Active
Who approved this?
Approved by City Council.
Cottonwood has 11 reader cameras installed as of August 4, 2026, under a $199,000 Flock contract covering eight additional cameras and two drones. The city's original 2021 Flock contract was $11,000. Councilman Chris Dowell abstained on the camera and drone contract vote. At the council meeting of August 4, 2026 the council voted unanimously on a motion by Vice Mayor Felicia Coates to place a reader discussion on a future agenda, with Councilmen Chris Dowell and Bob Marks absent. Coates asked for an opportunity for the community to learn how the system works, how data is retained and what safeguards exist. Seven residents spoke against the cameras during public comment. Cottonwood police state that only approved users within local law enforcement can reach the secure data and that searches require a public safety justification, with a 30-day retention period under Flock policy. Neither source names a date for that discussion. The Verde Independent reports the August 19 council meeting was cancelled and the council next meets September 1, 2026, the date given here. The Journal dates the $199,000 approval June 17, 2025 while the Verde Independent describes it as a June 2026 upgrade, so no approval date is given.
Renewal date pending
The contract end date has not yet been confirmed from records.
The money
- Contract amount: $199,000
- Cameras: 11
- Contract amount per camera: $18,091
What happens next
Last scheduled meeting: September 1, 2026; outcome pending verification.
Renewals are decided in public. Residents can attend the meeting, speak during public comment, and write to the office above through official channels. The ACLU publishes a model cancellation resolution officials can adapt.
Sources
- Verde Independent: the council meeting on the Flock cameras and the $199,000 upgrade (August 8, 2026) verdenews.com
- The Journal: 11 cameras installed, the $199,000 contract, the unanimous motion and the September 1, 2026 discussion (August 14, 2026) journalaz.com
Last verified: August 18, 2026. Something wrong? Request a correction.
The record
City Council approved the contract; the sources give no date. It passed as a council vote item. Cottonwood Police Department operates the program.
The documented amount is $199,000. The network counts 11 cameras. That comes to about $18,091 per camera.
The contract is active.
2 sources back this record; each is listed with its date under Sources. Last verified August 18, 2026. Every Arizona record is listed on the Arizona hub; the tracker lists all of them.
Cite this record
Who Approved This, "Cottonwood, AZ Flock Contract," whoapprovedthis.org, accessed October 13, 2026, https://whoapprovedthis.org/city/az-cottonwood/.
Related
Read on
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- Camera locations near Cottonwood: DeFlock (external, crowdsourced)
- Agency transparency portal, if published: transparency.flocksafety.com; aggregated at Eyes on Flock