Title
Sheriff's Office recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a budget transfer increasing revenues and appropriations for the purchase of Vigilant Solutions License Plate Reader computer hardware and software systems and maintenance for a not to exceed amount of $675,000. (4/5 vote required)
FUNDING: California Multi-Jurisdictional Methamphetamine Enforcement Team Special Revenue and Homeland Security Grant Funds.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On 12/2/20, the Sheriff’s Office requested and received approval for an increase to the Fixed Asset purchase of License Plate Reader units in the FY 2020/2021 budget and has conducted extensive research for the purchase. The purchase of the License Plate Reader system improves the Sheriff's Office abilities to track crime suspects' entry points, respond to kidnappings, and to solve crimes throughout the County as a manner of ensuring public safety, preventing crime and utilizing public information as a means of justice. Nearly seventy percent (70%) of crimes committed involve a vehicle and given that license plates are provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles they are considered public information. Utilizing a License Plate Reader system allows for the identification of vehicles, tracks leads and helps law enforcement capture additional evidence needed to solve crimes. Additionally, License Plate Readers have proven to be an effective method to solve methamphetamine trafficking cases when illegal substances are transported throughout an area. This License Plate Reader System will not be utilized to monitor citizens, but rather a means to protect them from those seeking to do harm in our community.
The Sheriff's Office originally brought this item to the Board on April 6, 2021 but continued the item off calendar for the purpose of completing an internal Automated License Plate Reader Policy. The Sheriff's Office draft Automated License Plate Reader policy is attached for reference.
The Sheriff's Office received Board approval for the purchase of the License Plate Reader system on July 27, 2021, with the necessary revenues and appropriations to be added in the Adopted Budget Process for FY 2021-2022. These adjustments were not included in the Sheriff's Office Adopted Budget request, so a budget transfer needs to be completed to complete the purchase.
ALTERNATIVES
Funding would not be available for the purchase of approved Fixed Assets in the Sheriff's FY 2021-20222 budget.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Legistar #20-1539, 2/2/20 and Legistar 21-0442, 07/27/2021
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no impact to Net County Cost. The purchase will be made using CALMMET special revenue and Homeland Security grant funding.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair's signature on the original budget transfer and will forward the budget transfer to the Auditor/Controller for processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Providing enhanced services to the community increases public safety.
CONTACT
Undersheriff Bryan Golmitz