REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
November 4, 2021
FROM: PACO BALDERRAMA, Chief of Police
Police Department
BY: BURKE FARRAH, Deputy Police Chief
Police Department
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the Chief of Police to enter into a First Amendment to the existing contract with ShotSpotter Inc., (SST) through the end of FY 2024 to provide gunshot detection coverage for an additional three square miles in the City of Fresno for a total cost of $535,849.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council authorize the Chief of Police to enter a First Amendment to the existing contract between the City of Fresno Police Department and ShotSpotter Inc. (SST), to add three square miles of gunshot detection area coverage within the City of Fresno. This would bring the total area covered to 17.46 square miles within the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Fresno City Council approved the expansion of two square miles of gunshot detection coverage in the Fresno Police Department FY 2022 budget. This was passed in June 2021 providing $150,000 for expanded gunshot detection. Utilizing weapons-related gunshot calls for service and firearms crimes reported for 2020 and year to date 2021, it was determined that there was a total of three square miles in four council districts, that could immediately benefit from gunshot detection technology.
Negotiations began with ShotSpotter Inc., and a price concession of $65,000 per square mile per year for a three year contract ending on June 30, 2024, was obtained. This contract would allow a total of 17.46 square miles of gunshot detection and a more rapid law enforcement response to violent crimes and illegal weapons being discharged in our City.
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 provide immediate information to responding officers of detected gunshots as a means of shortening our response times to these incidents. After research was conducted, ShotSpotter Inc. (SST), 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 SST was so significant that on June 1, 2016, an additional three-square mile area of SST was added now providing a total of six square miles of gunshot detection for Fresno. SST also, at no cost to the City of Fresno, expanded the coverage area by .2 square miles in 2017 now totaling 6.2 square miles.
On November 28, 2017, the Fresno Unified School District (FUSD) entered into a three-year agreement with SST 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 SST 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 SST in November 2020. To continue to have gunshot detection in this essential coverage area, an MOU was developed and presented for approval to the Fresno City Council for the City to maintain this coverage area.
In March of 2018, the City of Fresno contracted with ShotSpotter 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.
A separate Council Agenda Item presented an MOU between the City of Fresno and SST for approval by the City Council. The 3rd Amendment incorporated the 8.26 square miles covered under the MOU and the existing 6.2 square miles under contract between SST and the City of Fresno, through June 30, 2024.
In June of 2021, City Council approved a two square mile expansion under the Fresno Police Department Budget. However, an analysis of gunshot calls for service outside the existing SST areas indicated that there is a need for an additional mile of coverage. This three square mile expansion will allow four council districts to either expand or implement gunshot detection areas.
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 because this is an amendment to an existing contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Fresno Police Department was authorized by the City Council for an additional $150,000 in FY 2022 to expand ShotSpotter coverage. ShotSpotter pricing models for new contracts in 2021 are $75,000 per square mile. Through negotiations, ShotSpotter lowered their contract costs to $65,000 per square miles for each year under this proposed Amendment. Year one will cost the City of Fresno $145,849, years two and three will cost $195,000. The total amount will be $535,849.
Attachment:
First Amendment to Agreement with Exhibit A