Wi-Fi returning to Healdsburg Plaza, more security cams may go up around town

A 10-camera system was estimated to cost $37,500. Councilmembers suggested cameras also be placed at Gibbs Park, which Rodriguez says would need two for effective coverage.

Healdsburg's leaders moved to restore public Wi-Fi to the plaza this week and considered adding more security cameras around town. The council also reviewed the city's small stockpile of military surplus weapons and when they were used last year.

The surveillance cameras are meant to help police investigate incidents. Authorities told the council that being clearly labeled, they also prevent incidents. They've proven so successful that officials are considering adding another dozen cameras, possibly as soon as this summer,

The city council Tuesday agreed to revisit the issue, likely in May.

Lieutenant Luis Rodriguez of Healdsburg's police department pitched an expansion of the city's existing network, saying the number of incidents have dropped significantly where the cameras already operate.

Councilmember Ron Edwards questioned Rodriguez about people and privacy.

"I appreciate how they help, I mean, I look at the results of our license plate cameras and it's fantastic, but this is going the next level, I'm just concerned about which levels a dispatcher would be watching and be looking for," Edwards said.

Rodriguez responded, "the reality is that we don't have the capability to have somebody watching these cameras all the time, it would be more of a reactive and investigatory tool," Rodriguez said.

A 10-camera system was estimated to cost $37,500.

Councilmembers suggested cameras also be placed at Gibbs Park, which Rodriguez says would need two for effective coverage.

On the public Wi-Fi front....,the council unanimously agreed to restore free Wi-Fi to Healdsburg's Plaza, approving a $49,000 contract to run conduits and electrical wiring, along with another $50,000 for network hardware and installation. The firm hired told city leaders work could begin within a month.

Meanwhile, the council re-authorized Healdsburg's military equipment use policy, without changes. The annual report and evaluation are required under state law.

The Healdsburg Police Department reports having an inventory of drones, flashbang grenades along with 40-millimeter and 37-millimeter foam and pepper gas shells and the weapons to fire them. Only the drones were used outside of training exercises last year.

Department statistics showed drones used 16 times in training, once to search for a suspect and once to provide tactical support. The department reports using drones a total of two dozen times in 2023, leaving half a dozen flights unaccounted for.