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Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 3.G
Meeting Date: January 10, 2024
From: George Crum, Police Chief
Title: FLOCK Safety Camera ALPR Contract
City Council
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve a five-year contract with FLOCK Safety to operate 21 Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras for a total cost of $262,500.
BACKGROUND:
In 2018, the Police Department began a demo period with FLOCK Safety for two ALPR cameras. At that time, the Department was the first in the Coachella Valley and only one of a few cities in California to utilize FLOCK cameras.
After a demonstration period, the department began acquiring more ALPR cameras.
The program has evolved to 21 cameras currently in operation. These ALPR cameras are a tool the department uses to assist with criminal investigations. From January 2023 to June 2023, FLOCK cameras assisted with 35 criminal investigations, including violent crimes. Currently, most Valley cities have FLOCK cameras installed.
In February 2023, an individual was a suspect in a shooting at a Los Angeles Synagogue in which two victims were shot. LAPD sent out a crime bulletin describing the shooter and his vehicle. The day of the second shooting at the Synagogue, Cathedral City Police received a FLOCK hit indicating the Synagogue shooter’s vehicle was in our city. Ultimately, CCPD Officers located the suspect in the south end of our city, and he was taken into custody without incident. Just recently in December of 2023, a homicide resulting from a road rage incident took the life of a four -year-old boy in the City of Lancaster. Investigators utilized FLOCK cameras to track the suspect’s vehicle and make an arrest.
The FLOCK ALPRs have provided investigators with leads that would not have otherwise been available if not for the department’s operation of the cameras.
DISCUSSION:
The current billing model for FLOCK safety is each camera acts as its own contract. As
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cameras were purchased, a new billing cycle would begin for that camera. This has created several billings for the different cameras at different times. This has at times, been challenging for staff.
In June of 2023, FLOCK Safety notified the department they would be changing how they complete their billing, and the price for the cameras would be going up, beginning in January of 2024. Currently, the department is charged $2,500 per camera per year.
Starting in January of 2024, the price would be $3,000 per camera per year. However, FLOCK Safety has agreed to lock in our current price of $2,500 per camera. This would require the signing of a five-year contract for the current pricing. Over five years, the city would save $52,500.
The annual total cost currently is $52,500. The yearly cost with the price increase would be $63,000.
The signing of the five-year contract with FLOCK Safety locks in our current rate for the contract period and allows the forecasting for budgeting during the contract term.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Previously, the City Council authorized the expenditure of $52,500 for FY2023/2024 and FY2024/2025 ($52,500) for FLOCK Safety cameras.
The remaining $157,500 would need to be approved in subsequent budget cycles at $52,500 annually for the contract term.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
ACTION E-3 Expand the use of cameras and other technology to promote public safety.
ATTACHMENTS:
CA - Cathedral City PD - Law Enforcement Agreement