City Council members move closer to making a decision on upgrading city park cameras

Missoula, Mont. — Missoula city leaders were weighing a security camera upgrade at several parks and aquatic facilities as they worked to address a growing vandalism problem.

The proposal covered Fort Missoula, Splash Montana, Currents and Mobash Skatepark. Supporters said the cameras would help protect public property while some residents pushed for clearer limits on how the technology could be used later.

City staff told council the project was about security hardware and not artificial intelligence software.

Parks and Recreation Director Dale Bickell pointed to the damage the city has been dealing with.

"There has been a considerable increase in vandalism, particularly problems in Fort Missoula Regional Park," said Dale Bickell.

Councilor Stacy Anderson said the city was updating equipment that was already in place rather than starting something new.

"This is not a new thing that we are doing here in the City of Missoula. We are replacing something that has already existed," said Stacy Anderson.

Several residents asked council to hold off until the city put policies in place for technologies such as facial recognition and license plate reading.

Council was expected to revisit the issue during its June 22 meeting at 6 p.m.