Agenda Item
10 23-0804 Subject: OPD License Plate Readers, State Funding For License Plate Readers, And FLOCK Contract
From: Oakland Police Department
Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution: (1) Approving The Oakland Police Department's Revised Automated License Plate Reader Use (ALPR) Policy; (2) Authorizing The City Administrator To Enter Into An Agreement To Accept And Appropriate One Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,200,000) In State Loan Funding To Purchase ALPR Technology And Services; (3) Award A Three-Year Agreement To Flock Safety For Acquisition Of ALPR Technology And Related Services At A Cost Of One Million Seventy-Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,077,500) For The First Year, Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($900,000) Per Year For Years Two And Three, For A Total Amount Not To Exceed Two Million Eight Hundred Seventy-Seven Thousand And Five Hundred Dollars ($2,877,500); And (4) Waiving The Competitive Multiple-Step Solicitation Process Required For The Acquisition Of Information Technology Systems And Waiving The Local And Small Local Business Enterprise Program Requirements
I am opposing this agenda and feel confused as to why automated license plate readers are even been introduced when Oakland PD themselves said they were "unable to find any definitive cases where our ALPR helped on an active investigation in 2022" in the 2022 Annual Report. These readers will disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities and ultimately do little to PREVENT crime from happening. Thao and Newsom keep giving the police more funding as if it's been proven that they stop crime...which they don't. You know what does? Affordable housing. Affordable groceries. Adequately funded social services and programs to help community members. Instead of getting to the root cause of the issue they'd rather put a wet bandaid on it. For what? Political points? You won't get my vote again next term. There is nothing progressive about this.
I've been working to get Flock cameras installed in our Oakmore neighborhood for two years now, and believe they offer the best product at an extremely competitive price. Their system has features that blend in seamlessly with the requirements of California ALPR law, facilitating compliance with those legal requirements. I whole-heartedly endorse Oakland moving ahead with this proposal as expeditiously as possible.
Please APPROVE this resolution and the Oakland Police Department's revised ALPR Policy. The City Administrator needs authorization to enter into an agreement to accept state funding to purchase ALPR technology and services, and to execute a three-year agreement with FLOCK Safety to put this proven strategy into operation in Oakland. Our neighbor cities of Piedmont and Alameda have shown the value of this method to complement law enforcement and enhance security. Our neighborhood, Oakmore, has been working diligently for months to verify effectiveness and create a plan for installing Flock cameras. Let's take advantage of the rare opportunity we have now to secure funding and move forward. Thank you.
Carol Van Steenberg, member Oakmore Homes Public Safety Committee
PLEASE VOTE YES! Give law enforcement the tools they need to fight crime effectively. Help us help the OPD! Allow the OPD to use ALPRs, both private and the City's, to their fullest capability. The OPD’s proposed ALPR Policy addresses concerns about the use of ALPRs, including Flock’s. SUPPORT IT. Act now or crime will continue to spike out of control & undermine the City’s reputation, increase a lack of confidence in our public institutions, endanger the lives and property of citizens, and lower property values.
-- The Oakmore neighborhood, and several other groups, plan to install Flock cameras.
-- A neighborhood survey showed over 80% support for cameras. Reducing crime & improving public safety vastly exceeds concerns about privacy or misuse. (ALPRs only capture vehicle identification information, NOT human images)
-- Our cameras will allow us to help the OPD do their jobs more effectively & efficiently. Law enforcement officers unanimously agree.
-- Our cameras along with the City's 300 cameras will create a network of cameras throughout the City to benefit us all.
-- To fully benefit from the cameras we must be able to 1) send automatic Hot List Alerts to the OPD to notify them of stolen vehicles or vehicles that have been involved in a crime 2) give the OPD direct access to our camera data to quickly find information about crimes that they are investigating 3) hire more OPD staff.
-- Any tool that can help the OPD is a tool that we must have. VOTE YES!