Camarillo City Council
AGENDA REPORT
Date: October 7, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Greg Ramirez, City Manager
Submitted by: Eric Tennessen, Police Department Commander Subject: Approve the Lease of 25 Automated License Plate Readers (LPR) with Flock Group, Inc.
BACKGROUND
Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology has been used by law enforcement agencies in California for many years. ALPRs function by capturing an image of a vehicle’s license plate, transforming the plate into alphanumeric characters, and then comparing the plate number acquired to databases of vehicles that are of interest to law enforcement. More recently, technology also allows for the capture of vehicle demographics along with the license plate. Those demographics include vehicle make, model and color. Vehicles of interest could be vehicles belonging to missing persons, vehicles reported stolen to the California Department of Justice or vehicles that were used in crimes, among others.
The data captured on ALPRs provide law enforcement with leads that may help identify vehicles associated with victims or suspects and may also help develop exculpatory evidence that assists us in focusing our investigative resources. The data also allows law enforcement to connect serial criminal activities that may have occurred within a singular law enforcement jurisdiction or across multiple law enforcement jurisdictions.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has used ALPR technology for over a decade, previously deploying cameras on vehicles and trailers utilizing Vigilant Solutions, LLC equipment and more recently utilizing fixed cameras from Flock Group, Inc. Additionally, in the spring of 2025, the Sheriff’s Office entered into an agreement with Axon to place ALPRs on all patrol vehicles.
On September 27th, 2023, City Council approved entering a two-year contract for 10 ALPRs with Flock Group, Inc., which expires in October of 2025.
DISCUSSION
Lease of 25 Automated License Plate Readers
October 7, 2025
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Our initial 10 ALPRs were placed primarily in the area of Ventura Boulevard from Carmen Drive to Springville Drive, or what is referred to as the “theft corridor” in Camarillo due to its proximity to destination shopping locations. The images captured using these ALPRs have been invaluable in providing leads, identifying suspects involved in crimes, and helping determine the whereabouts of missing individuals.
Although the cameras have been useful in the areas where they were placed, we continue to have crimes occur throughout the city where we have no ALPR coverage. The success of existing ALPR cameras indicates that additional cameras placed throughout the city will help provide leads in other criminal cases and in locating missing individuals.
Staff’s recommendation seeks to renew the original ten ALPR cameras for an additional two years and to add 15 ALPR cameras to be deployed throughout the city. Of the 15 new ALPR cameras, 10 will be fixed position cameras and five will be mobile cameras that investigators can temporarily relocate as needs arise to provide coverage over “hot spot” areas.
In compliance with all Ventura County Sheriff’s Office policies, the the retention of ALPR data captured through Flock Group, Inc., is maintained for one year before the data is deleted. .
The product offered by Flock Group, Inc. is subscription-based with a two-year contract. The renewal cost for the 10 cameras is $33,000 per year for a two-year total of $66,000. The cost for the additional 10 fixed and 5 mobile cameras is $54,250 per year for a two year total of $108,500. This two-year contract for the additional 15 ALPR cameras includes a $6,500 discount on installation costs.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for the purchase of license plate readers software and hardware are available in the FY 2025/26 General Fund Police budget, Account No. 101-2101-421-6116.
CEQA DETERMINATIONS
Not applicable
RECOMMENDATION
1. Authorize the ratification of a Purchase Order with Flock Group, Inc. for the renewal of the lease of 10 automated license plate readers (ALPR); and
2. Authorize the ratification of a Purchase Order with Flock Group, Inc. for the lease of 15 automated license plate readers (ALPR); and
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute future agreements and amendments with Flock Group, Inc. for purchasing additional cameras, an annual 5% increase renewal, and a not to exceed 15% contingency.
ATTACHMENTS
Lease of 25 Automated License Plate Readers
October 7, 2025
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1. Purchase Orders
REFERENCE MATERIALS – AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT CITY HALL None