Clallam County Weighs Street Imaging Contract

Commissioners consider multi-year deal for high-resolution roadway data to aid property assessments.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Clallam County commissioners are considering a multi-year contract with Cyclomedia Technology, Inc. to provide street-level imaging and LiDAR data for over 400 miles of county roads. The technology, which captures 360-degree high-resolution imagery, has been piloted by the Assessor's Office and found to improve efficiency by allowing more desktop property reviews instead of in-person site visits. However, commissioners raised concerns about privacy protections and the need for competitive bidding before approving a longer-term agreement.

Why it matters

The proposed street imaging system could help the Assessor's Office conduct more accurate and efficient property assessments across Clallam County's vast and spread-out geography. However, commissioners must balance the benefits of the technology with privacy considerations and ensure the county is following proper procurement procedures.

The details

Clallam County has been piloting Cyclomedia's street-level imaging technology, which captures high-resolution, 360-degree photos from public roadways. The proposed multi-year contract would cover over 400 miles of county roads and include LiDAR data. The 2026 cost is estimated at just over $71,000, which is already budgeted in the Assessor's Office. Chief Appraiser Dan Childress says the system allows staff to conduct more desktop reviews instead of driving long distances, saving time and resources. However, commissioners raised concerns about the need for competitive bidding and requested more information on privacy protections, including data storage, access, and whether license plates or faces are visible in the imagery.

  • Clallam County has been piloting the Cyclomedia street imaging technology.
  • The proposed multi-year contract would cover over 400 miles of county roads starting in 2026.

The players

Clallam County Commissioners

The elected governing body of Clallam County, Washington that is considering the multi-year street imaging contract.

Dan Childress

The Chief Appraiser in the Clallam County Assessor's Office, who has been overseeing the pilot of the Cyclomedia street imaging technology.

Cyclomedia Technology, Inc.

The company providing the street-level imaging and LiDAR data technology that Clallam County is considering under a multi-year contract.

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What they’re saying

“Think Google Street View, except much more high-resolution. So it allows us to assess conditions and different characteristics much more accurately. One of the benefits of that — particularly given how spread out many areas of our county are — is that it saves a considerable amount of time. If we have to send someone out, that takes significant county resources, especially if we can streamline that.”

— Dan Childress, Chief Appraiser, Clallam County Assessor's Office (myclallamcounty.com)

“Cyclomedia actually keeps that data, although we have a right to it. From what I understand, we can apply as many licenses as we want to utilize it. So we can share it with other departments. I don't think we can sell it right now. The only people using it are the Assessor's Office, or another department that may want to use it in the courthouse.”

— Dan Childress, Chief Appraiser, Clallam County Assessor's Office (myclallamcounty.com)

What’s next

Staff will review procurement requirements and return with clarification before commissioners take formal action on the contract.

The takeaway

Clallam County's proposed street imaging contract could improve property assessment efficiency, but commissioners must ensure the technology aligns with privacy protections and procurement rules before approving a long-term deal.