Fremont City Council Meeting: 12/09/25 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Police Department
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Agreements and Contracts
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5592) DOC ID: 5592
Updated: 12/4/2025 4:17 PM by Dina Lewis Page 1
COMMUNITY CAMERA ADDITIONS – Authorize the City Manager, or Designee, to enter into an Agreement and Issue Purchase Order with Epic iO in an amount not- to-exceed $150,107 for the purchase and installation of community cameras at five new locations
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 enter into an agreement with Epic iO for a total amount not-to-exceed $150,107 for purchase, installation of and ongoing maintenance of closed-circuit color cameras at five new locations within the City of Fremont (“City”).
BACKGROUND: Since March 2016, the City has been a leader in leveraging community-based video surveillance, establishing a robust Community Camera Network to enhance public safety. The Community Camera Network includes closed circuit Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) color cameras and Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs), strategically installed at City entry/exit points and major intersections. Additionally, solar-powered mobile camera trailer 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 Community Camera Network and ALPR technology. Of the nearly 400 survey respondents, 85% expressed strong support.
Since its launch, the Community Camera Network has proven to be a valuable tool in deterring crime and identifying suspects. The Fremont Police Department remains committed to maintaining and expanding this resource to improve community safety through the timely apprehension of offenders.
The City of Fremont is also committed to protecting individual privacy. All video footage is securely stored for 30 days unless flagged as evidence in an investigation.
DISCUSSION: The Fremont Police Department 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 strategic focus on enhancing public safety, as well as 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).
Council Staff Report (ID # 5592) Meeting of December 9, 2025 Updated: 12/4/2025 4:17 PM by Dina Lewis Page 2
The Federal Office of Community Oriented Policing Services awarded the City $963,000 in Technology and Equipment funds to upgrade existing community cameras and to purchase additional equipment and software. The funds must be spent by March 31, 2026, and are held in the Federal Operating Grants Fund (Fund 191). Funds have been utilized to purchase analytic software, to replace existing PTZ community cameras, and were recently authorized by City Council to pivot our existing ALPR system to Flock Safety and to add additional ALPR cameras to the Community Camera Network.
Since 2016, the Fremont Police Department has added a total of 60 color cameras at 17 locations. Through ongoing data and qualitative analysis, our experience with solving crimes and following criminals during real-time incidents, we have identified the need for several more cameras. This will support FPD’s intelligence-led policing model to deter crime, identify and locate violent and repeat offenders, and efficiently investigate criminal incidents.
Through careful consideration, understanding future infrastructure fortification and emphasizing the use of the new Real Time Crime Center, City staff has determined the need for cameras at five new locations to add 18 PTZ cameras and one fixed camera. By the end of February 2026, the Department anticipates completing the camera installations at all five locations.
FISCAL IMPACT: The cost for the purchase of the cameras, related equipment, and installation is $150,107 and will be paid from amounts previously appropriated in the Federal Operating Grants Fund (Fund 191).
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The purchase and installation of community cameras is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), without limitation, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities and Section 15303, New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures, as the project is a minor installation of a camera to existing light poles.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement and issue a purchase order with Epic iO in an amount not-to-exceed $150,107 for 19 cameras at five new locations, associated parts, installation, and maintenance.