Staff Report Flock Safety Automated License Plate Readers
PREPARED BY: Clinton Tada
Operations Bureau Captain
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 406-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 06/01/2021
ITEM NO: 5
DATE: May 18, 2021
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Authorize Town Manager to Execute a Two-Year Lease Agreement with Flock
Safety Group for the Installation and Maintenance of 15 Stationary
Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) throughout the Town of Los Gatos in
the Amount of $78,750
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize the Town Manager to execute a two-year lease agreement (Attachment 1) with Flock
Safety Group for the installation and maintenance of 15 Stationary Automated License Plate
Readers (ALPR) throughout the Town of Los Gatos in the amount of $78,750.
BACKGROUND:
On November 3, 2020, Town Council adopted Resolution 2020-044 (Attachment 4) for the
acceptance and approved use of Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (SLESF) grant
allocation for FY 2020/21 in the amount of $100,000. Staff worked to identify and prioritize
frontline law enforcement equipment and technology with the proven capability to augment
traditional Police services in the deterrence, interruption, and investigation of crime in the
Town of Los Gatos. Staff identified a strategically designed network of ALPR cameras
manufactured by Flock Safety Group, Inc. as a suitable sole source vendor with technology best
designed to meet the goals of this pilot project (Attachment 2).
The Police Department has a history of utilizing ALPR technology mounted to a single patrol
vehicle. Even in this limited deployment model, ALPR technology proved useful in identifying
stolen vehicles while providing investigative data useful in solving crimes after they had
occurred. The implementation of the proposed network of stationary ALPR cameras from the
Flock Safety Group is expected to vastly improve the Police Department’s ability to identify
stolen vehicles entering Los Gatos as well as vehicles associated to missing or endangered
persons and vehicles associated to serious crimes under active investigation. Combatting and
PAGE 2 OF 4
SUBJECT: Authorize Town Manager to Execute a Two-Year Lease Agreement with Flock Safety
Group for the Installation and Maintenance of 15 Stationary Automated License
Plate Readers (ALPR) throughout the Town of Los Gatos in the Amount of $78,750
DATE: May 18, 2021
BACKGROUND (continued):
deterring property crimes, specifically residential, vehicle and commercial burglary were key
concerns identified through Police Department interaction with the community.
DISCUSSION:
The Flock Safety ALPR System consists of a deployment of strategically placed cameras
throughout an area to provide greater coverage and detailed information for law enforcement
to assist as a crime deterrent and investigative tool (Attachment 3). This proposed pilot
program would include 15 cameras positioned throughout the Town at key ingress and egress
locations. These locations were collectively identified by staff and the Flock Safety deployment
team as major thoroughfares and intersections which provide the optimum effectiveness in
capturing ALPR data from a public right of way. The ALPR cameras would be positioned to
capture the objective data available through an image of the rear of the vehicle only and not
data or images of the occupant(s) of the vehicle. These data are then compared with a national
law enforcement Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) database to determine if the
vehicle is stolen, associated to a missing person, or wanted as evidence in a serious felony
investigation. If a match is made, the Flock Safety system immediately provides a mobile
notification alert to the Officer’s Mobile Dispatch Computer (MDC) with the vehicle information
and last captured ALPR location. The system captures still images only and no streaming video
or audio clips.
Flock Safety presented staff with a functional and effective plan to deploy ALPR cameras
throughout the community. The Flock program is an all-inclusive model for deploying the ALPR
cameras. They are the sole provider of the comprehensive, monitoring, processing, and
machine vision services which integrate with the Flock Safety camera. Other ALPR
manufacturers would require the Town to purchase the equipment and a service plan. In
addition, Flock Safety has an integrated partnership with Axon Enterprises Inc. for which the
Police Department has already established agreements with Axon for other equipment and
service needs.
The additional benefits of the Flock Safety ALPR System are that they charge an annual flat
lease fee per camera of $2,500, which is wireless, free of infrastructure setup, with the option
for solar or direct power access. They also include a two-year warranty, Criminal Justice
Information Services (CJIS) compliant cloud-based hosting systems, unlimited individual user
licenses, ongoing software enhancements, camera setup, mounting, shipping, handling, and
cellular connection. The Flock Safety lease program frees the Town from the burden of costly
equipment maintenance and replacement expenditures.
PAGE 3 OF 4
SUBJECT: Authorize Town Manager to Execute a Two-Year Lease Agreement with Flock Safety
Group for the Installation and Maintenance of 15 Stationary Automated License
Plate Readers (ALPR) throughout the Town of Los Gatos in the Amount of $78,750
DATE: May 18, 2021
DISCUSSION (continued):
Flock Safety allows for cancellation of services and lease agreement at any time without cause.
Flock Safety’s data retention and data privacy access policies provide strict individual user
access, a limited thirty (30) day data search capability and is able to provide full audit logs
compliant with Federal and State legislation. If authorized, the Police Department will
implement revisions to current ALPR policies in accordance with Flock Safety, state guidelines,
best practices and the Town’s retention policy.
The Flock Safety ALPR camera system is being utilized by more than 210 Police Departments
across the United States and in California. In the immediate Bay Area, Milpitas, San Mateo,
Atherton, Piedmont, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, and Livermore have implemented stationary
Flock Safety ALPR cameras throughout their cities. These jurisdictions have seen positive
results in suppressing crime before it occurs and utilizing the ALPR as an investigative tool to
assist with investigative leads to apprehending criminals.
On May 11, 2021, the Police Department and staff from the Flock Safety Group held a public
meeting attended by more than 50 community residents and stakeholders. The feedback from
meeting participants was unanimously positive for the adoption of this technology for the
purpose of deterring and solving crime. Neighborhood Watch Groups and individual
Homeowners’ Associations within Town have also proactively taken steps in working with Flock
Safety on private individual purchases of the Flock Safety ALPR cameras.
At the end of the two-year lease period, staff plans to reassess the pilot program results and
determine whether to recommend continuation or discontinuation of future funding for the
program.
CONCLUSION:
Authorize the Town Manager to execute a two-year lease agreement with Flock Safety Group
for the installation and maintenance of fifteen Automated License Plate Reader cameras
utilizing existing funds in the amount of $78,750 from the Supplemental Law Enforcement
Services Fund (SLESF), programmed in the Police Department budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
Alternatively, the Town Council could request a reduction of this ALPR pilot program to a one-
year agreement with Flock Safety which would reduce the total cost of the project to $41,250
for one year. Staff believes that a two-year pilot program with this technology would provide
an adequate amount of time for full evaluation of the system’s ability and effectiveness.
PAGE 4 OF 4
SUBJECT: Authorize Town Manager to Execute a Two-Year Lease Agreement with Flock Safety
Group for the Installation and Maintenance of 15 Stationary Automated License
Plate Readers (ALPR) throughout the Town of Los Gatos in the Amount of $78,750
DATE: May 18, 2021
ALTERNATIVES (continued):
In addition, SLESF funding for the total amount ($78,750) has already been identified and
programmed for this project.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are sufficient funds available in the FY 2020/21 Operating Budget (SLESF Funds) for lease
payment in the amount of $78,750 for this Flock ALPR two-year pilot project. Ongoing annual
payments beyond this two-year pilot program may be re-evaluated and requested through
future fiscal year budget processes or when Town Council accepts and allocates future SLESF
funds, received from the Citizens’ Option for Policing (COPS) grant program on an annual basis.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. Flock Safety Group Services Agreement Order Form
2. Sole Source Letter for Flock Safety Cameras and Solution
3. Flock Safety ALPR Information
4. Town Council Resolution 2020-044 - SLESF Funding