Residents raise concerns over data privacy, immigration enforcement and transparency as two attendees are removed during contentious discussion.
The commission meeting was filled with high tension and frustration, resulting in two residents being removed from the meeting. Much of the discussion centered on a new police system, with residents asking for transparency and answers to unanswered emails.
After the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, public comments started the heated debate in the room. Multiple residents took the podium to discuss development, flooding, taxes and the police department’s request for a Peregrine Operations Management System.
One resident shared that she submitted a public records request for the original Walden Lake development documents and was told it would cost around $4,000. She said she was initially told the documents didn’t exist, but after finding them, she questioned why they were so expensive. She said development shouldn’t be approved on the site without reviewing the original blueprints. She also expressed frustration with the city manager for not making eye contact during the public comment forum and requested that the commission review total compensation now that Amendment 3 has passed.
Another resident expressed frustration over the lack of email responses and development in areas at high risk of flooding or prone to flooding. Another resident also shared concerns about the amount of development in Plant City, even quoting the Lorax in his argument for slowing down and putting future development on hold.
The resident who was ejected from the meeting initially approached the podium to ask the commission to vote no on the Peregrine Operations Management System. He said the system goes against the Constitution and ended his public comment by saying he and other residents would fight back against the decision if it passed.
The next speaker also expressed concerns that the new system was too invasive. He began yelling at commissioners, questioning why the system was necessary if crime in the area was low and citing Oktoberfest as an example. During this heated public comment, the previous speaker began interrupting from the audience, prompting his removal from the meeting. After continuing to yell at commissioners, the speaker’s allotted time expired.
The last resident also asked for more clarity about the new system, saying she was concerned about Flock cameras and wanted more information about whether the technology could lead to police bias when pulling residents and visitors over in Plant City.
The high tension and frustration did not end there. Throughout the meeting, residents continued yelling remarks from the audience, especially during the final City Manager resolution involving the Peregrine Operations Management System.
Following public comment were the consent agenda items: 26-510 – Resolution #236-2026 approving minutes of the regular meeting held Oct. 26, 2026; 26-509 – Resolution #237-2026 authorizing the city to participate in a settlement with Tyco Fire Products, LP, Chemguard, Inc. and BASF Corporation; 26-526 – Resolution #238-2026 authorizing the city manager to execute an easement with Tampa Electric Company for undergrounding utilities on East Cherry Street along Ellis-Methvin Park; 26-529 – Resolution #239-2026 setting a transmittal public hearing regarding Map Amendment PC/CPA 25-05; 26-483 – Resolution #242-2026 approving Modification 5 to the Engineering Work Order with WSP for additional engineering services for New Rowena Mays Athletic Park; 26-534 – Resolution #243-2026 approving an amendment to the budget for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2027; and 26-523 – Resolution #244-2026 approving an amendment to the CIP budget for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2027, and the next four years.
These resolutions were all approved 5-0.
Next was the city manager’s report.
26-527 – Resolution #240-2026 authorizing the city manager to contract with Witt Fence Company for replacement of ballfield fencing at Randy Larson Four Plex under Hillsborough County, Florida, contract ITB-23-24318.
Parks and Recreation is working to improve the Randy Larson Four Plex, which serves more than 40 home baseball and softball tournaments annually and is used daily for local team practices. The facility needs new fencing, which will be a black vinyl-coated chain-link fence.
The total cost for the new fencing is $381,630.30.
The resolution was approved 5-0.
26-532 – Resolution #241-2026 authorizing the city manager to execute a work order with H2Solutions for repairs to WRF Digester No. 4.
Currently, Digester No. 2 is out of service, and only Digester No. 3 is operational. To repair Digester No. 4, Utility Director Lynn Pivey asked the commission to approve a work order for $86,700.
The resolution passed 5-0.
26-528 – Resolution #245-2026 authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with the Department of Justice to acquire the AST MVB3 Mobile Vehicle Barrier Systems; 26-535 – Resolution #246-2026 approving an amendment to the budget for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2027; and 26-530 – Resolution #247-2026 authorizing the city manager to purchase three complete sets of AST MVB3 Mobile Vehicle Barrier Systems.
The Vehicle Threat Mitigation Barriers will cost $515,586 and are funded through a federal grant. These barriers are capable of stopping heavy trucks weighing up to 7.5 tons, can be easily deployed by one person, can be adjusted for length and have international certification.
The purchase is 100% federally grant-funded, with no cost to the city. However, a corresponding budget adjustment is included in the agenda package to account for the grant revenue and associated expenditures.
These resolutions passed 5-0.
26-524 – Resolution #248-2026 authorizing the city manager to receive grant funding from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to purchase the Peregrine Operations Management Platform; 26-525 – Resolution #249-2026 authorizing the city manager to purchase the Peregrine Operations Management Platform under the FDLE reimbursement grant award; and 26-389 – Resolution #250-2026 approving an amendment to the budget for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2027.
The Peregrine Operations Management Platform will not replace the current police system. Instead, it will assist the police department by gathering and organizing existing data. The presentation went into more detail about the platform’s features, which can be read on page 6 for specific information about how the system works.
Residents expressed concerns about data privacy, and Police Chief Richard Mills explained that the platform only pulls data currently held by the department and cannot be shared with other jurisdictions without permission. Access is controlled, and data can only be shared with other departments that also have the system.
The platform is part of the 287(g) agreement, which is why the department qualified for the grant. Residents expressed concerns that this could mean additional or changed immigration enforcement protocols. However, Mills said the system will not change how the Plant City Police Department operates under its original 287(g) agreement.
He said PCPD has two trained and credentialed designated immigration officers, and the department submits monthly reports, including summary reports, in accordance with state requirements under the 287(g) program.
“Purchasing software through this grant will not change how officers act and will continue business as usual and follow specific training. This grant does not create a new immigration enforcement for the police,” said Mills.
However, residents remained upset about the system, and comments from the audience escalated, resulting in the second resident being removed from the meeting.
The city will initially fund the system for $271,352, which will be fully reimbursed.
The resolutions were approved 5-0.
During commissioner comments, commissioners kept their remarks brief and recognized Veterans Day. They also addressed 26-538 – Resolution #251-2026 approving an employment agreement with Michael J. Healy.
This was approved 5-0.
Healy said he is looking forward to his new position and has “some very large shoes to fill.”
Next were the public hearings.
26-492 – Public hearing on Resolution #252-2026 approving the adoption of the Inventory List of Real Property Appropriate for Affordable Housing Report.
During the presentation, the speaker shared that there were no vacant real properties available for affordable housing.
This was approved 5-0.
When the meeting adjourned at 7:14 p.m., one resident yelled out, “Thank you for violating our constitutional rights once again.” No further comments or remarks were made, and no physical altercations occurred. The meeting ended peacefully following an otherwise tense evening.
