City council to discuss red-light cameras Monday
BROOKSVILLE – Red-light cameras likely will be a primary topic when City Council members gather at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall.
Assistant City Attorney Clifford Taylor will present information to the Brooksville City Council about possible upgrades to the city’s red-light cameras, and the council is expected to discuss the future of the camera program.
Motorists have complained about the cameras flashing at night. Rick Ballou, a military veteran, told the council in November he finds the flashing cameras stressful and said they have triggered flashbacks.
Brooksville contracts with red-light company Sensys for the cameras. The city pays $4,500 a month per camera for the standard cameras, according to the contract. Infrared cameras are available for $4,600 a month, the contract shows.
A letter sent by Sensys President and CEO Carlos Lofstedt to the city in January shows the company is willing to upgrade eight cameras to infrared at no cost if the city extends its contract with the company.
If the city wants to upgrade but keep the existing contract terms, Sensys will upgrade the standard cameras to infrared for $7,900 per system and $45,000 for any new camera installed.
The City Council is expected to discuss different options for the program.
Another possibility is increasing Brooksville’s right-on-red turn speed, which currently is set at 5 mph.
Brooksville has 16 red-light cameras. In 2013, Brooksville issued 20,652 red-light camera violations, according to Police Chief George Turner.
Other agenda items include:
??An update on the third annual Florida Blueberry Festival, scheduled for April. Coordinator Michael Heard is expected to ask City Council members to invest as a sponsor of the event, with a $20,000 cash donation, as well as office space, a $395 fee waiver and public service waiver for police, fire and public works valued at more than $11,000.
??Proclamations recognizing the Human Trafficking Awareness effort by Grace World Outreach Church, and recognizing March as bike month and March 14 as bike to work day.
??The review and renewal of City Manager Jennene Norman-Vacha’s contract.
Brooksville City Hall is at 201 Howell Ave. and can be reached by phone at (352) 540-3810.
Agendas can be accessed online.
