Provide a comprehensive summary of the feedback collected during the public comment period on Public Safety Technology Enhancements.

Receive public comments. Review and discuss the attached data collected during the feedback period beginning March 25, 2025, and ending April 23, 2025.

As presented during the February 3, 2025, Council Work Session, Public Safety and Information Technology are proposing several public safety technology enhancements aimed at improving community safety, streamlining investigations, and maximizing law enforcement efficiency. These enhancements build upon the City’s existing public safety practices by integrating new technologies.
 
To ensure transparency and provide the community with the opportunity to participate in this process, on March 24, 2025, City Council approved the initiation of a public comment period regarding Public Safety technology enhancements. The City launched a 30-day public comment period, which began March 25, 2025, and concluded April 23, 2025. Community members were able to submit feedback online through Every Voice Mankato during this time. Additionally, public comments will be accepted in person at the April 28, 2025, City Council meeting.

These technology enhancements do not require any prescribed public engagement or public comment by state law. However, the City of Mankato chose to follow the same public engagement process as that of the installation of police officer body-worn cameras as implemented in 2022.

The summary of data collected by Every Voice Mankato is as follows:

• 62 responses were collected in the data.
• 49 of 62 responded that improving community safety through new initiatives and technology was at least somewhat important.
   
• 42 of 62 responded that they were at least somewhat supportive of using advanced technology to enhance community safety and address crime more efficiently.
• 46 of 62 responded that they at least somewhat agree that investing in new technologies is necessary for Mankato to remain a safe and thriving community.
• 6 of 62 responses said that there is no benefit in implementing new technologies in community safety.
• 62 respondents gave information about adopting new technologies. 45 of 62 voiced concern about privacy and data security. 34 of 62 voiced concern about potential misuse or lack of accountability. 13 of 62 voiced no concerns.
• 40 of 62 respondents at least somewhat support enhancing the Milestone Camera system in Proposal 1.
• 43 of 62 respondents at least somewhat support utilizing License Plate Reading technology in the police squad car Axon vehicle camera system in Proposal 2.
• 39 of 62 respondents at least somewhat support utilizing license plate reading technology with the Flock camera system in Proposal 3.
• 41 of 62 respondents at least somewhat support utilizing mobile trailer camera systems in Proposal 4.
• Additional individual comments made for Proposal Questions and Other Additional Comments were also collected and reviewed.
  • Milestone Enhancement Proposal 1 comments were approximately 41.9% positive in sentiment.
  • License Plate Reader Enhancement Proposal 2 comments were approximately 55% positive in sentiment.
  • Flock Camera Enhancement Proposal 3 comments were approximately 54.2% positive in sentiment.
  • Mobile Trailer Enhancement Proposal 4 comments were approximately 45.8% positive in sentiment.
  • Other additional comments collected were approximately 32.8% positive in sentiment.

 Voicemail Public Comment:

• Two voicemails were collected and reviewed.

 Emailed Public Comment

• 37 emails were collected and reviewed.
  • These 37 emails were similar in content, signed by different senders.
  • The emails request the Council not to adopt any new technology for Public Safety.