Staff Report
City Council
Item No. {{section.number}}.{{item.number}}
Meeting Date: June 25, 2025
From: Andrew Firestine, AICP, Director of Community and Economic Development
Title: Approval of Contract Agreement with City Detect
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends City Council review and approve the contract with City Detect for AI camera systems.
BACKGROUND:
During the May 28, 2025 City Council Meeting, staff and City Detect representatives gave a detailed presentation of the City Detect Artificial Intelligence (AI) camera systems. This presentation further outlined their potential to enhance the City's ability to monitor and address code violations, including illegal dumping, abandoned vehicles, graffiti, and property maintenance issues. The presentation also responded to questions raised by City Council in the April 2, 2025 City Council meeting for the Community and Economic Development Department staffing and budget review and the biennial budget development presentation, including those related to its use in code compliance operations and the fairness or equity in its deployment within the City. Through the May 28, 2025 presentation, staff committed that City Detect AI is a supplemental resource for code compliance officers and both that there would remain human verification of any identified violation and that the mission of the Code Compliance Division to lead with education prior to enforcement would not change.
In support of the May 28, 2025 City Council meeting, staff shared an administrative policy addressing how the tool would be used in the code compliance process and the protections in place concerning its use. Importantly, once a violation is confirmed, an educational letter will be sent to the property owner, clearly describing the violation with photos, citing relevant code sections, outlining compliance steps and providing a compliance date. A formal code enforcement case would only be opened in those instances where the educational efforts are unsuccessful, and compliance is not achieved within a reasonable period of time. The policy also addresses staff training ongoing performance reviews of City Detect AI.
DISCUSSION:
The City Detect AI camera systems offer a technologically advanced solution for real-time monitoring and data collection. By mounting AI-equipped cameras on code compliance vehicles, the system can detect and document code violations, providing visual evidence and geolocation data to expedite the education and enforcement process.
The anticipated outcomes include:
• Enhanced efficiency in identifying and documenting violations across the City • Improving staff efficiency in addressing violations and providing education • Improved compliance rates through timely notifications and follow-up • Data-driven decision-making to prioritize enforcement efforts A contract with City Detect has been reviewed and drafted with the City Attorney’s office. If approved, City Detect AI may be implemented at the start of the new fiscal year. The contract is structured as a three-year contract with an annual cost of service of $73,600 for the installation of cameras and AI technology on two city code vehicles, together with access to the City Detect web dashboard. The total not-to-exceed cost of the contract is $220,800. The contract has a termination clause that it may be terminated in any year of the contract for any reason with no responsibility for any year beyond the current year, effectively making it an annual contract. City Detect retains ownership of the equipment and has full responsibility for the maintenance of all equipment for the term of the contract. The contract also includes training and ongoing support.
To fulfill the terms of the contract, City Detect will install and maintain two (2) data collection units on Code Compliance vehicles. These data collection units will remain the property of City Detect and are leased to the City for the term of the agreement. City Detect will be responsible for purchasing replacement components of any collection systems damaged or malfunctioning within the normal scope of work. The City will be responsible for the reinstallation of components shipped to it with City Detect’s guidance and support.
While the devices are in use, City Detect will provide data collection, processing, analysis, reporting, and grant support services as outlined in the proposal. These services include ongoing technical support, systems maintenance, and employee training. City Detect will provide comprehensive training for city staff including the use of all previously mentioned systems.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The contract is structured as a three-year contract with an annual cost of service of $73,600 for the installation of cameras and AI technology on two city code vehicles, together with access to the City Detect web dashboard. The total not-to-exceed cost of the contract is $220,800. The contract has already been budgeted in the FY 2025/2026 & 2026/2027 biennial budget.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
E-2 – Continue to explore and utilize technology to promote public safety E-11 – Evaluate staffing in Code Compliance vs. workload and determine the needed full- time employees’ level: use technology as available.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Software as a Service (SAAS) Contract with City Detect