DATE: May 6, 2025
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Chief of Police
SUBJECT
Title
Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Accept and Appropriate $162,360 in Awarded FEMA State Homeland Security Program Grant Funding from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office; Execute an Agreement With Flock Safety for the Purchase of Additional Automated License Plate Reader Cameras at a Not-to-Exceed Cost of $165,000 Per Year; and Authorize Continued Contracting With Flock Safety for Up to Ten Years, With Not-to-Exceed Total Expenditures of $4,000,000 Over the Ten-Year Period
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the City Council adopts a resolution (Attachment II) authorizing the City Manager to accept and appropriate $162,360 in awarded FEMA State Homeland Security Program grant funding from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, and a resolution (Attachment III) to execute an agreement with Flock Safety for the purchase of additional Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras in an amount not to exceed $165,000 per year. The resolution also authorizes the City Manager to renew the agreements with Flock Safety for up to 10 years, with a cumulative not-to-exceed amount of $4,000,000 across all agreements. Any future request to expand the ALPR program beyond the current scope will require Council approval. This resolution will replace and supersede Resolution #24-049 to ensure program continuity.
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SUMMARY
The State Homeland Security Program (SHSP), funded by FEMA, supports emergency preparedness at the state and local levels. In California, Cal OES distributes SHSP funds to counties. From its SHSP award, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office allocated $162,360 to the Hayward Police Department to expand its Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) program. The expansion aims to enhance terrorism response, improve real-time alerts for flagged vehicles, and boost overall crime prevention. Hayward PD has already seen success with its existing ALPR network, supporting dozens of arrests and recoveries, and aiding in a homicide suspect's apprehension. Nationally, ALPR systems have been linked to significant crime reductions.
The Hayward Police Department currently maintains a contract with Flock Safety to operate and support a network of 64 Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras. This agreement, effective from December 2024 through December 2026, has a total value of $271,660.27. Prior to this, the Department entered into several agreements with Flock Safety beginning in 2022, which were subsequently consolidated into the current contract. These earlier agreements, now expired, totaled $349,028.63 in cumulative expenditures.
Starting in Fiscal Year 2026, the projected annual cost to maintain and operate the existing 64-camera network will be approximately $202,000. The proposed system expansion, which will add approximately 30 additional cameras funded by the SHSP grant, is expected to incur an annual cost of up to $162,360. In addition to equipment and service fees, the Department incurs a $300 per camera annual cost to retain ALPR data for investigatory and evidentiary purposes for one year. With a combined network of 94 cameras, the total cost of data retention will be $28,200 per year.
Taking all elements into account-the base contract for existing cameras, the cost of the proposed expansion, and the data retention fees-the estimated total annual expenditure is approximately $392,560. To ensure operational flexibility and account for potential repairs, camera replacements, or unforeseen service needs, staff recommends authorizing a rounded maximum of $400,000 per year.
Furthermore, staff seeks authorization to renew and extend agreements with Flock Safety for up to ten years. This will support long-term continuity and planning for the City’s ALPR program. Total cumulative expenditures under all agreements with Flock Safety shall not exceed $4,000,000 over the ten-year period.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment I Staff Report
Attachment II Resolution FEMA
Attachment III Resolution Flock Safety