DATE: December 3, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Roy Nakamura, Chief of Police
By: Amber Abeyta, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: PURCHASE ORDER WITH FLOCK SAFETY FOR RENEWAL OF THE AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER (“ALPR”) CAMERA
SUBSCRIPTION (“PHASE 1”) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 IN AN
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $60,000
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: Approve
SUMMARY
The Arcadia Police Department presently utilizes a subscription-based system for Automated License Plate Reader ("ALPR") cameras. This subscription service, procured from Flock Safety, is renewed on an annual basis. A subscription-based system is the preferred model due to the ability to streamline maintenance, upgrades, and equipment, further enhancing the effectiveness of the cameras. Given the Department's satisfaction with this system, it is recommended that the City Council approve the Purchase Order with Flock Safety for the renewal of the ALPR camera subscription for Fiscal Year 2024- 25, in an amount not to exceed $60,000.
BACKGROUND
In 2008, the Police Department implemented an ALPR system to combat criminal activity, enhance productivity, and improve officer safety. The ALPR system automatically captures license plates from passing vehicles as well as vehicles parked on a street or in a parking lot. Once the license plate is processed, the officer operating the ALPR (or the Department’s Dispatch Center) is immediately notified whenever a license plate that is associated with the following criteria is identified: stolen vehicle, identification of vehicles connected to wanted felons, Amber Alerts, or any other public safety criteria determined by the Department.
In Arcadia, ALPR camera systems are located in fixed locations throughout the City. The ALPR system retains license plate data and vehicle photographs for a period of 30 days, which allows investigators time to review this data and locate vehicles associated with
ALPR Camera System Subscription Renewal
December 3, 2024
criminal activity in the City. Once potential vehicles are connected to a crime, investigators input license plate information that triggers an alert to all officers, providing a digital photo of the vehicle and pinpoint mapping of its current or previous location.
The ALPR system captures more vehicle data than any single officer could produce on their own. The ALPR system has resulted in numerous recoveries of stolen vehicles and provides timely alerts of criminally wanted vehicles entering the City, leading to arrests.
DISCUSSION
In 2021, with the City Council’s approval, the Department replaced the original ALPR camera system due to age-based malfunctions, transitioning from a purchase/ownership option to a subscription-based platform. The new ALPR camera system that was secured from Flock Safety is the most efficient solution, with several distinct features:
• Extended warranty program and service plan.
• Camera monitoring for optimal performance.
• All-inclusive pricing for hardware, software, SIM card, data plan, warranty, monitoring, and upgrades.
• Latest ALPR technology to capture extensive vehicle data and increase intersection coverage.
• Solar powered, eliminating the need for electrical connections to traffic signals. • Detecting vehicles with missing, temporary, or obscured plates, and accurately identifying states.
• Processes newer black Legacy plates without illuminating features. • Covers two vehicle lanes, enhancing intersection coverage. • Data hosted on a cloud-based Criminal Justice Information Services (“CJIS”) system, reducing the need for in-house servers.
• Enables sharing intelligence with neighboring and national law enforcement agencies.
The transition to the subscription-based platform was implemented in FY 2021-22. This Purchase Order represents the fourth year that the subscription will be renewed. Flock Safety increased the cost per camera from $2,000 to $3,000 as of January 1, 2024. Since the City chose an annual renewal instead of a multi-year option, the new annual cost per camera of $3,000 is applicable to this year’s renewal. The overall increase compared to last Fiscal Year is 20% higher, from $50,000 to $60,000 for 20 cameras. This is the first time the cost per camera has increased in four years. Despite the cost increase, the subscription-based platform is still cost effective compared to the previous ownership model. Based on Arcadia’s excellent experience with the Flock Safety service model, it is recommended that the subscription be renewed for another year.
Separate from the existing 20 cameras, as part of the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget, the ALPR camera project was expanded, and the City Council approved the purchase of an
ALPR Camera System Subscription Renewal
December 3, 2024
additional 23 cameras (“Phase 2”). This brought the total number of Flock Safety ALPR cameras in Arcadia to 43 (Attachment “A”). Phase 2 ALPR cameras are due for subscription renewal in a few months and will be presented to City Council for approval at that time. This increase in surveillance infrastructure represents a significant investment in enhancing public safety and security within the community (see Attachment “A” for a map of camera locations).
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), based on Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, as it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
Sufficient funds in the amount of $60,000 have been allocated in the Fiscal Year 2024-25 General Fund Operating Budget for the annual subscription cost.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine this action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and approve a Purchase Order with Flock Safety for the renewal of the Automated License Plate Reader (“ALPR”) camera subscription (“Phase 1”) for Fiscal Year 2024-25 in an amount not to exceed $60,000.
Attachment “A”: Map of 43 ALPR Camera Locations
ALPR Camera - Intersection Locations
Camera
No.Street/Intersection Name
Camera
No.Street/Intersection Name
Camera
No.Street/Intersection Name
Camera
No.Street/Intersection Name
1 S/B Baldwin @ Arboretum Way 12 N/B Santa Anita @ Live Oak 23 W/B Foothill @ Baldwin 34 N/B Golden West @ Naomi 2 N/B Santa Anita @ Foothill 13 E/B Las Tunas @ Baldwin 24 N/B Sunset @ Duarte 35 N/B Santa Anita @ 210 3 S/B Santa Anita @ Colorado 14 N/B Baldwin @ Las Tunas 25 E/B Longden @ El Sereno 36 N/B Holly @ Las Tunas 4 W/B Foothill @ 5th 15 E/B Camino Real @ Baldwin 26 W/B Longden @ 8th 37 S/B Santa Anita @ 210 5 W/B Colorado @ 5th 16 E/B Duarte @ Golden West 27 E/B Naomi @ Golden West 38 E/B Live Oak @ Santa Anita 6 W/B Huntington @ 5th 17 E/B Huntington @ Michillinda (NCL)28 N/B 2nd @ Live Oak 39 N/B Baldwin @ Arbolada 7 W/B Duarte @ 5th 18 E/B Huntington @ Michillinda (SCL) 29 W/B Santa Clara @ 5th 40 E/B Foothill @ Baldwin 8 W/B Camino Real @ Mayflower 19 E/B Colorado @ Michillinda 30 N/B Colorado Extension @ S/B Baldwin
41 E/B Sunset @ Michillinda
9 W/B Live Oak @ 6th 20 E/B Foothill @ Michillinda 31 N/B 6th @ Live Oak 42 S/B Baldwin @ Camino Real 10 E/B Clark @ Peck 21 N/B El Monte @ Las Tunas 32 W/B Live Oak @ Las Tunas 43 N/B Baldwin @ Camino Real 11 E/B Goldring @ Peck 22 E/B Hampton @ Michillinda 33 W/B Las Tunas @ Live Oak 1 4
5 7
8 10
1213
43 17
20 21
22 24
25 26
28 29
30 36
39 40
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