City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: AUGUST 15, 2023 FROM: POLICE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF 80 FLOCK FALCON CAMERA SYSTEMS FROM FLOCK GROUP, INC. OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, FOR A 5-YEAR TERM IN THE AMOUNT OF $213,500 FOR THE FIRST YEAR AND $200,000 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL YEAR FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $1,013,500.
ISSUE:
Approve the purchase and installation of 80 Flock Falcon Camera Systems from Flock Group, Inc., of Atlanta, Georgia, for a 5-year term, in the amount of $213,500 for the first year and $200,000 for each additional year, for a total amount of $1,013,500.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council:
Approve the purchase and installation of 80 Flock Falcon Camera Systems from Flock Group, Inc., of Atlanta, Georgia, for a 5-year term, in the amount of $213,500 for the first year and $200,000 for each additional year, for a total amount of $1,013,500; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the Flock Group, Inc. Order Form which incorporates and includes the terms of the previously executed agreement, including making minor and non-substantive changes.
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. (Flock) 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 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.
On February 7, 2023, the City Council approved the purchase and installation of 23 additional Flock Falcon Camera Systems for a 12-month term from Flock in the amount of $65,550 and authorized the City Manager, or designee, to execute the Flock Services Agreement Order Form and the Flock Safety Governmental 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 no to exceed 3% over the previous year’s total amount due, less implementation fee, subject to the availability of funds.
DISCUSSION:
Flock offers 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, images, 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 County Sheriff’s Department recently purchased and installed 260 Flock Camera Systems throughout the County of Riverside and has had success in using the camera systems to combat crime.
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. An additional 23 cameras were installed in the spring of 2023 after Council approval on February 7, 2023. Installation of the 40 Flock Falcon Camera Systems has assisted with solving several major crimes within the city, to include a multi-county home invasion robbery series, a large-scale residential burglary series and several homicide cases. Additionally, the Flock Falcon Camera System played a major role in our department’s 100% clearance rate for 2022 homicide cases.
Therefore, the Police Department is requesting to purchase 80 additional Flock Falcon Camera Systems from Flock Group, INC. pursuant to Purchasing Resolution 23914, Section 602 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 2 - Community Well-Being and Goal 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, 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 – Committing to a five-year term ensures no cost increases for the next five years for the proposed services.
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 commit to a five-year term with Flock Group, INC., ensuring no cost increases in the next five years and providing 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 $1,013,500 over a five-year term for the addition of 80 Flock Falcon Camera Systems. The fiscal impact for Fiscal Year 2023/24 is up to $213,500 and depends on the installation date of each camera system. Sufficient funds for Fiscal Year 2023/24 are budgeted and available in General Fund, Police-Special Operations, Professional Services account 31250000-421000.
Sufficient funds for future years will be included in the Police Department budget at the time of budget development for those years. The fiscal impact for each fiscal year will be approximately $200,000 per year and depends on the date of final installation.
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, Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer
Approved by: Mike Futrell, City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Flock Group, INC. Order Form
Executed Flock Safety Government Agency Agreement
FLOCK FALCON CAMERA SYSTEM PURCHASE