TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Anthony Conrad, Police Chief
PREPARED BY: Jeremy Durrant, Lieutenant - Police
SUBJECT: Agreement with Flock Group, Inc. - Automated License Plate
Reader Cameras
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RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Authorize the City Manager to enter into a five-year agreement with Flock Group, Inc. to
continue using the original twenty automated license plate reader cameras installed in 2022
and purchase and install an additional twenty cameras to increase the police department’s
effectiveness and investigative ability; and
Approve an additional appropriation of $5,500 in the operating budget for Fiscal Year 2023/24.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
No prior action.
CITY COUNCIL GOAL
Provide a high level of innovative public safety.
BACKGROUND
On January 24, 2022, the Murrieta Police Department entered into a one-year agreement with Flock Group, Inc. for installation and access to twenty of their automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras to be deployed throughout the City of Murrieta (City). Since installing these cameras, they have benefited the police department greatly and assisted in the investigation and/or closure of hundreds of criminal cases.
Flock’s ALPR cameras provide the police department with real-time alerts, which help with critical incident response and investigative efficiency. They operate 24/7 and capture objective vehicle data around the clock to multiply their investigative ability. The cameras require little to no infrastructure, and the vendor handles procurement, permitting, installation, and maintenance for one annual subscription fee.
The Murrieta Police Department shares access to its cameras with other California law enforcement agencies and, in turn, receives access to their cameras as well. The nature of this relationship affords the police department access to a network of over 2,000 ALPR cameras throughout Southern California and the rest of the state, exponentially increasing investigative capabilities and bolstering the ability to provide the highest level of public safety to its residents.
The police department is seeking to renew its agreement with Flock Group, Inc. to continue using the original twenty ALPR cameras that were installed in 2022. Additionally, the purchase and installation of twenty additional cameras are being requested to bring the total number of ALPR cameras in the city up to forty. The original twenty cameras provide a very basic level of coverage that is helpful but often miss critical events that would help the police department in its mission of providing the highest level of public safety. Having a total of 40 cameras deployed to strategic locations throughout the City would increase the police department’s effectiveness and investigative ability.
The pricing for these cameras has increased since the original agreement, but Flock Group, Inc. is willing to extend the original cost if the police department enters into a five-year agreement (Attachment 1) to maintain these services. Based on the widespread deployment of these cameras throughout the state and their continued effectiveness, the police department is requesting the approval of a five-year agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
Appropriations in the amount of $100,000 in the Fiscal Year 2023/24 and Fiscal Year 2024/25 Operating Budget account 1113120-60480 were approved in the biennial budget that was presented to the City Council and approved on June 6, 2023. An additional appropriation of $5,500 in Fiscal Year 2023/24 account 1113120-60480 is requested for Fiscal Year 2023/24 to cover the one-time professional services included in the Agreement.
ATTACHMENTS
1) Flock Safety Renewal Five-Year Agreement