OPW Illegal Dumping
Surveillance Camera Program
Amplifying Enforcement Efforts
PUBLIC WORKS
History
• Litter Enforcement Officers (2001 – 2011)
8 Litter Enforcement Officers (LEOs)
2011: Program defunded; Unit disbanded
• Nuisance Abatement Division (2013-2019)
City Administrator’s Office led enforcement
efforts; minimal staffing
Council approved new provisions for dumping
enforcement in Oakland Municipal Code;
approved $100k for surveillance cameras
Camera system’s performance inconsistent
ILLEGAL DUMPING IN OAKLAND
History
• Environmental Enforcement Officers (2019 to Present)
6 Environmental Enforcement Officers (EEOs)
JUL 2020: Comprehensive citation system launched
Includes appeal process, community service in lieu
of fine, collections process
Fall 2019: Surveillance camera program transferred to OPW from Nuisance Abatement
Verkada (Mid 2020/ Early 2021)
Presented to Privacy Advisory Committee meeting
(AUG 2021)
ILLEGAL DUMPING IN OAKLAND
FY2020-21 Illegal Dumping Work Orders
Completed by KOCB
Dumping Statistics
• 7,470 tons of debris removed*
• Over $12M spent abating illegal
dumping*
• Oakland’s Dumping grew 67%**
since 2017
*
* FY2020-21
** 4,472 tons
ILLEGAL DUMPING IN OAKLAND
• Hotspot: locations experiencing
recurring illegal dumping, often with
insufficient evidence connecting
dumped piles to dumpers
• Cityworks Data shows: Top 25
hotspots had over 100+ dumping
pick-ups per location, with hottest
hotspot logging 300+ dumping pick-
ups over two-year period (FY2019-
2021)
ILLEGAL DUMPING “HOTSPOTS”
• Hotspots often near
Homeless Encampments
• Most Hotspots in Council
Districts 3, 5, 6, and 7
• Strategy: Deploy cameras
using Cityworks data, cross-
referenced by EEO field intel
ILLEGAL DUMPING “HOTSPOTS”
FY2019-21 Illegal Dumping Hotspots as
defined by locations with most work orders
• Cannot abate our way out of dumping
issue
• Over 18 months of continuous
education & outreach
• 1,316 citations issued since JUL 6, 2020
• Must increase enforcement actions
THREE “E s” of ILLEGAL DUMPING
Eradicate
Enforce
Educate
MOBILE OBSERVATION DEVICE (POD)
• All-in-one, portable surveillance system
in tamper-resistant, metal housing
• Four (4) camera or two (2) camera
models
• Includes digital video recorder, cellular
router, wifi transmitter
• Additional bullet camera to view license
plates
• Needs only 110v power to activate
• Mobile phone access capable
• Easy to install; easy to move
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J12TDHc_g4Q&list=
PLrzj7S2FrTsoAilQOy2VeecD8dCdESwzP&index=1
• Uncomplicated technology minimizes factors
that may impact camera performance
Not cloud-based
On-board video recording
Minimal equipment required
Photocell adapter to access power
MOBILE OBSERVATION DEVICE (POD)
• City of Alameda – Public Works Corp
Yard; Police Department surveillance
• Sacramento – Parks surveillance
• Fremont – Parks surveillance
• San Leandro – Parks surveillance
• Dallas, TX – Parks surveillance
• Cleveland, OH – Parks surveillance
POD USE BY OTHER MUNICIPALITIES & AGENCIES
PRIVACY ADVISORY COMMISSION (PAC)
• December 2, 2021: PAC Unanimously Approved OPW’s
Surveillance Camera Program
• Third-Party Data Sharing with OPD/ DA’s Office Policies Include:
“In the event POD cameras capture general illegal activity that reasonably appears to constitute “violent forcible crimes”… Environmental Enforcement Unit (EEU) staff shall… forward said recording to OPD for possible investigatory and enforcement action…”
“OPW shall report within 72 hours any Oakland Police Department (OPD) request for video recordings captured by POD units to the Chief Privacy Officer and Privacy Advisory Commission (PAC) Chair…”
QUESTIONS
G. Harold Duffey
Director – Oakland Public Works
PUBLIC WORKS