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CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Report: Police Department Real Time Intelligence Center (RTIC).
1. Resolution to dispense with competitive bidding and authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into a 5-year agreement with Constant Technologies Inc. for the design, engineering, and installation of consoles, video displays, parts, related software, and maintenance for a Real Time Intelligence Center (RTIC) in the amount of $565,600 plus 10% contingency of $56,560 for a total amount not to exceed $622,160.
2. Resolution of appropriation.
COUNCIL ACTION
Item Type: Action Item
Approved for January 23, 2024 calendar
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Glendale Police Department (GPD) has excelled in retroactively solving crimes and responding to crimes in progress. However, with staffing shortages, the complexity of investigations, and the advent of new and innovative technologies, GPD requires a new approach to solving crimes retroactively and to respond more efficiently and effectively to crimes as they are occurring. The Real Time Intelligence Center (RTIC) will be the central command and control hub for the organization, positioning us to achieve this goal.
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RECOMMENDATION
Approve the resolution to dispense with competitive bidding authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into a 5-year agreement with Constant Technologies Inc. in the amount of $565,600 plus 10% contingency of $56,560 for a total amount not to exceed $622,160 and the resolution of appropriation from the Asset Forfeiture Fund.
ANALYSIS
The Real Time Intelligence Center (RTIC) will be comprised of the following supportive elements: closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras feeds, Axon livestream BWC / In-Car- Video, automated license plate reader (ALPR) information, unmanned aerial system feeds (drones), helicopter feeds, Live911, and other software platforms.
Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras
There are many CCTV cameras throughout the city operating on the Milestone platform.
These cameras do not store recorded video and are typically used for live monitoring of traffic conditions by Public Works. In collaboration with Public Works (PW) and Information Technology (ITD) departments, GPD will utilize existing infrastructure where possible and supplement this with additional Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) cameras to be purchased and installed by an outside vendor.
GPD and ITD are currently conducting an intensive review of web-based management software solutions to support the real time intelligence center. These systems include the ability to map all resources and quickly gather information to send to field personnel, including patrol officers, detectives, dispatchers, and it will allow command staff the ability to gain better situational awareness to assist in the overall command and control of critical incidents.
The immediate goal is to have Investigative Analysts monitoring camera feeds to coordinate with units in the field. These analysts must already have geographic/operational knowledge of the City of Glendale’s Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) and CCTV camera placement.
The city currently has Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) and is in the process of growing the program using grant funding in 2024. ALPR cameras are utilized to find stolen vehicles and vehicles wanted in connection with a crime. Increasing the camera count within the city with the ability to livestream data in the RTIC will provide the ability to be identify and locate these types of vehicles more rapidly.
Axon Body Worn Cameras / In-Car-Video live streaming
GPD will have the ability to livestream Body Worn Camera (BWC) and In-Car-Video footage to be able to locate officers, vehicles, and drones through Axon Enterprise’s Respond software. This will allow for increased situational awareness and the ability to better utilize resources, keeping officers and our community safe. This information will be utilized in the RTIC and relayed to officers, dispatchers, and key decision makers. 3{{section.number}}a
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Air Support / Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Drone Program During significant police events, such as perimeters or searches for criminal suspects, GPD relies first upon air support from our helicopters for an ariel viewpoint. When a helicopter is not available, GPD uses drones to assist in an ariel viewpoint to help aid to the resolution of critical incidents. Both platforms will have the ability to livestream video to the RTIC.
Live911
Live911 technology allows 911 calls to livestream directly to RTIC personnel. The expectation is that this technology will improve officer response times to incidents by allowing RTIC personnel to utilize cameras and LPR technology to get “eyes on” the area of an incident and direct officers more appropriately while providing real time intelligence as officers are responding. This will improve de-escalation by providing additional context to calls, will help keep officers informed and safe through increasing situational awareness, which will improve overall officer and citizen safety.
Summary
While each of these technologies listed above have great stand-alone capabilities, the potential to use them in an integrated fashion is a force multiplier. There have been several recent cases of CCTV, ALPRs, and drones being used in a coordinated manner by our regional partners and throughout the nation to arrest criminals who were involved in crimes ranging from organized retail theft to murder. The cohesive use of technology combined with integrated operational systems has the potential to revolutionize the way GPD keeps our community safe.
In July 2023, the department organized a committee to explore creating a Real Time Intelligence Center within the Police Department.
The RTIC committee attended classes, met with partner agencies, spoke with RTIC experts, and visited multiple police departments already using RTICs to support their operations. The committee gained valuable knowledge in the design, construction, and operation of a RTIC.
Constant Technologies is the only vendor in the market that solely builds RTICs for city, state, and federal government agencies and has built over 2,000 turn-key projects. Other vendors offer a wide variety of Audio Video solutions along with the capabilities of building RTICs, however they do not specialize in it. Constant Technologies has become an industry leader in providing solutions specifically for law enforcement agencies that combine spatial design, display wall deployment, technology integration and custom-built analyst workstation systems.
Constant Technologies completes all work in house, including their furniture construction, so there are no unexpected delays or problems dealing with sub-contractors. They employ retired law enforcement professionals who have real world experience in designing, constructing, and operating RTICs. These professionals not only assist in the design and construction, but with training and operation, so that on day one departments 4{{section.number}}a
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are utilizing their RTICs as efficiently as possible.
Through the committee’s evaluation process, quotes were received from different vendors and the proposals vetted with the Real Time Crime Center Association president to ensure the pricing was competitive and the designed solution would work for the department’s space and operation. The committee visited multiple police departments comparing RTIC buildouts and pricing from vendors. Based on this, the committee is confident that the Constant Technologies’ quote incorporated the necessary elements for a successful RTIC design and was priced below market value for comparable projects.
Based upon the President’s confirmation of the quote, the committee’s evaluation of other police department RTIC programs, and the vendor’s specialization with law enforcement agencies, the committee recommends dispensing with competitive bidding and awarding a 5-year agreement in an amount not to exceed $622,160 to Constant Technologies Inc.
The 5-year agreement would include product warranty and service for the term of the contract at no additional cost.
Additionally, staff recommends funding be approved for related hardware and department facility modifications. Hardware items would include phones, computers, and monitors to fully outfit the workstations built and installed by Constant Technologies. Anticipated facility modifications include minor construction related to the walls and server racks located in the conference and computer equipment rooms. Electrical improvements and additional network switches and cabling are required to power and link the new systems to the City’s existing infrastructure. The IT hardware costs are estimated to be $92,730 and facility modifications are estimated to be $110,000.
STAKEHOLDERS/OUTREACH
Not Applicable
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FISCAL IMPACT
The Real Time Intelligence Center (RTIC) project will cost $824,890 and is broken down as follows: $622,160 (includes 10% contingency) for Constant Technologies Inc., $92,730 for Hardware Upgrades, and $110,000 for Facility Modifications. This cost was not included as a part of the FY2023-24 approved budget; therefore, staff is requesting for an appropriation of $824,890 from the Asset Forfeiture public safety account. The appropriation request is outlined below:
Requesting Appropriation
Item Amount From
(Account
String)
To
(Account
String)
Funding
Source
Constant
Technologies
$622,160 GL: 24211-
2600-GPD-0000
PL: N/A
Asset
Forfeiture Fund
– Public Safety
Constant
Technologies
$622,160 GL: 43110-
2600-GPD-
0020
PL: G65006
Asset
Forfeiture Fund
– Contractual
Services
Hardware
Upgrades
$92,730 GL: 24211-
2600-GPD-0000
PL: N/A
Asset
Forfeiture Fund
– Public Safety
Hardware
Upgrades
$92,730 GL: 51000-
2600-GPD-
0020
PL: G65006
Asset
Forfeiture Fund
– Capital
Outlay
Facility
Modifications
$110,000 GL: 24211-
2600-GPD-0000
PL: N/A
Asset
Forfeiture Fund
– Public Safety
Facility
Modifications
$110,000 GL: 51000-
2600-GPD-
0020
PL: G65006
Asset
Forfeiture Fund
– Capital
Outlay
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
The proposed action is exempt in that the procurement of the items requested in this report do not constitute a project under CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) as it can be seen with certainty that it will have no significant impact on the environment. (Cal.
Code Regs. Title 14 § 15061)
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
See Exhibit A
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ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Alternative 1: The City Council may elect not to authorize the Police Department to dispense with competitive bidding for a Real Time Intelligence Center (RTIC) as recommended herein, which would cause the Police Department to continue to conduct investigations and respond to calls without being able to leverage technology in real time.
Alternative 2: The City Council may consider any other alternative not proposed by staff.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
Submitted by:
Manuel Cid, Police Chief
Prepared by:
Sean Riley, Police Lieutenant
Approved by:
Roubik R. Golanian, P.E., City Manager
EXHIBITS/ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit A: Campaign disclosures