City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JULY 16, 2024 FROM: RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT & WARDS: ALL
INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: APPROVE THE ALLOCATION OF $200,000 FROM THE MEASURE Z FUND BALANCE FOR FY 2024/25 AND $175,000 ANNUALLY FOR FYs 2025-2029, TOTALING $900,000, TO IMPLEMENT A REAL TIME CRIME CENTER. ADDITIONALLY, AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF FUSUSONE FROM AXON ENTERPRISE, INC., OF SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA, FOR $746,037.16, FOR A FIVE-YEAR TERM ENDING AUGUST 14, 2029. – SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION – MEASURE Z ISSUES:
Approve the allocation of $200,000 from the Measure Z fund balance for FY 2024/25 and $175,000 annually for FYs 2025–2029, totaling $900,000, to implement a Real-Time Crime Center. Additionally, authorize the purchase of FususONE from Axon Enterprise, Inc., of Scottsdale, Arizona, for $746,037.16 for a five-year term ending August 14, 2029. The remaining allocation will be used for the purchase of miscellaneous equipment and supplies necessary to implement a Real Time Crime Center.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve an allocation from the Measure Z Fund Balance in the amount of $200,000 for FY 2024/25 and $175,000 annually for FYs 2025-2029, totaling $900,000, to implement and maintain a Real Time Crime Center; With at least five affirmative votes, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $200,000 from the Measure Z Fund available fund balance to the Police Field Operations, Real Time Crime Center Program expenditure account; Approve the purchase of FususONE from Axon Enterprise, Inc., of Scottsdale, Arizona, for a Real-Time Crime Center under OMNIA Cooperative Purchasing Agreement 3544-21-4615 for a five-year term ending August 14, 2029, totaling $746,037.16; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary documents including, but not limited to, quotes, agreements, change orders, and amendments with the ability to make minor non-substantive changes.
BOARD RECOMMENDATION:
On May 9, 2024, the Budget Engagement Commission (Commission) recommended that the City Council approve the allocation of Measure Z Funds in an amount up to $200,000 in fiscal year 2024/25 and $175,000 annually thereafter for the implementation of a Real Time Crime Center.
BACKGROUND:
A Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) is where an agency combines public safety best practices with state-of-the-art artificial intelligence technology to protect and increase the security of its community. RTCCs got their start in the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy with the need increasing after the Boston Marathon incident. Large gaps in video sharing and labor-intensive analysis were hindering response and intelligence, therefore RTCCs at centralized locations were born.
Now RTCCs are fully customizable to the needs of the City but at their core are comprised of two (2) key components which include the Equipment and the System.
The physical requirements of an RTCC must be considered and are depended upon the needs of the Department. The Riverside Police Department (RPD) would use its current configuration for the initial implementation of the RTCC. Little equipment will be required by the Department and the vendor will be expected to provide some of the equipment necessary to make the initial transition. Since the RTCC is scalable and has the ability to expand into a much more robust system to meet the Departments growing needs, future needs may include computers, monitors or televisions, and revised desk configurations among other minor equipment and supplies.
An RTCC system includes software that will bring together existing technologies into a single access point or centralized location:
Mapping: Visualizing events, alerts, and video footage geospatially on maps and dashboards accelerates response coordination. Operators can clearly see relationships and clusters of activity. 9-1-1 or Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) systems integration with City owned and privately shared video surveillance systems: mapping calls in real-time and viewing live video feeds in the area as incidents unfold.
City owned IP Cameras: A network of high-resolution fixed and pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras provides 24/7 live monitoring and recording capabilities. Camera networks can give situational awareness across all city areas, including transit hubs, event venues, shopping districts, high-crime areas, and other hot spots.
Private cameras where residents and businesses opt-in to participate in the City’s Real Time Crime Center.
The City currently owns and operates approximately 1200 cameras costing an average of $5,000 per camera with increasing needs to expand the system. In addition, the State of California requires by law that the City retain all routine surveillance footage for 12 months. The cost associated with the operation, maintenance, and replacement of the cameras plus required storage continues to increase over time.
The success of the RTCC lies in the partnerships. Riverside Police Department (RPD) would seek to launch a public-private partnership program where business owners and residents could opt-in to share feeds from their privately owned security cameras while maintaining full control of when and what type of video is shared.
Once implemented and partnerships are established, the RTCC will allow RPD to transition from viewing video footage from multiple access points with a limited number of cameras to being able to view video footage from a single access point with a nearly unlimited number of cameras.
RTCCs have proven to provide quicker response times in addition to enhanced situational awareness and safety of police officers in the field. They help maintain better operational command, improve emergency response capabilities, allow officers to stop crimes in progress, help to lower crime rates, allow for swift apprehension of suspects, and improve the overall safety within the community.
DISCUSSION:
RPD and IT are recommending FususONE (Fusus) as the software system to implement the City’s RTCC. Fusus is a software that can compile data from license plate readers, drones, GPS tracking, officer locations, satellite and map data, blueprints, private video feeds, and more into one singular screen improving commands knowledge base and positively impacting active response times.
The Software
Fusus is the only manufacturer of FususONE (Fusus), a subscription-based software management system powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that is able to integrate with the City’s existing camera network, recorders, servers and equipment to provide a single platform that will help expedite crime-related intelligence gathering in real time. Recently acquired by Axon Enterprise, Inc., of Scottsdale, Arizona, Fusus is currently used by law enforcement agencies across the county including more than 15 in the Southern California area, such as, Ontario, Pomona, Rialto, Orange County, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Hawthorne, San Gabriel and Beverly Hills.
The system works by automatically pushing 911 call information into Fusus where the system searches for any registered, connected devices to access a live camera feed. This real-time video can not only be accessed by responding officers, but it also tags their locations on a map for enhanced situational awareness. Officers will also be able to review building blueprints (especially useful during evacuations or hostage situations) and be able to see maps of the surrounding area with real time updates to officers’ locations, suspect sightings, and a plethora of other data that will aid in investigations and response outcomes.
In addition to those mentioned above, the proposed purchase will include a number of other unique capabilities and features including:
An SMS text service that provides text notifications to community members, both as mass notifications or to select camera geographic areas surrounding a crime.
Crime and incident heat mapping and analysis capabilities.
A situational awareness system for icon marking, floorplan room clearing, planning, and resource staging from Emergency Operation Center workstations and mobile field-based users on laptops and mobile devices.
The ability to track vehicles and people from one camera to another. (NOTE: Fusus does not include facial recognition capabilities. Instead, it searches videos to find the criteria entered by staff – things like the color of clothes; if someone carries a bag; the make, model and type of vehicle or bicycle; license plate numbers; etc.) Creation of a custom website for community members to voluntarily register and manage privately owned cameras.
A three-months long community outreach initiative to build awareness of the private/public partnership.
The Public-Private Partnership
Through a dedicated website, residents and businesses will be able to register their cameras and establish their own preferences and controls for how or when camera feeds are accessed. This ensures that camera owners always retain complete control over who is able to access their cameras and under what conditions. They will also be able to remotely view their own camera feeds and share footage electronically – a significant improvement and added benefit for systems that currently only save footage to hard drives or other offline storage centers. In addition, building this collaborative security network will enable responding officers to better understand unfolding situations in real time while providing an appropriate response.
Private cameras are not subject to state retention laws, require no additional infrastructure or equipment outlay by the City, and significantly expand the network of cameras throughout the City at no additional cost to taxpayers. There is, however, a one-time charge for the core device that plugs into the camera system beginning at $200 and an annual subscription fee. Subscription fees vary based on the number of cameras registered but range from $150 per year for up to four cameras and increase incrementally to $2300 per year for up to 180 cameras. Camera owners can cancel their subscriptions at any time. All subscription prices include warranties, remote setup assistance and support.
Fusus will provide three months of community outreach as well as provide training to City staff to continue outreach efforts.
The Costs
Staff negotiated a five-year term with a rate of $149,207 annually for a total commitment of $746,037.16. The requested appropriation of Measure Z funding includes additional funding each year to help offset equipment and supply needs that might arise such as monitors, computers, and additional outreach efforts among other things.
Year
Subscription
Cost
Additional
Equipment
Total MZ Appropriations
FY 2024-25
$149,207.42
$50,792.58
$200,000.00
FY 2025-26
$149,207.42
$25,792.58
$175,000.00
FY 2026-27
$149,207.42
$25,792.58
$175,000.00
FY 2027-28
$149,207.42
$25,792.58
$175,000.00
FY 2028-29
$149,207.48
$25,792.52
$175,000.00
TOTAL
$746,037.16
$153,962.84
$900,000.00
Axon Enterprise, Inc., of Scottsdale, Arizona can provide competitive pricing for the software and services through OMNIA Cooperative Purchasing Agreement 3544-21-4615. This cooperative agreement is in line with the City’s Purchasing Resolution No. 24101, Sections 602(f) and 702(f).
Purchasing Resolution No. 24101, Article Six: Acquisition of Goods, Section 602 Exceptions states, “Competitive Procurement through the Informal Procurement and Formal Procurement process shall not be required in any of the following circumstances: …(f) When Cooperative Purchasing is available and undertaken or when Goods can be obtained through Federal, State and/or other public entity pricing contracts or price agreements.” Purchasing Resolution No. 24101, Article Seven: Acquisition of Services, Section 702 Exceptions states, “Competitive Procurement through the Informal Procurement and Formal Procurement process shall not be required in any of the following circumstances: …(f) When Cooperative Purchasing is available and undertaken or when Services can be obtained through Federal, State and/or other public entity pricing contracts or price agreements.” The Purchasing Manager concurs that the recommendations to authorize the purchases are in compliance with Purchasing Resolution 24101, Sections 602(f), and 702(f).
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 utilize current Real Time Crime Center technology 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. Current Real Time Crime Center technology is a valuable tool that will assist the Police Department in the achievement of this goal and ensures safer streets for everyone.
Fiscal Responsibility – The Police Department is requesting to use Measure Z funding for the proposed Real Time Crime Center implementation. The estimated cost of the current Real Time Crime Center technology is minimal when compared to establishing a centralized unit at a physical location.
Innovation – RPD must constantly evolve and adapt to meet the community’s changing needs and prepare for the future. The proposed purchase of current Real Time Crime Center technology is innovative and will assist the Department in solving crimes through the use artificial intelligence to pull specific and relevant video footage from multiple platforms for real-time video surveillance and analysis with a single access point for users.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The estimated cost of the current Real Time Crime Center technology is minimal when compared to establishing a centralized unit at a physical location and will save on staff time. This will provide the Department with the capacity to preserve, adapt, and grow with the needs of the community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is $746,037.16 for the five-year term, plus $153,962.84 in equipment and program related needs for a total cost of $900,000.00. Upon Council approval, a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $200,0000 will be recorded in the Measure Z Fund, Police Field Operations, Real Time Crime Center expenditure account number 8006201-425700 from available fund balance. The Measure Z Spending Plan (Attachment 3) demonstrates sufficient resources to accommodate programming of the annual expenditure.
Prepared by: Jessica Gordon, IT Administrative Services Manager Approved by: Larry V. Gonzalez, Chief of Police
George Khalil, Chief Innovation Officer
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Mike Futrell, City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Axon Quote for FususONE
OMNIA Agreement
Measure Z Spending Plan
Presentation
Real Time Crime Center ● Page 2