Asheville City Council Terminates Flock Safety Camera Contract

The Asheville City Council voted 5-2 on Tuesday to terminate its contract with Flock Safety, ending the use of 11 automatic license plate readers. The decision follows resident privacy concerns and has emerged as a central issue in the mayoral race between Mayor Esther Manheimer and Council member Kim Roney. While the council ended the Flock contract, it rejected a broader ban on the technology, opting to retain dashboard-mounted cameras provided by Axon.

Council member Kim Roney described the vote as "the first important step" toward removing all city-owned automated license plate readers. Conversely, Council member Bo Hess defended the technology, stating that such tools "serve legitimate public safety purposes" and calling for "strong, enforceable safeguards."

In a separate unanimous vote, the council approved significant zoning changes to expand the housing supply. The city increased the areas where duplexes are permitted from roughly 50% to 92% and eased restrictions on accessory dwelling units. The council also eliminated minimum parking requirements for all development types to align with North Carolina state law. Additionally, the council reviewed renovation plans for Azalea Park and Recreation Park, which include relocating a swimming pool and removing the Lake Craig Dam following damage from Hurricane Helene.