PREVIEW: College Station City Council to review Flock Safety license plate readers

College Station City Council is set to receive an update from Police Chief Billy Couch on the city’s public safety grant tied to Flock Safety license plate readers at its July 23 meeting. This comes as residents continue to question city council about privacy and how camera data is used.

The history

The city of College Station has been using Flock cameras since 2025 and the council unanimously voted to sign a contract for $240,000 in Sept. of that year. The growing network of cameras has raised concerns among residents, with many speaking out against them at council meetings.

During a city council meeting in April 2026, Community Impact reported that the council unanimously approved a $308,000 grant for the College Station Police Department to help fund the program. The city would match 20% of the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority catalytic converter grant, along with a request from Mayor John Nichols for semi-annual updates on how the cameras are being used.

A closer look

According to DeFlock, a website dedicated to tracking Flock cameras, 78 license plate reader cameras are currently in use in College Station.

Several Texas cities have canceled contracts with Flock or deactivated the cameras, including Austin, San Marcos and Lockhart.

Council members have voiced concerns about the privacy of Flock license plate reader cameras, and Councilmember Melissa McIlhaney raised the question of where the data is going in the April meeting.

“Once data leaves here, if these cases have actually happened, that’s a cause for concern,” McIlhaney said. “I think we’re getting more and more exposed to AI and what those implications are. It is just beginning.”

College Station Police Chief Billy Couch, who will present, has spoken positively about the cameras in previous meetings and said they’re an “effective tool to reduce crime in the community.”

Also on the agenda

Council members are expected to discuss a possible $7 million contract amendment for Texas Independence Park, along with other infrastructure projects previously reported by Community Impact.

• Well 9 rehabilitation: The work is expected to replace sewer pumps and motors along with any continued maintenance work, expected to cost $1.5 million.
• Dowling Road Pump Station: Storage tanks and disinfection improvements are expected to cost $80,000 and help with the critical distribution line of water going into south College Station.
• College Heights Utility Rehabilitation Project: Replacement of the water lines because of service disruptions and overall growth of the area, expected to cost $12,650,000.

Get involved

College Station City Council will meet at 6 p.m. July 23 at City Hall, 1101 Texas Ave. Residents can sign up for a public comment at the meeting or send one to the council on the city’s website.