Flock Contract Signed - What Comes Next?
The deal is done. Here's what we still have the power to shape—MOUs, oversight, and transparency.
Hi neighbors,
The City of Mountlake Terrace has officially signed its contract with Flock Safety. During the June 12 Council Work Session, the City Manager confirmed—after being questioned by Councilmember Erin Murray—that the Service Agreement and Order Form were signed following Council’s June 5 vote. No changes were made.
This decision is disappointing, but not surprising. What matters now is what we do next.
🧾 What’s in the Contract?
After a detailed review of the documents, here’s what we know:
The initial term is 24 months, with the option to cancel after 12 months.
The cost is $27,000 per year, totaling $54,000.
The Service Agreement contains no provision allowing the City to cancel during the first year and receive a refund. Even if the City stops using the cameras, it is still obligated to pay.
The Order Form binds the City to Flock’s Terms and Conditions, which Flock can change at any time without notice.
So while the Flock representative characterized on June 5 that the City could cancel at any time, that only means they can stop using the cameras—not stop paying for them.
👉 Read the full Service Agreement (PDF)
👉 View the Order Form (PDF)
📄 What About Data Sharing?
The City is now drafting one or more Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) that will govern how data is shared with nearby jurisdictions like Lynnwood and others who also use Flock.
When asked if the public would get to review these, the City Manager said he would “share the language” with Councilmembers—but it’s unclear whether that means a public discussion or just a private email.
That’s simply not good enough.
We should demand that every MOU be reviewed and approved in a public Council meeting.
🛑 A Fresh Example of Risk
Just this week, it was reported that a Texas sheriff illegally accessed Flock data from Illinois to track a woman who had sought abortion care—bypassing local privacy protections by exploiting data-sharing relationships.
Mountlake Terrace's contract and future MOUs won’t protect us from this kind of misuse unless they’re carefully and transparently drafted—and even then, the risk remains.
🧠 A Look Back: What Happened to the Advisory Board?
During Council Comments on June 12, Councilmember William Paige made a compelling case for forming a new community oversight board:
“I think that the reasoning that we had an advisory group in 2017 that didn't turn out to be needed and saying that therefore now in 2025, we don't need another one is very shortsighted. 2017 and 2025 are two totally different time periods. This is a different city and to some degree the police force has changed.”
(minor edits for clarity)
Councilmember Bryan Wahl expressed interest in helping establish this advisory group as well. That’s encouraging.
For context: the city’s Community Policing Advisory Board was disbanded in 2017. Then-Chief Greg Wilson called it “antiquated and ineffective.” But that was seven years ago. We’re living in a different world—and we need new mechanisms for oversight.
👉 Read the 2017 memo disbanding the advisory board (PDF)
✅ What We Should Push For Next
We may not be able to undo the contract—but we can still shape what comes next.
Let’s demand:
🧾 MOUs be made public and approved by Council before any data is shared.
👥 A new Community Advisory Board to review Flock usage and publish quarterly reports.
🔎 Detailed, transparent reports that are open to public scrutiny—not vague dashboards with selective stats.
The City Council doesn’t meet again until June 26. At this point, they’ve heard clearly from the community—and we’ve seen some indications that they’re listening. Councilmembers Paige and Wahl have publicly expressed interest in greater oversight, including a potential advisory group and improved transparency.
So for now, let’s take a short breather.
If you’re like me, you might be channeling your energy this weekend into peaceful protest. I strongly encourage it. There are events happening across our region in support of immigrant rights and democratic accountability. Find a peaceful protest near you.
Thanks for staying engaged and for showing up in so many ways.
More soon,
Dustin