City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: FEBRUARY 7, 2023 FROM: RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF 23 FLOCK FALCON CAMERA SYSTEMS FOR A 12 MONTH TERM IN THE AMOUNT OF $65,550 ISSUE:
Approve the purchase and installation of 23 Flock Falcon Camera Systems for a 12-month term from Flock Group, INC., of Atlanta, Georgia, in the amount of $65,550.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council:
Approve the purchase and installation of 23 Flock Falcon Camera Systems for a 12-month term from Flock Group, INC., of Atlanta, Georgia, in the amount of $65,550; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the Flock Group, INC. Services Agreement Order Form and the Flock Safety Government Agency Agreement including the ability to make non-substantive changes and execute annual renewals for subsequent years for the City’s total inventory of 40 Flock Falcon Cameras Systems in an amount not to exceed 3% over the previous year’s total amount due, less the implementation fee, subject to the availability of funds.
BACKGROUND:
On March 3, 2022, the City of Riverside, on behalf of the Police Department, entered into a Data Sharing Memorandum of Understanding with the Flock Group, INC. which provided the Riverside Police Department (RPD) with access to Flock’s technology platform and Flock Safety dashboard for all Flock Camera Systems for investigative purposes only.
In June 2022, the City of Riverside, on behalf of the Police Department, entered into an Agreement with Flock Group, INC. (Flock) for the purchase and installation of 17 Flock Falcon Camera Systems in the total amount of $48,450 for a 12-month period. The camera systems were installed on highly traveled streets throughout the City of Riverside with input from the RPD.
DISCUSSION:
As stated in the Flock Safety Government Agency Agreement (Agreement), Flock is offering a software and hardware solution for automatic license plate detection through Flock’s technology platform. Upon detection, the Flock Services are capable of capturing audio, image, and recording data of suspected vehicles and can provide notifications to the law enforcement agency when a subject vehicle is detected. The Agreement will provide RPD access to the Flock Service on existing Flock cameras supported by RPD. It will also provide RPD access to Flock cameras supported by schools, neighborhood homeowners’ associations, businesses, other government/law enforcement agencies, and individual users, when there is an investigative or bona fide lawful purpose to do so.
Several local law enforcement agencies surrounding the City of Riverside have purchased and installed Flock Camera Systems. Being on the same system as surrounding law enforcement agencies provides the additional benefit of multi-department interoperability. The Riverside Sheriff’s Department recently purchased and installed 260 Flock Camera Systems throughout the County of Riverside and has already had success in using the camera systems to combat crime. The Sheriff’s Department Flock Camera Systems have also been used to assist RPD on several occasions with crimes in the City.
The Police Department purchased and installed 17 of the Flock Falcon Camera Systems on highly traveled streets throughout the City in the summer of 2022. This has allowed RPD to collect the evidence needed to solve crimes more quickly and efficiently. They have also been effective for RPD in assisting partnering agencies with solving serial crimes.
Therefore, the Police Department is requesting to purchase 23 additional Flock Falcon Camera Systems from Flock Group, INC. pursuant to Purchasing Resolution 23914, Section 602 (q) which states, “Competitive Procurement through the Informal Procurement and Formal Procurement process shall not be required in any of the following circumstances: …(q) When the Procurement is for the renewal of maintenance, license(s) support, or a similar need for existing technology systems, including hardware, and the items procured are from the owner/developer of the software/hardware or from a sole source provider, and the Manager is satisfied that the best price, terms and conditions have been negotiated”.
The Purchasing Manager concurs that this purchase is in accordance with Purchasing Resolution No. 23914, Section 602 (q).
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority No. 2 Community Well-Being and Goal number No. 2.4 – Support programs and innovations that enhance community safety, encourage neighborhood engagement, and build public trust.
This item aligns with EACH of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – The Riverside Police Department is dedicated to improving quality of life by creating a safe environment in partnership with the people it serves. RPD’s ability to use the Flock Camera Systems to assist with solving crime serves the public interest and benefits the City’s diverse population, and results in the greater public good.
Equity – RPD provides public safety services to all residents in the City of Riverside. Having additional Flock Camera Systems throughout the City assists in the achievement of this goal and ensures safer streets for everyone.
Fiscal Responsibility – The proposed purchase is being made with grant funds reducing the financial burden on the City’s General Fund.
Innovation – RPD must constantly evolve and adapt to meet the community’s changing needs and prepare for the future. The proposed purchase of the additional Flock Camera Systems will assist the Department in solving crimes through the utilization of current detection technology.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The proposal is to purchase the Flock Camera Systems through grant funding leaving the Department with the capacity to preserve, adapt, and grow with the needs of the community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of the action is $65,550 for the addition of 23 Flock Falcon Camera Systems. Sufficient funds are budgeted and available in the Grants & Restricted Programs Fund, Police -Admin Services, State COPS Grant 21/22 Program account 9345300-440210.
The fiscal impact for additional years will not exceed 3% over the previous year’s total amount due, less the implementation fee, for the total inventory of 40 Flock Falcon Camera Systems. Appropriations for future fiscal years will be included in the department’s budget submissions for those fiscal years to be presented to the City Council for approval.
If the City requests removal of the cameras at any time, the cost to the City will be $500 per camera.
Prepared by: Larry Gonzalez, Chief of Police
Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer Approved by: Edward Enriquez, Interim Assistant City Manager Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Flock Group, INC. Services Agreement Order Form
Flock Safety Government Agency Agreement
FLOCK FALCON CAMERA SYSTEM PURCHASE