area.

The project came before city officials on the heels of the January 2011 fatal shooting of two boys, who died about two miles from the proposed development on Oxford Drive.

“With that in mind we wanted to be sure that we had the resources available to attempt to address those concerns with the community,” said Redlands Police Lt. Chris Catren.

Bud Thatcher, civil engineer with the Redlands-based Thatcher Engineering and Assoc. Inc., said he felt the cameras in the common area were too much.

"I do believe it is a step too far to require this," Thatcher said. "But I also think developers should be proactive in working with the police department. And I think there is probably a middle ground in here somewhere.”

The city already has about 100 police-operated cameras located throughout the city, which are monitored by volunteers and . The cameras were key in helping solve a in downtown.

The council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. in the council chambers.