DATE: FEBRUARY 7, 2023
DEPARTMENT: SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT
FROM: ROBERTO FILICE, CHIEF OF POLICE
BY: TONYA ERICKSON, POLICE SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR
TITLE: COMMUNITY PROJECT GRANT AND AGREEMENTS OR DIRECT PURCHASE OF TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS/EQUIPMENT FOR THE SALINAS POLICE INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY PROJECT RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve the following:
A Resolution authorizing the acceptance of the $1,165,000.00 Community Project Funding Grant to be administered by the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, and to authorize the establishment of the Salinas Police Integrated Technology for Community Safety Project Grant appropriation of up to $1,165,000.00 and corresponding revenue budget to support grant activities.
A Resolution authorizing the following for a total cost not to exceed $1,165,000.00: (1) Agreement with Peregrine Technologies; (2) Direct purchase of mobile license plate readers from Lehr; (3) Direct purchase of computers and modems to support police in-vehicle camera systems from Lehr; and (4) Agreement and payment for professional services and subscription for fixed license plate readers from Flock Safety.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a Resolution to authorize the acceptance of the $1,165,000.00 Community Project Funding Grant to be administered by the Department of Justice, and to authorize the establishment of the grant appropriation of up to $1,165,000.00 and corresponding revenue budget to support grant activities. Staff further recommends that the City Council approve a Resolution authorizing the execution of Agreements and the direct purchase of technology systems and equipment identified in the recommended motion above, and within this report, to fulfill the objectives of the grant.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
In April 2022, the Salinas Police Department submitted a Federal Fiscal Year 2023 Community Funding Project/Congressionally Directed Spending Request to implement the Salinas Police Integrated Technology for Community Safety Project. The City has been awarded $1,165,000.00 for this project which will secure technology to assist our sworn officers to prevent and solve crimes. The Department is requesting authorization to accept this grant funding and establish an appropriation and corresponding revenue budget to support grant activities. The Department is further requesting authorization to enter into Agreements and make direct purchases of technology systems and equipment as identified within this report.
BACKGROUND:
The Salinas Police Department (SPD) has significant officer vacancies, and like other police departments, officer recruitment and retention are ongoing challenges. With our sworn police officer staffing more thinly stretched than ever before, SPD increasingly depends on technology to help prevent and solve crimes. SPD has been fortunate to deploy several innovations and knows that additional technology will help keep our community safer. In April 2022, the Salians Police Department submitted a Federal Fiscal Year 2023 Congressionally Directed Spending Request to our elected federal officials. We requested funds to implement an integrated technology project to support community and officer safety. We titled the project, Salinas Police Integrated Technology for Community Safety, and it was submitted for consideration by both Congressman Panetta and Senator Feinstein.
With the support of Congressman Panetta and his staff, the request was shepherded through the appropriations process and recommended for an award of $1,165,000.00, which was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2023 that President Biden signed on December 29, 2022.
Salinas Police Integrated Technology for Community Safety project has three components for which $1,165,000.00 funding was requested.
Agreement with Peregrine Technologies for up 3-years for subscription to the Peregrine platform data integration system for crime and intelligence analysis. The Peregrine platform is a web-based, CJIS-compliant Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) that provide single point of access to view and analyze data from various sources. The platform performs several critical functionalities, including data integration, search and information retrieval, advanced analytics, data management, reporting, collaboration, access control, and security. The Peregrine platform facilitates real-time operational decision making, enhanced crime trend analysis (including victimology), improved investigatory capabilities, and creates analysis products to support public safety.
Mobile license plate reader (LPR) and in-car camera systems. The project will expand the LPR systems currently employed on police vehicles that record the license plate numbers of parked and moving vehicles as they move about town. The license plate numbers are automatically matched with state databases to identify stolen or wanted vehicles. The project supports the expansion of LPRs to an additional 30 police vehicles. The project also supports adding technology to support in-car camera systems to 10 of our oldest patrol vehicles which are currently without this technology.
Fixed location Flock Safety LPR cameras. The project will expand the fixed license plate reader (LPR) camera network within the City. The City recently installed 20 Flock Safety LPR cameras in high crime areas for remote information gathering, and this project will allow the City to install another 20 cameras for a period of 2 years. The Flock Safety cameras record vehicle license plate information and uploads the data for comparison against state databases of stolen or wanted vehicles. The cameras also provide clear images of vehicles, showing not only their license plate number, but other objective data such as vehicle make, model, color, and unique details such as roof racks, bumper stickers, etc. These images provide objective evidence in solving crimes and are invaluable as investigative tools.
The project also contains a fourth component, the ShotSpotter Gunfire Location, Alert and Analysis Service, which is funded by the City. ShotSpotter was implemented by SPD in 2016 to reduce gun violence and save lives. Strategically placed acoustic sensors detect and locate impulsive sounds. These sounds are quickly reviewed by analysts and alerts for confirmed gunfire are sent to dispatch, patrol officers’ smartphones, and mobile data terminals. The entire process takes less than 60 seconds, enabling an immediate patrol response. Data collected during calendar year 2020 indicates that only 6.1% of ShotSpotter activations had a matching call for service within 3 minutes and 300 feet of the shooting location. With ShotSpotter, officers proceed to the exact location quickly which has saved lives and helped solve cases as responding officers have seen suspects and vehicles fleeing the scene.
The Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending Grant to support the Salinas Police Integrated Technology for Community Safety Project will be administered through the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). The City has received formal notification from Congressman Panetta’s Office regarding the award, and the project is included on the list of final Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending awards. We have yet to receive the award package for signature, but we are requesting approval to accept funds as soon as the documents are received so we may begin implementation in a timely manner. The grant period runs for a period of three years, from the project start date which is still to be finalized. The Resolution will authorize the acceptance of this Community Project grant and establish an appropriation and corresponding revenue budget for Community Project grant activities.
The department is also requesting approval to enter into Agreements and/or make direct purchases to support the implementation of the Salinas Police Integrated Technology for Community Safety Project, upon execution of the grant agreement, for a total cost not to exceed the grant award amount of $1,165,000.00. Individual project components are identified below, with corresponding individual or total Not to Exceed amounts. Individual component agreement dates, costs and quantity may vary so long as duration, quantity and costs do not exceed amounts identified above, and total costs do not exceed the grant award of $1,165,000.00.
Description and Vendor
Quantity
Not to Exceed Cost
Peregrine Technologies Agreement
3-years
$450,000.00 total
Mobile 3-Camera LPRs from Lehr
Up to 30
$22,273.33 each
Computers and Modems for In-Car Cameras from Lehr
10 $81,845.80 total
Flock Safety Professional Services and Subscription
20 cameras (2 yrs)
$107,000.00 total
Project Not to Exceed Total:
$1,165,000.00
There are no local vendors for data integration systems and after extensive research the Salinas Police Department selected Peregrine Technologies due to their focus on public safety and their ability to provide real-time data. There are no local vendors available to provide the mobile LPRs and in-vehicle technology, and the Salinas Police Department has found Lehr to consistently provide the most competitive prices for specialized emergency vehicle equipment. There are no local vendors available to provide fixed location LPR camera systems and Flock Safety is the sole manufacturer and developer of the Flock Safety Camera and thus is the only vendor available to expand this existing network of Flock Safety LPRs. The City Council has the authority to approve this direct purchase under Salinas Municipal code Section12-27 and without application of the local purchasing preference pursuant to Salinas Municipal Code Section 12-28.080.
POLICE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
The Police Chief presented this Award and funded Agreements/Purchases to the Police Community Advisory Committee on January 25, 2023. The Committee had an opportunity to ask questions and provided positive comments related to this requested action.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
Not a Project. The City of Salinas has determined that the proposed action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378).
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
Approving the proposed Resolution is consistent with the City Council Goal of Public Safety.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
The Police Department will work with the Legal Department during approval, and with the Finance Department during implementation.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
Proposed funding from the Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending Grant is $1,165,000.00, all of which will be used to support the implementation of the Salinas Police Integrated Technology for Community Safety Project. No matching funds are required from the City of Salinas to receive the grant funds and the Resolution authorizes the establishment of an appropriation and corresponding revenue budget to support grant activities. The grant will support the purchase of all items contained within this request.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution – Grant Acceptance
Resolution – Agreements and Direct Purchases
Peregrine Proposal
Lehr Mobile LPR Quote
Lehr Computers-Modems Quote
Flock Safety Fixed LPR Quote
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