Fremont City Council Meeting: 10/21/25 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Police Department
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Agreements and Contracts
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5548) DOC ID: 5548 A
Updated: 10/17/2025 9:25 AM by Dina Lewis A Page 1
FLOCK SAFETY SYSTEMS AGREEMENT AMENDMENT - Authorize the City Manager, or Designee, to execute an amendment to agreement with Flock Group Inc, dba Flock Safety Systems, for the installation of Flock ALPR Systems and subscription.
Contact Persons:
Name: Matthew Snelson Jason Valdes
Title: Police Captain Senior Technology Detective
Div/Dept: Police Department Police Department
Phone: 510-790-6874 (510) 790-6935
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The purpose of this staff report is to recommend that the City Council authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute an amendment to an existing agreement with Flock Safety Systems to replace 35 BOSS Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras and expand the ALPR system to a total of 80 cameras citywide.
BACKGROUND: Since March 2016, the City of Fremont has been a leader in leveraging community-based video surveillance, establishing a robust Community Camera Network to enhance public safety. The CCN includes pan-tilt-zoom color cameras and Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs), strategically installed at city entry/exit points and major intersections. Additionally, mobile ALPRs are deployed in nearly all marked patrol vehicles, and solar-powered mobile camera systems are used for special events and dynamic deployments.
Community support has been foundational to the program. In 2015, prior to implementation, the City conducted an Open City Hall survey and held public meetings to gauge interest in the CCN and ALPR technology. Of the nearly 400 survey respondents, 85% expressed strong support.
Since its launch, the CCN has proven to be a valuable tool in deterring crime and identifying suspects. Fremont Police Department (FPD) remains committed to maintaining and expanding this resource to improve community safety through the timely apprehension of offenders.
The City of Fremont (City) is also committed to protecting individual privacy. All video footage is securely stored for 30 days unless flagged as evidence in an investigation. ALPR data is retained for one year and shared only with authorized law enforcement partners under strict data-sharing agreements and in compliance with federal, state, and local laws.
Data tied to criminal investigations may be retained beyond one year per department policy.
Currently, the Fremont Police Department operates 44 fixed-position ALPR systems, of which 35 were purchased from Neology. These systems are accessed via Neology’s BOSS web application. However, Neology has announced its exit from the law enforcement market and will no longer provide or support ALPR technology. As a result, the Police Department must transition to a new ALPR vendor to ensure the continued functionality and effectiveness of the CCN.
Council Staff Report (ID # 5548) Meeting of October 21, 2025 Updated: 10/17/2025 9:25 AM by Dina Lewis A Page 2
DISCUSSION: FPD believes that continued investment in the Community Camera Network will enhance the identification and apprehension of criminals and deter future criminal activity. This investment aligns with the City Council’s established priority of enhancing public safety and the Police Department’s Strategic Plan Goal #1: Mitigate the Impact of Crime and Enhance Community Safety (Strategies 1.5, 1.6, and 1.8).
Two options were considered to modernize the department’s Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) infrastructure. Replace Neology with another purchase-based vendor or expand the use of Flock Safety’s lease-based system.
Based on the two options, the FPD would benefit most from transitioning to Flock. Flock’s regional data-sharing capabilities have already proven effective in helping FPD apprehend suspects fleeing through neighboring cities and solving serious crimes committed by individuals outside our jurisdiction. Expanding FPD’s use of Flock provides several advantages, including ongoing technology upgrades, cost stabilization through a multi -year lease, reduced operational expenses, minimized downtime for repairs, improved equipment reliability, and stronger vendor accountability. Additionally, Flock offers simplified installation for faster deployment, flexible placement with solar-powered cameras, and environmentally sustainable technology that supports FPD’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.
FPD has worked with Flock Safety on a proposed three-year amendment to the current agreement. Key features of this amendment include stable and predictable ALPR system costs through 2027, vendor-managed installation and maintenance, and 90-day ALPR data retention at no additional cost.
In FY 2025/26 the Department anticipates completing the installation of 36 additional cameras and the replacement of 35 Boss Cameras in the City. With these additions, the total deployment will consist of 80 Flock ALPR cameras citywide.
One-Time Installation Cost $50,650
Year 1 subscription (3-year agreement) $301,400 (per year)
FISCAL IMPACT: The installation and year one subscription costs, totaling $352,050, will be funded through a federal COPS grant previously appropriated in the Federal Operating Grants Fund (Fund 191). Subsequent year subscription costs will be included in the Information Technology Services Operating Fund (Fund 620) proposed budget beginning in FY 2026/27. Depending on the future ongoing funding availability for FY 2026/27, the sources for the new ongoing funding required to support this expanded program could potentially be achieved through a budgetary request for new funding, absorbed within the existing FPD operating budget by eliminating lower priority programs, the federal COPS grant program or some combination of all three options.
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to enter into an amended agreement with Flock Safety System for the installation of 71 Flock ALPR systems and subscription for 80 Flock cameras.