PRESENTER: Presenter
Keith Lane, Chief of Police
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a purchase with John Wright and Associates for license plate reader cameras the Police Department.
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DEPARTMENT: Police
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The FY 2022 Budget authorized the purchase of fixed and pole mounted license plate reader (LPR) cameras to be placed across the city. The pole mounted LPRs will be strategically placed around town in high crime areas to collect images of vehicles. These LPR cameras can be taken down and moved around town as crime trends change. These cameras will support staff in solving cases. The fixed LPR cameras can capture an image of every single vehicle entering and leaving New Braunfels on I-35. This will make our investigators more efficient at doing their jobs and minimize manpower that is needed on cases. Additionally, license plate readers can alert law enforcement when a target vehicle enters our city. This can include rescuing kidnapped children in a vehicle featured in an Amber Alert, wanted persons, finding stolen vehicles, drug couriers, and more. The license plate readers can also help law enforcement find someone quickly during a public emergency.
The city will utilize a cooperative contract through a General Services Agreement (GSA) with Selex ES Inc., a Leonardo Company of which John Wright and Associates is the exclusive distributor in the state of Texas. The City has standardized equipment to the Leonardo Selex Automated LPR system that is solely for law enforcement and is unique and sole source because it is the only ALPR system that connects to the Houston High intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Automated LPR network.
Total cost of the fixed and pole equipment, implementation and support is $171,906.
ISSUE:
Continue to ensure the protection of citizens’ lives and property and maintain fiscal stability of city operations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Asset Forfeiture funds will support the Fixed LPRs at a cost of $118,371 and the FY 2022 Police Department budget will support the Pole Mounted LPRs at a cost of $53,535.
therefore, sufficient funds are available to support the purchase described above.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of a purchase with John Wright and Associates for license place reader cameras the Police Department.