A federally operated maritime surveillance system that would deploy cameras and other monitoring sensors on a hilltop in San Clemente and likely at the city’s pier could be up and running as soon as the City Council signs off on an up-to-30-year lease with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The City Council gave City Manager Andy Hall the go-ahead this week to negotiate the final contract with the federal agency to install its $1 million system on a hilltop at the Avenida Salvador Reservoir, an area where there are already other lease agreements with commercial, utility, nonprofit and governmental groups for communication equipment.
The agreement includes the city leasing a 12-by-12-foot spot on the hill to the federal agency for $10 a month, ensuring the agency has guaranteed access to the expensive equipment. The federal agency would finance and install the equipment.
The lease agreement is expected to return to the council at its Dec. 9 meeting.
The system would be able to monitor vessel activity in the ocean off the city’s shoreline, but would not be trained on residential neighborhoods, officials said. There would also be no access by city staff or local law enforcement. However, if a vessel is observed in distress, that information could be shared with local law enforcement and first responders.
The federal agency is also interested in installing a system at the San Clemente pier that would be used to monitor the coastline more directly.
Border Patrol already has the equipment, so the cameras could be installed and operational soon after both parties sign the agreements, Mayor Steve Knoblock said.
San Clemente is the first Orange County city to consider partnering with Customs and Border Patrol for maritime surveillance. In San Diego County, Imperial Beach partnered with the federal agency many years ago for an ocean-oriented camera.
Knoblock proposed early in the year that the city buy infrared cameras that community members would monitor to get around California’s so-called sanctuary state law, which limits local law enforcement’s ability to cooperate with federal immigration efforts.
Knoblock had said he hoped extra eyes on the water would curtail the illegal immigration activity. At the time, the Trump administration’s efforts on securing the border and cracking down on illegal immigration were just ramping up and Knoblock said he worried the boat landings would increase.
Over the last 18 months, there have been 30 reported landings in Los Angeles and Orange counties, with 18 of those in San Clemente, Knoblock said. And just the last two weeks, there have been two landings reported in the city, one at Poche Beach and the second one in “broad daylight with adults and children on the beach” at San Clemente State Park, he said. He also noted five people drowned last week when a boat tried to make a landing in Imperial Beach.
Knoblock’s initial idea of community involvement was not well received by some residents and council members, so in April, Knoblock proposed collaborating with Border Patrol, which has offices and checkpoints south of the city along the 5 Freeway.
Since then, Hall and other city staff have met with Customs and Border Patrol officials and visited areas around the city that could serve as potential sites for the maritime monitoring system. Hall said some equipment officials were shown at the Maritime Coordination Center in Long Beach was able to view Santa Catalina Island “in great detail.”
“The idea is that they can see some of these ocean activities at a much earlier point in time,” Hall said. “And, hopefully, intervene if there is a safety issue or if there is a concern about the occupants on the boat.”
Instead of installing multiple cameras along the shoreline, the federal agency proposed that a spot at a higher elevation in the city could provide a superior vantage point, said Brian Brower, the assistant city manager. The system would include a base with an approximately 20- to 25-foot tower. Since it’s a costly endeavor, Brower said the federal government said the project could only go forward if the area where the system would be located has a 20-year lease with two five-year extensions.
The council discussion drew a lot of interest from the public, with 18 people addressing the dais in opposition to the surveillance system, and four in support.
Those opposed raised concerns with privacy, making it easier for authorities to catch and detain people, big government overreach, authorizing a 30-year lease that could turn into something else and the city not being fiscally responsible.
“More monitoring makes us less safe despite claims to the contrary,” one resident said. “Our mayor claims beach landings by helpless, frightened migrants present a danger to our community. Where is the evidence?”
Another resident said, “With the present administration, I have no faith in this stopping here. When will they stand with shoulder launchers on the beach and take out boats?”
Those who supported the agreement said there are legitimate public safety threats and read off a series of recent arrests made by immigration enforcement officials, including previous crimes the people were wanted for.
“It’s a major threat to public safety,” said one resident, detailing his recent observation of a boat that came in near the state park.
“I witnessed it come in and almost crash into kids who were surfing and boogie-boarding,” he said. “There were three getaway cars, and when they sped off, they almost ran over an elderly couple walking their dog.”
Councilmember Mark Enmeier expressed concern about the cost of electricity to run the system, asking for an estimate that city staff said was not yet available from the federal agency. Councilmember Rick Loeffler said he was concerned that the lease agreement sent for council review was a template rather than the actual lease.
Councilmember Zhen Wu asked what assurances the federal agency could provide to guarantee resident privacy would not be violated. Wu also inquired from the city attorney whether entering into the agreement would put the city in conflict with the state’s sanctuary law.
“I can not provide any such guarantee,” City Attorney Elizabeth Mitchell said.
In the end, the council voted 5-0 to give Hall the OK to finalize a proposed lease with Border Patrol, which the council would then vote on.