[ACLU-CU ALERT] CONTACT URBANA CITY COUNCIL ABOUT SURVEILLANCE OVERSIGHT BEFORE MONDAY NIGHT!

[Champaign County ACLU Announcements]

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*aclu-cu.org <http://aclu-cu.org>*

*IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED! *URBANA SURVEILLANCE OVERSIGHT ORDINANCE

After two years of work on a complex issue, the Urbana City Council will
vote *Monday August 3rd* on an ordinance to give the public a voice in
decisions about what surveillance equipment the city of Urbana leases or
buys and what they can do with the personal data collected.

The ordinance gives the public 30 days to weigh in before the Council votes
on acquiring new surveillance technology. The ordinance doesn’t prohibit
surveillance technology, but it does set common sense oversight guardrails
to ensure our personal data is not misused. Importantly, it gives us, the
public, a chance to be informed about any new surveillance, ask questions,
and voice our concerns to our elected representatives. AND, it sets a
precedent we can urge other towns to follow.

*NOW **IS THE TIME TO CONTACT THE CITY COUNCIL AND URGE PASSAGE OF THE
SURVEILLANCE OVERSIGHT ORDINANCE (**Ordinance No. 2024-12-042).*



·      ATTEND THE MEETING (Monday August 3rd at 7 pm) to speak during
public comment.

·      Or write the Council at CityCouncil at UrbanaIL.Gov
<CityCouncil at urbanail.gov>. Request that your comments be entered into the
public record by putting PUBLIC INPUT AUG 3, 2026 in the subject line.

·      *Thank them for their leadership on this important issue and urge
them to vote FOR the Surveillance Oversight Ordinance. *

·      If you live in Urbana, write your council member directly, too. Find
their email here: https://www.urbanail.gov/city-clerk/page/city-council.


*SUMMARY OF THE MAIN POINTS:*

*How the Ordinance Works*

Sections 2-222, 2-223, 2-225 describe how technologies/contracts would be
approved by the City Council before they are used and provides some
guidelines for what can be approved.

Section 2-224 talks about reporting the use of technologies once they start
being used. Additionally, it prescribes how to handle surveillance
technology that's already in use before the ordinance is passed.

Sections 2-226 details an exigent circumstances exemption (how some
surveillance technology may be used without going through the above
approval process during an emergency at the discretion of the mayor or
their designee). The use must be reported to the City Council within 30
days of the use.

Section 2-227 explains how to treat surveillance data that is obtained
neither through approved means nor through exigent circumstances, i.e.
improperly.

 *MORE INFO: *Watch the video
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJvicdFFYAU&list=PLiG7sxd3aTy1sB3yJumz5yF2eLyiYZH9P=DypRag2eQyPmktZ4&t=11222>
 of the latest City Council discussion of the ordinance. Discussion starts
just after 2 hours. [2:03].


THANK YOU FOR HELPING US ADVOCATE FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES!

YOUR VOICE MATTERS!

aclu-cu.org
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