HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/15/2009 - STAFF REPORTS - 2.H. �O pALM sp4
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A``F°RN� City Council Staff Report
DATE. July 15, 2009 CONSENT AGENDA
SUBJECT: Acceptance of $151,986 in grant funding from the Edward Byrne Memorial
Justice Assistance Grant Program (Recovery Act) to fund the renovation
and upgrade of our existing Downtown Video Monitoring System.
FROM: David Ready, City Manager
BY: Palm Springs Police Department
SUMMARY
It is recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to accept $151,986
in Bureau of Justice Assistance Federal Recovery Act grant funding for the Police
Department to fund the renovation and upgrade of our existing Downtown Video
Monitoring System. The total grant amount will be $151,986.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Accept $151,986 in grant funding from the United States Bureau of Justice
Assistance,
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
In the mid-1990's, the City of Palm Springs installed a closed circuit video monitor
system in the downtown area of the city. The system is comprised of 13 cameras that
allow public safety dispatchers and officers in the police station to pan, tilt and zoom to
view suspected criminal activity in the city.
The cameras have been used successfully to assist police officers during criminal
investigations involving bank robberies, assaults and thefts. Dispatchers are able to
monitor the crime scene prior to the officers arriving on scene and can update them on
the suspect's description, direction of travel and other pertinent information.
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City Council Staff Report
July 15, 2009 -- Page 2
Accept$151,986 in BJA Federal Grant Funding 2009-2010
Due to the age of the current system several cameras are inoperable and parts of the
system are.failing and need to be replaced and upgraded. The system uses analog
technology which is outdated making technical support very difficult. The recordings are
completed on VHS tapes which degrade over time and are cumbersome to store.
The Police Department has been exploring several options for over the past year to
improve the system. Several vendors have examined the system and all concur it
should be converted to a digital system. This conversion will eliminate most of the
outdated hardware, and will allow for digital storage of the images on computer servers
rather than VHS tapes.
The proposed project upgrade will preserve as much of the existing system as possible.
The method of transmission will be converted to a 5-7 canopy eliminating the intrusion
of tree growth. Additionally, the new system will be constructed so it will be compatible
with the new Computer Aided Dispatch system.
Officers currently have mobile data computers (MDC'S) in their cars to receive calls for
service, transmit information and prepare reports. The upgraded video system will be
integrated into the MDC's allowing officers to view the cameras from their police cars
when responding to crimes in progress- Additionally, officers will be able to remotely
control the cameras from their police cars.
The Police Department has applied for Bureau of Justice Assistance funding for this
grant and the anticipated award is $151,986. This grant period duration is between
10/1/09 and 9/30/13.
FISCAL IMPACT.
A recent assessment from a vendor priced the project between $150,000 and
$160,000
David Dominguez, Police Chi
David H. Ready, City M
2.1-1. ACCEPTANCE OF $151,986 IN GRANT FUNDING FROM THE
EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT
PROGRAM TO FUND THE RENOVATION AND UPGRADE OF THE
EXISTING DOWNTOWN VIDEO MONITORING SYSTEM:
RECOMMENDATION: 1) Accept $151,986 in grant funding from the U.S.
Bureau of Justice Assistance; and 2) Authorize the City Manager to
execute all necessary documents. A5719.
MATERIALS TO FOLLOW
Item No. 2 • H •