AGENDA REPORT
DATE: July 8, 2024
TO: City Commission
FROM: Bill McDaniel, City Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution authorizing the City Manager to purchase Flock
Safety License Plate Readers.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Flock Safety License Plate Readers (LPR) are high-speed, computer-controlled camera systems that are typically mounted near streets. LPR’s automatically capture all license plate numbers, make and descriptors of vehicles that come into view, along with the location, date, and time.
The Flock Safety LPR system is effective in improving the efficiency of Police investigations that involve the use of a motor vehicle. LPR systems scan license plates continuously and automatically, using optical character recognition software to translate the scans into text and compare the result against one or more "hotlists" loaded into the system which includes stolen vehicles, kidnappings, robberies, missing persons and violent felonies.
In addition to LPRs, Flock Safety uses Vehicle Fingerprint TM technology that captures the vehicle make, color, type, state of the license plate, vehicles with missing plates, covered plates, paper plates, and over twenty (20) unique vehicle details like roof racks and bumper stickers. Thus, Flock Safety can assist in active investigations by locating and identifying suspect vehicles.
Flock Safety uses administrative, operational, technical, and physical safeguards to protect LPR information from unauthorized access, use, destruction, modification, or disclosure. Access to the LPR system is username and password protected. Monitoring and auditing usage of database will be in compliance with Police Department procedures and Florida Department of Law Enforcement recommendations.
The Police Department will identify strategic locations for the placement of the Flock Safety LPRs. The locations will house a standing pole with a LPR mounted at the top with a solar panel for power. Flock Safety will coordinate with the City of Plant City for permits and proper procedures within guidelines of the City Ordinances.
The Police Department’s goal is to meet its responsibilities to the citizens of the community by providing the best professional law enforcement resources in the most effective and efficient manner possible.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Commission authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Flock Safety for $133,000.00 for the installation of 20 Flock Safety LPR's for the Police Department.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Five of the twenty LPRs will be in the CRA district. The total cost of $133,000 will be paid from the following accounts:
• $79,750 - General Fund: Police-Other Contractual, Org #00153005, Obj #434000
• $20,000 - Federal Equitable Share Fund, Org #10253001, Obj #434410
• $33,250 - CRA Fund - Other Contractual - Org #37050559, Obj #434000
A budget adjustment for the Federal Equitable Share Fund is included in the agenda.
There will be a re-occurring annual subsription cost of $60,000 that will be split 75-25 between the General Fund and the CRA Fund. Funding will be included in the proposed budget for fiscal year 2024-25.
Prepared by: Captain Robert McLellan