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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2k - Purchase of Automated License Plate Recognition Camera Systems DATE: September 5, 2017 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Robert Guthrie, Chief of Police By: Jennifer Brutus, Management Analyst SUBJECT: WAIVE THE FORMAL BID PROCESS AND AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION (“ALPR”) CAMERA SYSTEMS FROM VIGILANT SOLUTIONS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $150,000 Recommendation: Approve SUMMARY It is recommended that the City Council waive the formal bid process and authorize the purchase and installation of Automated License Plate Recognition (“ALPR”) camera systems from Vigilant Solutions in the amount of $150,000. The ALPR systems will enhance police officers’ abilities to combat criminal activities in the City and enhance productivity. Only one qualified vendor manufactures ALPR systems that can be effectively added to our existing network. BACKGROUND Since 2008, the Arcadia Police Department has utilized Automated License Plate Recognition (“ALPR”) systems to combat criminal activity, enhance productivity, and improve officer safety. ALPR systems are both mobile on police vehicles or trailers, and fixed at intersections or other locations throughout the City. The systems’ cameras automatically capture license plates from vehicles that drive by the patrol car and those that are parked on the streets and in parking lots. The cameras use advanced Optical Character Recognition (“OCR”) and then translate the captured images into text, which is instantly processed by an on-board computer database. Once the license plate is processed, the officer operating the ALPR is notified within seconds of the following possible applications: stolen vehicle; identification of vehicles connected to wanted felons, amber alerts, or any other search criteria seen fit for the Arcadia Police Department. The system retains the captured license plates and photographs of every vehicle it “sees.” For example, if the ALPR system recorded a Purchase ALPR Cameras September 5, 2017 Page 2 of 4 license plate in March while it was parked in the driveway of a house, the system would retain the GPS coordinates of the location as well as a digital photograph of the vehicle. If that same vehicle were used in a serious crime in June when the suspect vehicle’s license plate was entered into the database, the system would immediately alert the officer with a digital photo image of the vehicle and illustrated pinpoint mapping of the exact location where it was previously parked. The system also serves as a force multiplier. A very busy officer during the course of a 12-hour shift may manually enter 100 to 200 license plates per shift, while the ALPR system easily captures and records 3,000 to 4,000 plates in the same time and with no physical effort from the officer. DISCUSSION The Police Department currently has 17 ALPR camera systems: three are mounted on patrol vehicles, one is installed on a SMART VMS HT trailer, one is being held in reserve as a spare to install when others are needing repair, and the remaining 12 are affixed to light poles at the intersections of Fifth Street/Huntington Drive and Santa Anita Avenue/Colorado Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard/Huntington Drive, Michillinda Avenue/Foothill Boulevard, Santa Anita Avenue/Live Oak Avenue, and Fifth Avenue/Foothill Boulevard. At the May 16, 2017, budget study session, the City Council requested the use of FY2016-17 General Fund savings to further expand the Police Department’s ALPR cameras by $150,000. Using the current funding, the Department will purchase 15 stationary ALPR camera systems that will be installed at five new intersections in the City: Foothill Avenue/Santa Anita Avenue (2 cameras facing north), Golden West Avenue/Duarte Road (2 cameras facing east), Fifth Avenue/Duarte Road (2 cameras facing west), Baldwin Avenue/Las Tunas Drive (2 cameras facing north), and 6th Avenue/Live Oak Avenue (2 cameras facing west). Each camera system includes a one year manufacturer’s warranty for each camera, which covers maintenance costs. The City has the option to purchase up to five years of additional support now or in the future. The Department’s previous ALPR camera purchases were from 3M - PIPS™ Technology, a Federal Signal Company and the leader in license plate recognition systems. However, 3M has gotten out of the ALPR business and is no longer a provider. The Department’s next purchase will be from Vigilant Solutions who is now the leading ALPR provider in not only California, but the nation. In addition to ALPR systems and infrared cameras, Vigilant also provides microprocessors, ALPR OCR Purchase ALPR Cameras September 5, 2017 Page 3 of 4 engine, and PAGIS/BOSS application/data mining software, which are compatible with our current system and back office software. Several law enforcement agencies also own ALPR systems from 3M - PIPS™ Technology including Beverly Hills, Burbank, Glendale, La Verne, San Gabriel, West Covina, and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Our neighboring agencies such as Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Pasadena Police Department, and Monrovia Police Department have already switched or are in the process of switching to Vigilant Solutions. Since Vigilant Solutions is considered a sole source provider, a traditional bid process is not possible and it will be necessary to waive the formal bid process for these products and services. Vigilant Solutions is the only company that meets the ALPR camera system needs of the City. Therefore, it is recommended that the City Council approve the purchase and installation of ALPR camera systems from Vigilant Solutions in the amount of $150,000; and waive the formal bid process. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA. FISCAL IMPACT On May 16, 2017, the City Council approved the appropriation of additional funds in the amount of $150,000 from FY2016-17 General Fund savings to support the completion of this ALPR strategic build-out plan. Since then, these funds have been carried over to the FY2017-18 Equipment Replacement Fund budget. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council waive the formal bid process and authorize the purchase and installation of Automated License Plate Recognition (“ALPR”) camera systems from Vigilant Solutions in an amount not to exceed $150,000.