REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MINDY CASTO, Interim Chief of Police
Police Department
BY: MICHAEL LANDON, Deputy Police Chief
Police Department
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the Chief of Police to enter into a Second Amendment to Agreement with SoundThinking, Inc. (formerly ShotSpotter Inc.) for an additional three years of service for a total amount not to exceed $3,140,025 or $1,046,675 annually, for the term of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council authorize the Chief of Police to enter into a Second Amendment to Agreement with SoundThinking, Inc. (formerly ShotSpotter Inc.) for an additional three years for a total of 17.26 square miles of gunshot detection area coverage in the City of Fresno in an amount not to exceed $3,140,025 or $1,046,675 annually, for the term of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Beginning in 2015, the Fresno Police Department contracted with SoundThinking, Inc. (“SoundThinking”) for six square miles of gunshot detection in some of the most violent areas of Fresno. In 2017, Fresno Unified School District added 6 square miles of gunshot detection coverage to assist in securing their campuses, students, and staff. In 2018 a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System was being developed in Fresno, to which an additional 2.26 square miles of gunshot detection coverage was added to protect specific BRT routes and major traffic corridors within the City.
In November 2020, the Fresno Unified School District Board of Trustees voted to not renew their contract with SoundThinking. In February 2021, the grant funding that paid for the BRT portion of the SoundThinking contract ended.
Understanding the substantial impact on community safety shutting down this 8.26 square miles of gunshot detection would have, SoundThinking agreed to keep the FUSD and BRT gunshot detection coverage areas active as language was developed for the Fresno Police Department to assume the contractual responsibilities the remainder of this fiscal year by adopting an Agreement with SoundThinking.
BACKGROUND
Arriving to violent crimes in progress as quickly as possible is an integral part of a comprehensive strategy to protect our community. The more rapidly information concerning criminal activity and violence is received by law enforcement, the quicker officers can respond and stop violent criminal behavior, and perhaps more importantly provide lifesaving medical aid to victims. In 2015, the Fresno Police Department began researching gunshot detection technology which could rapidly disseminate detected gunshots to officers in the field as a means of shortening our response times to these incidents. After research was conducted, SoundThinking was selected and on June 30, 2015, three square miles of state-of-the-art gunshot detection technology was installed in an area of Fresno that had seen historical violence and greater incidents of gun crimes. As a result of implementation of this technology, lives were saved, and the incidence of reported gun violence was reduced over time.
The success of SoundThinking was so significant that on June 1, 2016, an additional three-square mile area of SoundThinking was added now providing a total of six square miles of gunshot detection for Fresno. On November 28, 2017, the Fresno Unified School District (FUSD) entered into a three-year agreement with SoundThinking to cover several school sites within a six square mile area in the City of Fresno that was previously not covered by gunshot detection technology. The school sites selected for this SoundThinking expansion were in higher crime areas and benefited FUSD by making school children and District employees safer on school sites. This area also benefited FPD by allowing a faster response to gun violence and illegal weapons near school grounds. Though implementation of gunshot detection had proven effective, the FUSD Board voted not to renew their contract with SoundThinking in November 2020.
In March of 2018, the City of Fresno contracted with SoundThinking as a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System was developed, adding 2.26 square miles of gunshot detection coverage along major traffic corridors serviced by BRT buses within the City. These routes sent buses through some areas of Fresno where gun violence is reported more frequently. In February 2021, the grant funding for the BRT contract for gun detection coverage ended. Understanding the importance of keeping our gunshot detection capabilities for the protection of our community, SoundThinking agreed to continue to keep the 8.26 square mile coverage area active and monitored as we negotiated for price concessions and terms under a new contract.
In July 2021, the City of Fresno assumed financial responsibility of all 14.26 square miles of coverage area and entered into a three-year Agreement with SoundThinking.
As gunshot calls for service increased in Council Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7, therefore a subsequent First Amendment Agreement was executed in October 2021 for an additional three-square miles coverage resulting in a total of 17.26 square miles of gunshot detection service in the City of Fresno. This contract expires on June 30, 2024.
The Fresno Police Department requests authorization from City Council to renew and enter into a three-year Second Amendment Agreement for a total of 17.26 square miles with SoundThinking in amount not to exceed $3,140,025 for three years or $1,046,675 annually, for the term of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027. City of Fresno Area Express (FAX) has agreed to resume coverage of the segment of Blackstone Avenue that includes Manchester Transit Center (Olive Avenue to Ashlan Avenue) at a cost not to exceed $407,400 for three fiscal years (FY 2025 - FY 2027) or $138,500 annually.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a “project” for the purposes of CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable.
FISCAL IMPACT
The FY 25 funding is currently appropriated in the Police Department and Department of Transportation General Fund budgets and will be encumbered with Council’s approval of this Second Amendment Agreement.
Attachment:
Second Amendment Agreement
Agreement