Speak Up Before Bend Expands Surveillance Authority

What's happening

On September 16, Bend City Council will discuss its draft 2027 State Legislative Priorities — a document that tells City staff and Bend's paid lobbyist what to support when they go to the state legislature in Salem. One sentence in the draft says the City should:

"Support expanding allowed uses of responsible technologies that strengthen public safety and service delivery."

That sentence doesn't say which technology, what would change, or who decides what counts as "responsible." If it stays in as written, it would let Bend's representatives support broader surveillance powers in Salem before residents ever see the specifics of what's being expanded.

Why it matters

Bend already runs a connected public-safety technology system: body cameras, license-plate readers, drones, and software that shares data across those systems.
We've already seen what can go wrong. In 2025, federal immigration agents accessed Bend's license-plate database 279 times in about three weeks — not because of new legislation, but because a privacy setting had been left on its default nationwide access level.
New surveillance capability doesn't always require new hardware. Bend Police recently began using AI software to draft police reports directly from body-camera audio — a new function added to cameras the City already owned.
Together, these show that calling a technology "responsible" isn't a real safeguard unless it comes with specific rules, public visibility, and oversight.

What we're asking Council to do

Remove the sentence from the draft priorities entirely.
If it stays in some form, replace it with neutral language that requires any new technology to be evaluated individually for necessity, cost, privacy, and civil-rights impact.
At minimum, require a separate public Council vote — held after the details are public — before City representatives can advocate for any specific expansion of surveillance authority.

How you can help before September 16

Email Council

Send a short message to council@bendoregon.gov telling them you oppose giving the City standing authority to support undefined expansions of surveillance technology.

Attend or speak

Wednesday, September 16, 2026 · 6:00 p.m.
Bend City Hall, 710 NW Wall Street

Public comment is limited to two minutes per speaker. You can join in person, by phone, or by Zoom (register before 6:00 p.m.).

Review the agenda

Item 7 — Legislative Priorities (discussion only, no vote scheduled).

Meeting agenda · Draft priorities document

Sample email you can send

Feel free to copy this, personalize it, and send it in your own words.

council@bendoregon.gov

Subject

Please remove the technology expansion language from Bend's 2027 priorities

Dear Mayor Kebler and Councilors, I'm asking you to remove the following sentence from Bend's draft 2027 legislative priorities: "Support expanding allowed uses of responsible technologies that strengthen public safety and service delivery." The phrase "responsible technologies" is undefined, and "support expanding allowed uses" presumes that broader authority is desirable before the public knows what technology, legal restriction, or proposed expansion is involved. Bend has already seen how surveillance capability can produce consequences beyond what local policy intended. Before the City advocates in Salem for broader technological authority, the specific proposal should be publicly identified and evaluated. Please remove this language. If Council chooses to retain a technology principle, I urge you to replace it with neutral language requiring consideration of necessity, privacy, civil rights, security, cost, transparency, and public oversight. At an absolute minimum, any City advocacy for legislation expanding surveillance or public-safety technology authority should require a separate affirmative Council vote after public notice and an opportunity to comment. Thank you for considering this before the priorities are finalized. Sincerely, [Your name]

Tip: a short, personal note in your own words is often more effective than a form letter — even two or three sentences explaining why this matters to you helps.

Planning to speak? Pick one topic

You'll have two minutes. You don't need to cover everything below — pick the point that resonates most and speak in your own words.

The language is undefined. "Responsible technologies" could mean cameras, AI, drones, or tools that haven't been discussed publicly yet.
Bend has already had a close call. A single technical setting gave federal immigration agents hundreds of lookups of local license-plate data that City policy never intended to allow.
New capability can appear through software, not new equipment. Bend's police body cameras now feed an AI system that drafts police reports — a capability added without buying new hardware.
The public should see specifics first. Before the City advocates for expanded authority in Salem, residents should know what technology, what data, and what safeguards are involved.
If the language stays, require a vote. Any future advocacy for expanded surveillance authority should come back to Council for a public, recorded decision.

Meeting information

Bend City Council — Regular Meeting

Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: Bend City Hall, Council Chambers, 710 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon 97703

Agenda item: Item 7 — Legislative Priorities (discussion only, no vote scheduled)

Public comment: Limited to 2 minutes per speaker. Sign up in person at the Chambers or virtually before 6:00 p.m.

In person: Sign up on the sheet outside Council Chambers before the meeting starts.

Livestream: bendoregon.gov/councilagenda

By Zoom: Register in advance to receive the meeting link. If you'd like to speak during the Visitor's Section, register before 6:00 p.m. and include your topic. You'll get a confirmation email with instructions to join. Register here

By YouTube: Watch the livestream

By phone (toll charges may apply): Call 1-888-788-0099, then enter Webinar ID 845 8954 6099 and passcode 258819.

Meeting agenda: bend.granicus.com — Agenda

Draft priorities document: bend.granicus.com — Draft Priorities

The meeting is also broadcast live on COTV Channel 11.

Detailed information

For the full source documents behind this page:

BPA's Position on the Draft 2027 Legislative Technology Language

Supporting Evidence Memo — Why "Responsible Technologies" Is Not a Safeguard

Email Templates (short, personal, and detailed versions)