SIR Material Updates
Subsection 12.18.020.F of the Seattle Municipal Code, relating to the City's Surveillance Ordinance states that:
"[a]ny material update to an SIR, such as to change the purpose or manner in which a surveillance technology may be used, shall be by ordinance."
Per the City’s Surveillance Policy, material changes include new capabilities and uses of the technology, not included in the Surveillance Impact Report (SIR) approved by City Council, and are evaluated by ITD with consideration of the following categories:
• Purpose: The specific purpose(s) for the surveillance technology.
• Functionality: The type of operations that can be run on the surveillance technology.
• Allowable Uses: Authorized uses, the rules and processes required before that use, and uses that are prohibited.
• Surveillance Data: Expanded scope of data collected or data processing activities associated with the technology (including changes in data sharing).
• Data Retention: What data is retained and for how long; includes changes in the storage of data.
• Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Impacts: New or newly discovered negative impact(s) as reported by the CTO’s annual Equity Impact Assessment.
As of September 2025, five SIR Council Bills previously passed by the City Council have gone through the material update process.
• Council Bill 120053 (Seattle Police Department Forward Looking Infrared Real-time (FLIR) video) originally passed on May 24, 2021, completed the material update process, with the City Council passing new Council Bill 120518 on March 14, 2023.
• Council Bill 120025 (Seattle Police Department Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR)) originally passed on April 19, 2021, completed the material update process, with the City Council passing new Council Bill 120778 on June 18, 2024.
• Council Bill 120504 (Seattle Police Department Tracking Devices SIR) originally passed on February 28, 2023, completed the material update process, with City Council passing new Council Bill 120994 on June 17, 2025.
• Council Bill 120844 (Seattle Police Department Closed-Circuit Television Camera Systems) originally passed on October 8, 2024, completed the material update process, with City Council passing new Council Bill 121052 on September 9, 2025.
• Council Bill 120845 (Seattle Police Department Real-Time Crime Center software) originally passed on October 8, 2024, completed the material update process, with City Council passing new Council Bill 121053 on September 9, 2025.
Currently in the Material Update process:
There are currently no technologies going through the material change process.
Material Updates : Completed
The original Tracking Devices SIR (Group 4b, 2023) went through the Material Change process was passed on 6.17.2025.
The final, most up-to-date adopted legislation can be found in legistar.
Public comment closed on 4.28.2025
Material Update:
Tracking Devices
Tracking Devices SIR - Track Changes
Tracking Devices SIR - Accepted Changes
Tracking Devices One Pager (English)
Translated Materials
The original Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) SIR went through the material update process and was passed by City Council on 9/9/2025.
Public comment period ran from 6/03/25 - 6/23/25.
Material Update:
Link to 9/9/2025 Adopted Legislation
RTCC
Executive Summary - Track Changes
Translated Materials
The original Closed-Circuit Television Camera Systems (CCTV) SIR went through the material update process and was passed by City Council on 9/9/2025.
Public comment period ran from 6/03/25 - 6/23/25.
Material Update:
Link to 9/9/2025 Adopted Legislation
CCTV
Executive Summary - Track Changes
Translated Materials
Material Update: Completed
AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION (ALPR) (Fleet-wide)
Material change adopted 6.18.2024
AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION (ALPR) (Fleet-wide) SIR - Track Changes
AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION (ALPR) (Fleet-wide) SIR - accepted Changes
Translated Materials
Forward Looking Infrared Real-Time Video (FLIR)
Originally adopted by the City Council in May of 2021.
Summary of Changes: Additional live viewing functionality from King County Sheriff's Office helicopters video feed, not in use at the time of the original SIR passage by Council, is being purchased.
material update for FLIR was adopted by Council on 3/14/23