Anchorage ordinance would require Assembly approval for any surveillance purchase, at any price

Any municipal agency in Anchorage would have to win Assembly approval before acquiring or expanding surveillance technology, including free trials and contract amendments and "regardless of dollar value," under an ordinance introduced Aug. 18.

Assembly Members McCormick and Scout and Vice Chair Volland submitted the measure, which repeals and replaces the municipal surveillance chapter. It directs the mayor, within 120 days of the effective date, to have every agency file an inventory of surveillance technology in use, acquired or under contract, with an impact report for each. Technology already in use may continue during that review. The ordinance would require deletion of license plate reader data, camera footage and Real-Time Crime Center recordings within 14 days unless preserved as evidence, under a warrant, litigation hold or records request, and would require an annual compliance audit by the ombudsman or Internal Audit.

The ordinance places the first code limits on automated license plate readers, restricting real-time comparisons to a narrow hot list such as stolen vehicles, active AMBER or Silver Alerts and outstanding felony warrants, while barring use for misdemeanors or civil violations; queries older than 14 days would require a warrant, and the authorization would repeal itself Jan. 1, 2031 unless renewed.

Live camera monitoring would also be constrained for the first time, requiring a logged case number, authorized purpose, named camera or area, and supervisory approval, with sessions ending automatically after 60 minutes and cross-camera tracking barred except in narrow emergencies. A supervisor can renew a session with written justification, in 30-minute increments.

The ordinance's recitals give the reason. It notes the Assembly approved a five-year, roughly $11.8 million contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc. on Sept. 23, 2025, providing a Real-Time Crime Center built to receive up to 750 camera feeds, without amending the surveillance code. The same recital adds plate readers and drones.

The material for this story is the sponsors' own filing and contains no response from the administration or the Anchorage Police Department. Separately, Chief Sean Case told an Assembly work session Aug. 21 that department policy already sets 14-day retention for plate reader data, limits search access to fewer than 10 employees, and directs the chief to assess quarterly whether the benefits of the program outweigh the risks to citizen privacy.

The Assembly has set a public hearing on the ordinance for Oct. 6. If passed, most provisions take effect 90 days later, while the acquisition-approval requirement takes effect immediately.