ITEM NO. CC 9
Regular Meeting
AGENDA ITEM REPORT
Meeting: Regular Meeting - Sep 15 2020
Title: Lease of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) from Flock Group Inc.
Presented By: John Curley, Chief of Police
Recommendation: 1. Approve the 1-year lease of twenty (20) Automated License Plate Reader Cameras
from Flock Group Inc., in an amount not to exceed $55,000 based on the sole source
purchasing process noted in CMC Section 2.20.080 (b)(1) - Sole Source Purchases; and
2. Approve Resolution CC 2020-81 increasing the police department 2020-21 budget by
$30,005 to provide the remaining funds needed to lease the FLOCK camera system.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / BACKROUND:
Auto theft is Covina’s fastest-growing Part I crime with an increase of over 16% compared to the same time last
year. More than 100 vehicles have been reported stolen this year, 20 in August alone. The Taskforce for
Regional Autotheft Prevention (TRAP) estimates that $1 billion worth of vehicles are stolen each year in Los
Angeles County.
Auto theft not only deprives owners of the use of their vehicles but also provides criminals with a means to
commit more crimes in a vehicle not belonging to them. For this reason, gang-related crimes are often
committed with the use of stolen automobiles. Focusing proactive enforcement efforts on auto-theft often
uncovers other criminal activity and prevents other serious crimes.
Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology has been used by police agencies to locate stolen vehicles
and solve other crimes where an automobile has been used. ALPR technology has continued to evolve and
become less cost-prohibitive. Traditional ALPR systems included expensive fixed camera locations or mobile
devices mounted in patrol cars. Covina PD has deployed mobile ALPRs in the past; however, these devices
have reached their end of life and are no longer in service.
DISCUSSION:
The Flock Safety ALPR System is a deployment of cameras throughout an area to provide greater coverage and
more detailed information for law enforcement. The Flock lease proposed here would include 20 cameras which
can be spread throughout the City in high crime areas. Flock’s cameras capture date, time, location, license
plate (state, partial, paper, and no plate), vehicle details (type and color), as well as objects (bicycle, animals,
and people).
Flock Safety presented staff with a desirable approach to deploying ALPR cameras throughout the community.
Unlike other fixed or mobile ALPR devices, the Flock system provides the ability to cover more area of the city
with system maintenance provided by the vendor rather than City staff. The Flock program is an all-inclusive
model for deploying the APLR cameras. Flock Safety is the sole manufacturer and developer of the Flock
Safety Camera. There are several other differences between Flock and other ALPR companies. Most notably
they are the only manufacturer and service provider that leases ALPR services. Others require the city to
purchase equipment.
The key benefits of Flock are that they charge an annual flat rate lease per camera of $2,500, which is wireless,
free of infrastructure setup, and has the option for solar or direct power. They also include a two-year warranty,
Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) compliant cloud-based hosting, unlimited user licenses, ongoing
software enhancements, camera setup, mounting, shipping, handling, and a cellular connection. The Flock lease
program prevents the City from being burdened with maintaining costly equipment at the end of the agreement,
which could require replacement.
Other local communities including Azusa, San Dimas, San Marino, Ontario, and Redlands have chosen the
Flock system.
FISCAL IMPACT:
13826.4(b)(1) of the California Penal Code authorizes use of Supplemental Local Law Enforcement Funding
for enhanced law enforcement efforts toward increased efforts to apprehend, prosecute, and convict violent
“hard core” gang members. Police staff believe there is a nexus to the FLOCK strategy as it will increase efforts
in this area and at the same time increase the clearance rate of reported crimes which are targeted as gang-
related.On March 17, 2020, City Council approved $24,995 (2246 1000 51005 for a one-year agreement with
Elucd Inc. (CC12); however police department staff requests these monies be redirected to the FLOCK Camera
system. The remaining balance of ($30,005) will come from The Supplemental Law Enforcement Services
Account (SLESA) Fund 22461110-54420 (Supp Law-Crime Prevention – Tactical Equipment) .
CEQA (CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT):
None.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A - Sole Source
Attachment B - Resolution CC 2020-81 Flock
Respectfully submitted,
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Sole Source Letter for Flock Safety ALPR Cameras and Solution
Flock Safety is the sole manufacturer and developer of the Flock Safety ALPR Camera. Flock
Safety is also the sole provider of the comprehensive monitoring, processing, and machine
vision services which integrate with the Flock Safety ALPR Camera.
The Flock Safety ALPR camera is the only Law Enforcement Grade ALPR System to offer
the following combination of features:
● Machine vision to analyze vehicle license plate, state recognition, vehicle color, vehicle
type, and vehicle make
● Machine vision to capture and identify characteristics of vehicles with a paper license
plates and vehicles with the absence of a license plate
● Ability to capture two (2) lanes of traffic simultaneously with a single camera from a
vertical mass
● Wireless deployment of license plate reading cameras with integrated cellular
communication weighing less than 5lbs and able to be powered solely by a solar panel
of 60W or less
● Ability to capture and process up to 30,000 vehicles per day with a single camera
powered exclusively by solar power
● On device machine processing to limit LTE bandwidth consumption
● Cloud storage of footage
● Web based footage retrieval tool with filtering capabilities such as vehicle color, vehicle
type, vehicle manufacturer, partial or full license plate, state of license plate, and object
detection
● Privacy controls to enable certain vehicles to “opt-out” of being captured on film
● Performance monitoring software to predict potential failures, obstructions, tilts, and
other critical or minor issues
● Covert industrial design for minimizing visual pollution
Thank you,
Garrett Langley
CEO, Flock Safety
1170 Howell Mill Rd. NW · Suite 210, Atlanta, GA 30318 Attachment A
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RESOLUTION CC 2020-81
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COVINA,
CALIFORNIA, INCREASING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FISCAL
YEAR 2020-21 BUDGET BY $30,005 FOR LEASE OF AUTOMATED
LICENCE PLATE READER CAMERAS
WHEREAS, the City of Covina is a municipal corporation duly organized and existing
pursuant to the Constitution and laws of the State of California (“City”); and
WHEREAS, the reallocation of appropriations may be made by the City Manager,
amendments (increases/decreases) to the Budget shall be by approval and Resolution of the City
Council; and
WHEREAS, the City of Covina Police Department would like to lease twenty (20)
Automated License Plate Reader Cameras from Flock Group Inc in the not-to-exceed amount of
$55,000 for the first year; and
WHEREAS, $24,995 in funding has been previously appropriated; and
WHEREAS, the remaining $30,005 of the lease cost shall be appropriated from the
Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Account (2246) fund balance and will increase the police
department FY 2020-21 budget by the same amount.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COVINA,
CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Amend the fiscal year 2020-2021 Police Department Budget as follows:
Appropriation Account: 2246-1110-54420 $30,005
SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution
and shall enter the same in the Book of Original Resolutions.
APPROVED and PASSED this 15th day of September, 2020.
City of Covina, California
BY:
VICTOR LINARES, Mayor
ATTEST:
GEORGIANNA NICOLE ALVAREZ
Chief Deputy City Clerk Attachment B
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CERTIFICATION
I, Georgianna Nicole Alvarez, Chief Deputy City Clerk of the City of Covina, do hereby certify
that Resolution CC 2020-81 was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Covina at a
regular meeting held on the 15th day of September, 2020, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Dated:
____________________________________________
GEORGIANNA NICOLE ALVAREZ
Chief Deputy City Clerk
Resolution CC 2020-81 Page 2 of 2
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