Fircrest approves automated traffic cameras for school and park speed zones
Fircrest is moving toward automated traffic enforcement at two school- and park-related corridors after the City Council approved Resolution No. 2035 and authorized a services agreement with NovoaGlobal on July 28, 2026.
The five-year agreement covers the installation, operation and maintenance of automated traffic safety cameras, with two optional three-year extensions. The action starts the deployment process; it does not establish an activation date, and the city has not said the cameras are operating.
Initial locations include three camera systems
The council directed staff to proceed with the original locations: eastbound and westbound traffic on Emerson Street near Thelma Gilmur Park, and Columbia Avenue, also identified in the city packet as 19th Street, within the school zone.
The city also considered Alameda Avenue near Whittier Elementary School, Electron Way by Fircrest Park and southbound Orchard Street. Those locations were not approved for immediate activation. The council authorized a contract allowing up to six cameras, while the services agreement allows NovoaGlobal to initially install up to eight systems. Neither figure means that all systems or future sites have been approved for deployment; actual installations require city approval.
Installation requires preparation and advance notice
The agreement allows Fircrest and NovoaGlobal to begin project meetings, permitting, staffing analysis, public education and related implementation work. The contract says installation and activation will follow a mutually agreed implementation plan after required permits and approvals are received.
Washington law requires signs at camera locations at least 30 days before activation. The law also requires cities using automated traffic safety cameras to post program policies and annual reports. Those reports must include crashes and notices of infraction by camera, plus information about the share of revenue used for program costs and how excess revenue was used.
Lease costs and city workload
The city packet lists monthly lease rates of $3,999 per park-zone camera and $2,999 per school-zone camera. Fircrest says lease fees are to be funded by program-generated infraction revenue and that the contract includes a cost-neutral provision under which the city will not pay more for a camera than is collected in fines.
That provision does not eliminate startup or administrative costs. The city expects additional work for the Municipal Court, Police Department and Finance Department, including infraction processing, staffing analysis, reporting and financial administration. The 2025 local ordinance packet also identified upfront court administration, pro tem judge services, infraction review and other staffing expenses during the startup phase.
What drivers should know
According to Fircrest’s program documents, camera-issued violations are classified as parking infractions and do not appear on a driver’s record. The city packet lists maximum fines of $290 for school-zone speeding violations and $145 for other automated-camera violations, depending on the violation.
Revenue is also subject to state distribution rules. For park-zone violations, 50% of collected fines must be remitted to the state’s Cooper Jones Active Transportation Safety Account. Beginning four years after implementation, 25% of net revenue from other automated traffic safety camera violations, after eligible program administration and infraction-processing costs, must also be remitted to that account.
For residents and drivers, the immediate change is preparation rather than enforcement: the first affected corridors are Emerson Street near Thelma Gilmur Park and Columbia Avenue in the school zone, but signs, permitting, public education and city implementation work must come before activation.
Sources
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