REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
DATE: 10/05/2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Police Department
SUBJECT:
Title
Automated License Plate Reader Community Partner Camera Funding Agreement.
End
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the Council to approve the Automated License Plate Reader Community Partner Camera Funding Agreement, which is a program designed to expand the use of fixed license plate reader cameras within the City through a partnership between the Corona Police Department and organizations within the community. For this program, community organizations refer to individuals or groups within the City’s residential, commercial, and industrial areas. Camera purchases may be funded by either individual businesses and residents or by larger groups or associations.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
That the City Council:
a. Approve the Automated License Plate Reader Community Partner Camera Funding Agreement.
b. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into Automated License Plate Reader Community Partner Camera Funding Agreements with community organizations to purchase automated license plate reader cameras.
c. Authorize the City Attorney to make any minor, non-substantive modifications to the Automated License Plate Reader Community Partner Camera Funding Agreement.
d. Authorize and establish ownership of revenue received from the Community Partner Funding Agreement as funding designated for camera purchases and related contract costs.
Body
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
In October 2020, the City issued a Request for Proposal to provide a fixed Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) program. Flock Safety was chosen as the vendor, and 28 fixed automated license plate reader cameras were mounted within the City of Corona. The fixed ALPR system can quickly identify vehicles wanted for crimes or reported as stolen. However, approval from the City of Corona must be obtained before privately owned ALPR cameras are utilized if installing such cameras creates an encroachment on City property. When this occurs, the public is required to obtain the appropriate permitting. Based on community interest, the Police Department is implementing a program where a community organization provides funding to the Police Department to purchase camera system(s).
As part of receiving permission from the City for the installation of cameras, an agreement will be entered into with the City. This agreement requires the community organization to pay for the desired number of cameras before installation. The City Attorney prepared a draft agreement in August 2022 for this purpose. The agreement indicates the number of cameras to be purchased and establishes the agreement’s length. The community organization may identify the desired location for the camera(s); however, the City will have the final determination on the installation site. The community organization must also provide advanced notice of agreement termination. In the event of such cancellation, the Police Department may relocate the cameras to other areas based on community needs.
ANALYSIS:
The use of cameras by the City has added significant value in enhancing safety within the community. Numerous high-profile investigations have resulted in arrests based on investigative leads generated by cameras. Due to the program’s positive impact, the Police Department’s budget was increased from $77,000 to $150,000 for Fiscal Year 2023 to purchase and maintain additional cameras. By partnering with community organizations, the City will have the ability to expand the number of cameras without impacting the operational budget. Furthermore, the City uses a data-driven approach to placing cameras in areas with increased crime rates or based on other strategic factors. The Community Partner Camera Program benefits local organizations that would otherwise not have cameras installed in their area.
In keeping with Corona Police Department Policy 461.8, the Police Department may only share camera-generated data subject to the ALPR Community Partner Camera Program agreement with other law enforcement or prosecutorial agencies. This information shall not be released to any community organizations subject to a camera agreement facilitated by the Corona Police Department.
Revenue generated from the program will be designated for camera purchases and related contractual costs. Resolution 2022-040 (FY 2022 budget resolution), Section 7 states, “The City Council of the City of Corona may, by the affirming vote of three members, as so directed by minute action, designate committed fund balance from a department specific revenue stream in the General Fund. At the request of the Department Director (or his/her designee) and with the concurrence of the Finance Director (or his/her designee) an appropriation of budget may occur upon receipt of funds, not to exceed $50,000 per project. An appropriation exceeding $50,000 shall be made by the City Council of the City of Corona, by the affirming vote of three members, as so directed by minute action.”
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
As designed, this program does not financially impact the City or the Police Department. The current price for a Flock Falcon (fixed) camera is $2,500 per year based on a mandatory two-year contract. Community organizations agreeing to purchase cameras will be required to pay the entire amount before having the cameras installed. Revenue received from the agreement(s) will be designated to cover the camera purchase and associated costs. Upon completion or termination of the agreement, the City may return the cameras to the vendor. However, should the City choose to retain the camera(s) based on the needs of the community, the City will utilize existing funding to cover the camera(s) costs or move the camera(s) if there is time remaining on the contract. Moving a camera to another location costs $750. This program provides sufficient time to plan for increased costs if a community organization desires to terminate the agreement. If cameras are retained, the City will ask that the additional costs be incorporated into the annual budget. The camera(s) will be returned to the vendor if the additional costs are not approved.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the commonsense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This action of expansion of the current Automated License Plate Reader program is minimal, and there is no possibility that this will have a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: JASON MORRIS, LIEUTENANT
REVIEWED BY: ROBERT NEWMAN, CHIEF OF POLICE
Attachments:
1. Exhibit 1 - Automated License Plate Reader Community Partner Camera Funding Agreement