January 21, 2025
Police Department
DATE: January 21, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Bisa French, Chief of Police
Subject:
Approve a third contract amendment with Flock Group Inc.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Recurring annual costs of $408,500 will continue to come from the approved Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Richmond
Police Department budget; additional costs will be
covered by the respective Department budgets – account
string 01191021-400209.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
April 2, 2024
November 7, 2023
September 19, 2023
February 28, 2023
February 21, 2023
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Police Department staff requests additional funding to
add additional Automated License Plate Readers and
Pan Tilt Zoom cameras for City of Richmond facilities and city streets.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a third contract amendment with Flock Group
to increase the contract expenditure by $1,000,000, for a total not to exceed $2,037,000 with a term beginning
March 1, 2023, and ending on February 28, 2026 –
Police Department (Bisa French, 510-621-1802).
AGENDA
REPORT
January 21, 2025
DISCUSSION:
On February 28, 2023, the City of Richmond entered into an agreement with Flock Safety for Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) equipment, and on September 19, 2023, staff requested additional funding to deploy Flock Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras that have features such as Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ), to replace its aging Axis CCTV system.
Police Department staff requests additional funding to expand its Automated License Plate Reader and CCTV program to include City facilities, such as the Corporation Yard, Employment and Training building, libraries, parks, recreation centers, Civic Center Plaza, etc.; and will install additional Flock cameras on city streets to combat illegal dumping, sideshows, encampments, etc.
To enhance public safety, with additional funding, Police Department staff would like to purchase two mobile CCTV trailers for temporary assignments at special events or hotspot locations, add additional software required to support the camera expansion, add a Flock OS fusion center that will allow Police Department staff to monitor all cameras from a secure location at the Police Department and replace the current CCTV room. Additionally, funding will be used for the replacement of damaged equipment because of theft and/or vandalism. On average additional cameras add roughly $2,800 to $3,800 (depending on the type) to the ongoing annual fees, and replacement costs vary based on the cost of the hardware and labor.
As cameras are deployed, Police Department staff evaluate their efficacy to determine if the position and location are a good fit. Since some locations are dynamic and have multiple ingress and egress roads, pedestrian crossings, undeveloped areas, and hotspots for illegal dumping, etc., occasionally additional locations are identified only after installing the planned camera. Adding additional funds to the contract will allow flexibility to quickly adapt to intersections of concern, parks, city properties, etc. to ensure coverage is complete and that no camera gaps in and out are discovered and/or exploited.
Police Department staff will be responsible for the implementation of cameras, but the responsibility for funding and payment will remain with the Department making the request for additional cameras.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Proposed Third Contract Amendment
Attachment 2 – Second Contract Amendment
Attachment 3 – First Contract Amendment
Attachment 4 - Original Contract