SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve a five-year renewal agreement with Axon Enterprise, Incorporated, of Scottsdale, AZ, for a video and data collaboration software platform in the amount of $702,000.00, pursuant to Clearwater Code of Ordinances Section 2.563(1)(a), Single Source, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
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SUMMARY:
In 2020, City Council authorized the purchase of technology and equipment to implement and construct a Real-Time Operations Center (ROC) within police headquarters. The ROC provides all facets of the agency with live intelligence relating to emerging criminal threats, threats to citizen/officer safety, and provides investigative leads using security cameras, License Plate Reader (LPR) cameras and various databases. LPRs are strategically deployed throughout the city and work in concert with the ROC to provide our personnel with additional investigative avenues for solving crime, keeping our citizens and visitors safe, and preventing victimization.
In 2022, City Council authorized the purchase of the Fusus software platform to enhance the capabilities of the ROC. Fusus creates a public safety ecosystem that combines video from a variety of sources with computer aided dispatch (CAD) data, officer location information, and other law enforcement sources - including the Flock LPR system. The Fusus platform allows investigators within the ROC the ability to view/access these video feeds and provides a mapped view with instant access to secondary applications. Access to these data sources results in real-time intelligence which can be provided to dispatch, responding units, and detectives, while enhancing citizen, officer, and community safety. The Fusus product also allows for archival views of video footage, allowing instant access to key evidence, while enhancing productivity of both Clearwater Police Department (CPD) officers and detectives.
The Fusus platform fosters public-private partnerships, wherein private organizations/entities can opt-in to either register the existence of private security video systems with CPD or allow real-time viewing of some, or all, of the private video cameras, allowing for advanced intelligence concerning recently occurred or ongoing events along with situational awareness in real-time to the ROC from a variety of businesses, private entities, or City facilities.
In January 2024, Fusus was acquired by Axon Enterprise and maintained the existing Fusus platform being used by CPD, but rebranded as Axon Respond-FususOne.
In September of 2024, CPD transitioned the remaining year of the Fusus agreement to Axon with an agreement that will expire in June 2025.
Although the requested renewal agreement would not commence until June 2025, Axon has offered current pricing if the renewal is signed by the end of the 2024 calendar year.
Authorization to allow Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy to sign the Quote Appendix is requested.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
The Police Department has funding available for the first year of the agreement with no needed adjustment to the FY25 operating budget for cost code 0101127-530300, Contractual Services in the amount of $115,000.00. Future fiscal years’ funding will be requested through the annual operating budget process. The four subsequent years’ service and support is calculated at $125,000.00 in Year Two, $150,000.00 in Year Three, $150,000.00 in Year Four, and $162,000.00 in Year Five.
The Police Department is funded by General Fund revenues.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
This project is relevant towards accomplishing the strategic goal of a High Performing Government, specifically strategic objective 1.4 to foster safe and healthy communities in Clearwater through first-class public safety and emergency response services.
