CITY OF TALLAHASSEE
CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED ON: September 10, 2009
SUBJECT/TITLE: Discussion of the Contract Award for the Red Light Camera Safety Program in the City of Tallahassee
TARGET ISSUE: Financial Viability of the Government
STATEMENT OF ISSUE
On May 27, 2009, the Tallahassee City Commission adopted Ordinance No. 09-O-22 creating a Red Light Camera Safety Program. On June 24, 2009, staff presented an agenda item to the City Commission recommending the red light camera program be awarded to two vendors. However, the Commission voted to have a single vendor provide the service. This program will improve traffic safety by discouraging the potentially catastrophic act of running a red light. On July 27, 2009, responses to the Request For Proposals (RFP) No. 0177-09-ER-RC – Red Light Camera Safety Program were received from five (5) different vendors. The evaluation / selection committee for this project recommends ACS State & Local Solutions, Inc (ACS) as the most qualified vendor to provide comprehensive fully integrated red light traffic safety management services.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Option 1: Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a turnkey agreement with ACS State & Local Solutions, Inc., (ACS) the top ranked vendor selected in accordance with RFP No. 0177-09-ER-RC – Red Light Camera Safety Program. With this turnkey agreement ACS will design, implement, maintain, and operate unmanned cameras / monitoring devices at designated intersections for red traffic light violations. This agreement will guarantee cost neutrality to the City. The City of Tallahassee will not pay any additional fees not covered by revenues received from the citations. It is the intent of the City to enter into a two-year contract, renewable at the discretion of the City, for one additional three-year period.
FISCAL IMPACT
For future budgeting purposes only it is anticipated that the City of Tallahassee will receive estimated net revenue of $800,000 per year from this program.
Gabriel P. Menendez, Director, Public Works Department
Anita Favors Thompson, City Manager
For information, please contact: Gabriel P. Menendez, Director, Public Works Department
(850) 891-8197
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL/ISSUE ANALYSIS
HISTORY/FACTS & ISSUES
Red light running is a dangerous and costly traffic infraction with potentially catastrophic consequences. In Florida, over 300,000 red light running tickets are issued every year. Several Florida cities have recently approved programs using cameras mounted at intersections to deter red light violations. Such programs have significantly improved intersection traffic safety by discouraging the incidence of red light running, a type of traffic violation with potentially disastrous repercussions for parties involved. In addition, these programs have the added benefit of freeing up law enforcement personnel from monitoring intersections for similar infractions. An automated program such as the proposed Red Light Camera Safety Program, which can provide enforcement on a continual basis, would significantly and consistently deter violations.
On July 1, 2009, City staff advertised a request for proposal (RFP) 0177-09-ER-RC – Red Light Camera Safety Program. The RFP requested proposals for the delivery and maintenance of unmanned cameras / monitoring devices for red traffic light violations with a vendor capable of a turnkey solution for design, implementation and maintenance. The successful vendor would have to provide all the necessary hardware and administrative support to ensure a credible and reliable electronic camera recording system.
On July 27, 2009, five (5) proposals were received from potential vendors for the delivery and maintenance of the unmanned cameras / monitoring devices for red traffic light violations. The submitting vendors for this competitively bid project were as follows:
The evaluation/selection committee consisted of the following members:
Proposals were evaluated/scored on the following technical areas/categories:
1. System Capability and Service Delivery
2. Vendor Qualifications and References
3. Revenue Sharing Proposal
4. Past Performance
Respondents were also evaluated/scored on the following non-technical areas/categories:
1. Location (receive points if located within the “Local Market Area” of Leon, Wakulla, Gadsden or Jefferson counties)
2. Minority Business Enterprise Utilization (receive points if documentation confirmed MBE firms will have a 12.5% participation in the project)
3. Charitable Contributions (receive points based on contributions made to charitable organizations under the United Partners for Human Services)
The following firms were shortlisted after their initial evaluations (performed August 12, 2009) and received their respective final scores after their oral presentations/interviews (performed August 19, 2009):
The technology to be used on this project will improve public safety, provide an additional deterrent to traffic control signal violations, and reduce accidents and injuries associated with such violations. Similar programs have been adopted by various cities and counties throughout Florida and around the country. The Cities of Apopka, Aventura, and Orlando have adopted programs; and Winter Park, Clermont, Kissimmee, Longwood, and Orange County are currently considering similar programs. In Orlando, about $700,000 worth of civil penalties were issued in the first two and a half months of the program, at $125 per penalty. In accordance with City Ordinance No. 09-O-22, the City of Tallahassee will assess a fine in the amount of $150 for a red light running violation which shall be deemed a non-criminal, non-moving violation, and it is anticipated that first year revenues will be approximately $800,000.
Civil lawsuits challenging the Red Light Camera Safety Programs have been filed in a number of Florida cities. These cities include Pembroke Pines, Temple Terrace, Orlando, Miami Gardens and Aventura. At least two of the cases seek certification as a statewide class action. None of the cases have proceeded forward sufficiently to yield any substantive rulings. There are mechanisms which the City can utilize to help to manage the financial hardship to the City in the event of adverse rulings in these cases. These mechanisms include escrowing of receipts and contractual commitments from the vendor. These issues will have to be negotiated during the contract negotiations with the vendor.
The Public Works Director, working with the Police Chief, will determine which intersections should have the cameras. Preliminary investigations have determined that the following six (6) intersections (listed in priority order) are prime candidates for red light camera enforcement and likely to be the six (6) intersections assigned to the recommended vendor:
The program would involve placing cameras at the selected intersection approaches in order to take pictures of the vehicles before and after they enter the intersections. The cameras may be installed on City roadways, but not on County or State roadways without the permission of those entities. The Public Works Director would work with Leon County and the Florida Department of Transportation to determine if cameras may be placed on their roadways within the city. It is important to note that the existing cameras currently installed for the City’s Video Traffic Monitoring System would not be used for the intersection safety program. Appropriate signage will be installed warning drivers that the City is implementing a Red Light Camera Safety Program. In addition, the RFP requires the successful vendor to allot no less than $50,000 for the development and installation of a public information and community outreach campaign.
The program will be under the direction of the Police Chief, who will appoint reserve officers to review the camera images and issue citations. The violation must be clearly visible on at least two (2) images. Citations would then be sent to the vehicle owner as found in State of Florida motor vehicle records. Violators will be cited under the City’s existing citation system. Hearings for drivers contesting the fines would be available before the City’s Code Magistrates.
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
Not applicable.
OPTIONS
1. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a turnkey agreement with ACS State & Local Solutions, Inc. (ACS) the top ranked vendor selected in accordance with RFP No. 0177-09-ER-RC – Red Light Camera Safety Program. With this turnkey agreement, ACS will design, implement, maintain, and operate unmanned cameras / monitoring devices at designated intersections for red traffic light violations. This agreement will guarantee cost neutrality to the City. The City of Tallahassee will not pay any additional fees not covered by revenues received from the citations. It is the intent of the City to enter into a two-year contract, renewable at the discretion of the City, for one additional three-year period.
Pros:
1. The approval of the contract award is required to implement a Red Light Safety Program in support of Ordinance No. 09-O-22.
2. Enhances motorist safety at signalized intersections.
3. Frees up law enforcement personnel from monitoring intersections for similar infractions.
4. Automation provides 24-hour monitoring of an intersection.
5. Generates revenues while enhancing intersection safety.Cons:
1. De-personalizes the City’s red light enforcement by ticketing the vehicle owner.
2. Duration of intersection monitoring efforts limited to the shift duration of law enforcement personnel.
2. Do not approve the City Manager to negotiate and execute agreement with ACS State & Local Solutions, Inc.
Pros:
1. The City is not at risk for any legal challenge related to red light cameras.Cons:
1. Perpetuates a “Cat and Mouse” approach to red light running. Driver behavior is only curtailed during police presence.
3. Direct staff to proceed with alternative direction.
ATTACHMENTS/REFERENCES