Feb 25 City Council Regular Meeting
Hi folks and happy Sunday! This week we have our last Cheney City Council meeting of February on Tuesday the 25th. The agenda was posted at the end of this last week to the City website for us to review. I took a look and have included some things that stand out to me below.
February 25 Regular Meeting Agenda:
https://www.cityofcheney.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02252025-595?html=true
This meeting can be attended live in-person by going to the Cheney City Council Chambers at 609 2nd Street in downtown Cheney or via the Zoom link listed in the agenda.
Things of note in this meeting:
Resolution F-341 - FLOCK Camera System Purchase up for approval for the Cheney Police Department
25-023 - Resolution F-341 - FLOCK Camera System Purchase
The Police Department is requesting to purchase FLOCK Cameras, which City Council approved as a discretionary request in the 2025 budget.
Documents:
25-023 - Resolution F-341 - Flock Camera Purchase.pdf
Resolution F-341 - FLOCK Camera Purchase.pdf
Flock Quote (002).pdf
Discretionary Funds Flock Cameras 3.pdf
There are a lot of concerns over privacy and safety when it comes to the use of FLOCK cameras. They feel very "big brother" and it's important to be well informed before approving a system like this inside our community. I would encourage you and everyone read up on them ahead of this meeting and provide a public comment if you find this system to be concerning like I do. Below I have included some links here from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) who is a nonprofit who fights for your digital privacy and security rights, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to help get you started.
- Things to Know Before Your Neighborhood Installs an Automated License Plate Reader
- The Rise of the Police-Advertiser
- How to Pump the Brakes on Your Police Department’s Use of Flock’s Mass Surveillance License Plate Readers
- Fast-Growing Company Flock is Building a New AI-Driven Mass-Surveillance System
- ACLU Statement on the Rejection of Flock Safety Surveillance Cameras by Portsmouth Town Council
- Privacy Violated, Warrantless Surveillance Alleges Flock Safety Camera Lawsuit
Ordinance Y-84 - Comprehensive Plan And Zoning Map Amendment up for approval by City Council after having been approved unanimously by the Cheney Planning Commission meeting on Feb 10
25-016 - Ordinance Y-84 - Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Map Amendment
A proposal by Land Use Solutions & Entitlement, to Amend the Zoning Map and Comprehensive Plan Designation for Parcel #23073.0009 and 13124.4107. The entire parcel is currently zoned Commercial, with a Comprehensive Plan Designation of Commercial. The proposed change is from commercial to High Density Residential (R-3H). The site is located on 3.14 acres behind the F&M Shopping Center (Andrus Road and the railroad tracks). On February 11, 2025, Planning Commission unanimously recommended that the Comprehensive Plan and Map Amendment be forward onto City Council.
Documents:
CCAR 25-016 - Com PlanAmendment.pdf
LUA2024-004 - Ordinance Y-84.pdf
LUA2024-004 - Staff Report.pdf
Gillingham Site Plan 2nd draft.pdf
LUA2024-004 - PC Recommendation.pdf
Regarding LUA2024-004 Gilligham comprehensive plan amendment and zone change.pdf
The meeting minutes nor the Zoom recording have been posted yet from the Planning Commission meeting but the agenda is available for review. The ordinance is to change the zoning behind the F&M Shopping Center where Copy Junction and Apex Physical Therapy is so they can build an apartment complex along Andrus Road.
I attended the Planning Commission meeting where this was approved and they had raised some concerns around traffic where Andrus Road connects with 1st Street. They noted that full traffic study needed to approve this project (not the zone change) is still outstanding.
The ordinance up for City Council approval on Tuesday's meeting is only to approve the needed zoning change that could allow a project like this to move forward and to have that included in the 2026 Comprehensive Plan for Cheney.
Making Public Comment
Council comments may be submitted via email to councilcomments@cityofcheney.org or by dropping off written comments in the drop box at Cheney City Hall, 609 2nd St. All comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. the day of the meeting. In-person and virtual participants will have the opportunity to comment during the meeting. If you want to provide verbal comments during the meeting, please email councilcomments@cityofcheney.org by 5:00 p.m. the day of the meeting and provide the topic you would like to speak about.
Want to make your voice heard? Have concerns or opinions on any of the items on the agenda for this meeting? The start of the meeting offers the opportunity for the public attending in person or via Zoom to provide comment on record for up to 2 minutes of time.
You can email to get on the public comment list or send in your written comment in full directly councilcomments@cityofcheney.org or drop off a written comment in the drop box at Cheney City Hall before 5pm on Tuesday, February 25th. You can also decide spontaneously to give comment during this window as the Mayor will always ask if anyone who hasn't signed up is interested in speaking.
When giving your comment be sure to stay within your 2 minute time window, start by stating your full name and your address for the record. Then share what is on your mind.
Our democracy only works when we participate. I hope this helps get you plugged in and aware of what our Cheney government is working on. I encourage everyone to attend this meeting and give public comment to have your voice heard by our Councilmembers who are here to represent you, me and everyone in our beautiful community.
~ Rebecca