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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRA 2026-128 (Flock)_Public Safety Committee 03.28.2023 CITY OF DIAMOND BAR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING MARCH 28, 2023 9:00 AM 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Public Comments 4. Discussion Items a. Public Safety ALPR Surveillance Cameras b. Commercial Burglary Prevention Program Options 5. Committee Member Comments 6. Adjourn Agenda #: 4.a Meeting Date: March 28, 2023 TO: Members of the City Council Standing Committee FROM: Daniel Fox, City Manager TITLE: PUBLIC SAFETY ALPR SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS STRATEGIC GOAL: Safe, Sustainable & Healthy Community RECOMMENDATION: Receive presentation and discuss. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Annual costs will depend on the system and number of cameras deployed. BACKGROUND: Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) are camera-based surveillance devices that capture vehicle license plate data. This data can be used by law enforcement in a number of ways, including to monitor where a vehicle has been, identify travel patterns over time, and determine links between different vehicles. The city currently funds two Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) vehicles equipped with mobile ALPR technology and has access to fixed ALPR trailers that can be staged throughout town as needed. A number of years ago, the City also conducted a pilot program using portable “game cameras” designed for tracking animals in wildland areas. These cameras collected still images only (no AI capabilities) in areas experiencing crime trends, but did not result in the arrest of suspects. Several of these portable cameras were vandalized by residents, with one being removed by a Sheriff’s deputy. The rise of cloud computing has reduced the cost to deploy centralized community-wide surveillance systems monitored by law enforcement agencies. New machine learning technology has also expanded the scope of data collection. The latest-generation ALPR camera systems can supplement license plate data with automated collection of vehicle identifiers like make, model, color, and features like roof racks and bumper stickers and 4.a Packet Pg. 2 can also track pedestrians, animals, and other objects in view of the camera. Motorola Vigilant and Flock Safety have emerged as industry leaders, with Flock in particular being embraced by many local government agencies. Both systems rely on fixed-mounted cameras placed approximately 15 feet above traffic lanes on existing traffic signal and/or light poles. The cameras are hard-wired or powered with solar- charged batteries and use LTE cell networks to communicate with servers maintained by the provider. Data collected by Vigilant and Flock systems is fed through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database maintained by the FBI. Patrol deputies can receive real-time push notifications via mobile application when a vehicle on the NCIC database is flagged by a local ALPR camera. Authorized users can also create a “hot list” of specific vehicles of interest that may not be on the NCIC list and receive real-time notifications for those vehicles as well. Data collected by the cameras is maintained on Vigilant or Flock cloud servers hosted by Amazon Web Services (AWS). Footage can also be downloaded and stored locally for an indefinite period. This data is searchable and can accommodate specific queries - “blue Toyota Camrys registered in Chino Hills”, for example. Vigilant and Flock systems do not currently collect video, use facial recognition, or intentionally capture images of a vehicle’s driver. All data collected would be the property of the City. IMPLEMENTATION There is a significant difference in the manner in which the systems are implemented. Flock systems are secured via a contract between the City and Flock. The City then grants access to the system to LASD. On the other hand, LASD has a contract with Vigilant under which the City can pay LASD directly for annual services. Flock seems to have captured a greater share of the municipal government market, with more cameras in cities throughout the region (approximately 1,680 in southern California, according to LASD). Representatives from cities with Flock camera systems cited lower costs to deploy, higher quality data, and access to Flock systems data from surrounding areas as primary reasons for choosing it over Vigilant. EFFECTIVENESS: Surveillance systems like Vigilant and Flock serve as a powerful tool for law enforcement investigators. They are particularly successful in notifying patrol deputies of stolen vehicles passing through the area and drivers with outstanding warrants, providing an immediate jump on investigations and potential arrests that would not otherwise exist. The cameras also supplement other investigations (such as residential and commercial burglaries) when combined with evidence or witnesses collected at the scene of the incident. For example, LASD recently used Flock cameras in adjacent communities to solve a stolen vehicle case originating in Diamond Bar, using the system to identify unique features of the vehicle that were described by witnesses 4.a Packet Pg. 3 (stickers, etc.). The City of Walnut was an early adopter with Flock, deploying approximately 30 cameras in 2020. Since then, the system has led to the recovery of 64 stolen vehicles and the arrest of 56 individuals. However, the Flock system has not resulted in a decline in total property crime in Walnut. When compared to 2021, total property crime increased by 6.1% (25 additional incidents), with an 83.1% increase in burglary (44 additional residential and 25 additional commercial) in 2022. DEPLOYMENT & COST: According to Captain Tousey, ALPR systems are most effective when deployed at major points of ingress and egress. Diamond Bar has 20 intersections or combinations of freeway ramps that provide access across the city limits, including: • SR-57 freeway ramps at Diamond Bar Boulevard • SR-57 freeway ramps at Pathfinder Road • SR-57 freeway ramps at Sunset Crossing Road • SR-60 freeway ramps at Brea Canyon Road • SR-60 freeway ramps at Lemon Avenue • SR-57/SR-60 freeway ramps at Diamond Bar Boulevard • SR-57/SR-60 freeway ramps at Grand Avenue • Brea Canyon Cut-off at border with Rowland Heights • Brea Canyon Road at border with unincorporated area • Chino Avenue at border with Chino Hills • Chino Hills Parkway at border with Pomona • Diamond Bar Boulevard at border with Pomona • Golden Springs Drive at border with Pomona • Golden Springs Drive at border with Rowland Heights • Grand Avenue at border with Chino Hills • Grand Avenue at border with Industry • Highland Valley Road at border with Pomona • Lemon Avenue at border with Industry • Pathfinder Road at border with Rowland Heights • Walnut Drive at border with Industry Depending on the layout of each location, it is assumed that 2-4 cameras would be required to provide full coverage, for a total likely to fall between 40-80 citywide. Staff would work with Sheriff’s Department officials and service providers to determine the most effective deployment strategy. It is estimated that a Flock system with this deployment strategy would range from $120,000-$240,000 annually. At the time of this writing, Vigilant system costs were not available from the Sheriff’s Department, but could be provided in the future. The Council could also choose to narrow the scope of the surveillance to reduce cost or address issues related to a specific location. Per-camera costs may vary depending on the scale of deployment. 4.a Packet Pg. 4 RELATED POLICY CONSIDERATIONS: The City would be responsible for developing and enforcing policies that govern the use of the system to ensure conformance with state law and prevent the data from being used inappropriately. When deliberating this issue, the Council may also wish to consider other implications, including: • Responsibility for compliance with the Public Records Act. • Determining which individuals and agencies have access to the data. • Developing training requirements for authorized users. • Policy decisions about camera placement (arterials vs. residential streets). • Policy decisions about future technologies/features, including facial recognition and live video collection. • Privacy concerns of local residents. PREPARED BY: REVIEWED BY: 4.a Packet Pg. 5 Agenda #: 4.b Meeting Date: March 28, 2023 TO: Members of the City Council Standing Committee FROM: Daniel Fox, City Manager TITLE: COMMERCIAL BURGLARY PREVENTION PROGRAM OPTIONS RECOMMENDATION: Receive presentation and discuss. FINANCIAL IMPACT The cost will depend on the size and scope of the program. ANALYSIS In recent discussions related to the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, the City Council has shown an interest in developing City programs that reduce commercial burglaries. Collaborating with Diamond Bar law enforcement personnel, staff developed the following options for Public Safety Committee discussion and consideration. Based on Committee feedback, staff can prepare defined program recommendations, including cost implications and any policy considerations. All options would require Council funding approval via the budget process. 1. Education and Outreach • Develop of formally branded Business Watch promotional and educational materials for distribution to local business leaders and employees. • Launch a Business Watch schedule (potentially piggybacking on Coffee With a Cop events) at shopping centers/locations throughout town. • Supplement Business Watch meetings with door-to-door check-ins with businesses to meet those that cannot attend formal meetings. • Develop an on-demand video version of the Business Watch presentation available to those that cannot or do not wish to attend formal meetings. • Offer business security assessments. • Conduct security assessments of commercial centers and report findings 4.b Packet Pg. 6 to center owners. • Use translators at meetings and make translated versions of non-meeting materials available. 2. Supplemental Law Enforcement • Use the City-funded Law Enforcement Reserve Fund to pay for commercial burglary suppression patrols/undercover operations for a temporary period. 3. Publicly-funded Security Options • Fund the deployment of ALPR surveillance systems in/around commercial centers. • Fund a commercial business security device reimbursement program. PREPARED BY: REVIEWED BY: 4.b Packet Pg. 7