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Consent
Item No. 10.
| MEETING DATE: 08/15/2022 |
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| TO: | HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS |
| FROM: | JIM SADRO, CITY MANAGER By: Adam Foster, Chief of Police |
| SUBJECT: | APPROVE AN AGREEMENT WITH FLOCK GROUP, INC. FOR THE LEASE OF A FIXED AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER SYSTEM
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RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council:
A. Waive formal bid requirements per La Habra Municipal Code Section 4.20.070(E) regarding the acquisition of information technology equipment; and
B. Authorize the appropriation of $40,450 from available Asset Seizure Fund reserves for this lease agreement; and,
C. Approve and authorize the City Manager to enter into a two-year lease agreement, with an additional two-year optional extension, with Flock Group, Inc. and issue a purchase order in the amount of $40,450 for the initial lease, installation and maintenance of eight fixed location Automated License Plate Reader cameras.
A. Waive formal bid requirements per La Habra Municipal Code Section 4.20.070(E) regarding the acquisition of information technology equipment; and
B. Authorize the appropriation of $40,450 from available Asset Seizure Fund reserves for this lease agreement; and,
C. Approve and authorize the City Manager to enter into a two-year lease agreement, with an additional two-year optional extension, with Flock Group, Inc. and issue a purchase order in the amount of $40,450 for the initial lease, installation and maintenance of eight fixed location Automated License Plate Reader cameras.
DISCUSSION:
The Orange County Auto Theft Taskforce (OCATT) estimates that $500 million worth of vehicles are stolen each year in Orange County, with an average of 70 vehicles stolen in the City of La Habra annually. Auto theft not only deprives owners of the use of their personal transportation, but also provides criminals with a means to engage in additional criminal activity. For example, gang-related crimes are often committed with the use of stolen automobiles. Proactive law enforcement efforts to reduce auto-theft can return stolen vehicles to crime victims and can act as a deterrent to other potential criminal activity.
Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology has been used by local law enforcement agencies for several years to help locate stolen vehicles, locate missing persons and solve other crimes where an automobile has been used. ALPR technology has continued to evolve and has become less cost-prohibitive. Traditional ALPR systems included fixed camera locations and/or mobile devices mounted in patrol cars. La Habra PD currently utilizes mobile ALPRs, as well as two fixed cameras located at Lambert and Euclid. The fixed cameras have been in service since January 2022 and have already resulted in assisting with the recovery of $360,000 worth of stolen vehicles and 17 felony arrests. The system has also provided significant evidence in two shooting investigations, developing leads in real time for investigators to follow up with.
The proposed Flock Safety ALPR System would involve the deployment of eight fixed mount cameras throughout a wider area of the City, including along specific high volume traffic corridors and at entry points to the City, to provide greater coverage and more detailed information for law enforcement. The ALPR cameras will be able to capture date, time, location, direction, license plate (state, partial, paper, or no plate), vehicle details (type and color), as well as objects (bicycle, animals, and people).
Flock Safety presented the City with a new lease approach for deploying ALPR cameras throughout the community. Unlike other fixed or mobile ALPR devices purchased by the City in the past, the Flock system provides the ability to install numerous cameras throughout the City with system maintenance provided by Flock staff, rather than City staff. The Flock leasing program is an all-inclusive model for deploying APLR cameras, with Flock Safety acting as the manufacturer, installer and service provider for the system. Flock is currently the only manufacturer and service provider known to staff that leases ALPR services. Other ALPR system providers require local jurisdictions to purchase equipment, often at a significantly higher price, and then either enter into a separate maintenance agreement with that vendor, or place the responsibility for system maintenance and repairs on City staff or a third party vendor, at additional cost.
Staff proposes to lease the Flock system for an initial two-year period utilizing Asset Forfeiture funding. Prior to the end of the initial two-year lease term, staff will evaluate the functionality and value of the system to determine if it is in the City's best interest to extend the term of the lease agreement. If so, staff will return to Council for a request to extend the lease at that time. If staff determines that the system is not performing to expectations, Flock will remove their camera system at no cost to the City. Flock is the only ALPR system provider that staff is aware of that provides a no-cost lease return option.
The key benefits of the novel lease approach proposed by Flock is that customers are charged an annual flat rate lease per camera of approximately $2,500, which provides for wireless state-of-the-art cameras, an option for both solar or direct power, a two-year warranty, a Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) compliant cloud-based data hosting service, unlimited user licenses, ongoing software enhancements, initial camera setup, mounting, shipping, handling, and cellular connections. The proposed Flock lease option will allow the City to avoid having to own, maintain, repair or replace costly equipment at the end of the agreement term or the useful life of the equipment. The lease contract was reviewed by our city attorney and no changes were required.
Proposed ALPR Camera Locations:
1. La Habra Blvd / Palm (Westbound traffic)
2. La Habra Blvd / Valley Home (Eastbound traffic)
3. Euclid / Country Hills (Northbound traffic)
4. Idaho / Risner (Northbound traffic)
5. Harbor / Las Palmas (Northbound traffic)
6. Harbor / Arbolita (Southbound traffic)
7. Whitter Blvd @ La Bonita Park (Eastbound traffic)
8. A rapid deployment camera that can be quickly installed at various targeted locations.
Other police agencies that have selected the Flock ALPR system include Whittier, Fullerton, San Dimas, Buena Park, West Covina, Ontario, and the L.A. County Sheriff's Department. The City Attorney's office has reviewed the proposed lease agreement.
Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology has been used by local law enforcement agencies for several years to help locate stolen vehicles, locate missing persons and solve other crimes where an automobile has been used. ALPR technology has continued to evolve and has become less cost-prohibitive. Traditional ALPR systems included fixed camera locations and/or mobile devices mounted in patrol cars. La Habra PD currently utilizes mobile ALPRs, as well as two fixed cameras located at Lambert and Euclid. The fixed cameras have been in service since January 2022 and have already resulted in assisting with the recovery of $360,000 worth of stolen vehicles and 17 felony arrests. The system has also provided significant evidence in two shooting investigations, developing leads in real time for investigators to follow up with.
The proposed Flock Safety ALPR System would involve the deployment of eight fixed mount cameras throughout a wider area of the City, including along specific high volume traffic corridors and at entry points to the City, to provide greater coverage and more detailed information for law enforcement. The ALPR cameras will be able to capture date, time, location, direction, license plate (state, partial, paper, or no plate), vehicle details (type and color), as well as objects (bicycle, animals, and people).
Flock Safety presented the City with a new lease approach for deploying ALPR cameras throughout the community. Unlike other fixed or mobile ALPR devices purchased by the City in the past, the Flock system provides the ability to install numerous cameras throughout the City with system maintenance provided by Flock staff, rather than City staff. The Flock leasing program is an all-inclusive model for deploying APLR cameras, with Flock Safety acting as the manufacturer, installer and service provider for the system. Flock is currently the only manufacturer and service provider known to staff that leases ALPR services. Other ALPR system providers require local jurisdictions to purchase equipment, often at a significantly higher price, and then either enter into a separate maintenance agreement with that vendor, or place the responsibility for system maintenance and repairs on City staff or a third party vendor, at additional cost.
Staff proposes to lease the Flock system for an initial two-year period utilizing Asset Forfeiture funding. Prior to the end of the initial two-year lease term, staff will evaluate the functionality and value of the system to determine if it is in the City's best interest to extend the term of the lease agreement. If so, staff will return to Council for a request to extend the lease at that time. If staff determines that the system is not performing to expectations, Flock will remove their camera system at no cost to the City. Flock is the only ALPR system provider that staff is aware of that provides a no-cost lease return option.
The key benefits of the novel lease approach proposed by Flock is that customers are charged an annual flat rate lease per camera of approximately $2,500, which provides for wireless state-of-the-art cameras, an option for both solar or direct power, a two-year warranty, a Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) compliant cloud-based data hosting service, unlimited user licenses, ongoing software enhancements, initial camera setup, mounting, shipping, handling, and cellular connections. The proposed Flock lease option will allow the City to avoid having to own, maintain, repair or replace costly equipment at the end of the agreement term or the useful life of the equipment. The lease contract was reviewed by our city attorney and no changes were required.
Proposed ALPR Camera Locations:
1. La Habra Blvd / Palm (Westbound traffic)
2. La Habra Blvd / Valley Home (Eastbound traffic)
3. Euclid / Country Hills (Northbound traffic)
4. Idaho / Risner (Northbound traffic)
5. Harbor / Las Palmas (Northbound traffic)
6. Harbor / Arbolita (Southbound traffic)
7. Whitter Blvd @ La Bonita Park (Eastbound traffic)
8. A rapid deployment camera that can be quickly installed at various targeted locations.
Other police agencies that have selected the Flock ALPR system include Whittier, Fullerton, San Dimas, Buena Park, West Covina, Ontario, and the L.A. County Sheriff's Department. The City Attorney's office has reviewed the proposed lease agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT/SOURCE OF FUNDING:
The initial cost associated with this project includes funding for an annual lease, installation and implementation of eight cameras, along with an initial two-year maintenance agreement, in an amount not to exceed $40,450. The cost of this proposed two-year lease can be funded from available Asset Seizure Fund reserves.
GENERAL PLAN RELEVANCE/CITY COUNCIL GOALS & OBJECTIVES:
General Plan Goal: P.S. Technology
City Council Goal: Objective H. Implement existing and emerging technologies to improve avenues of communication and share information about public safety with the public.
City Council Goal: Objective H. Implement existing and emerging technologies to improve avenues of communication and share information about public safety with the public.