Item 16 - Discussion Regarding Cameras And Security Lighting in Parks - Request From Council Woman Lopez-ViadoAGENDA ITEM NO. 16
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
City of West Covina I Office of the City Manager
DATE: August 20, 2019
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: David Carmany
Interim City Manager
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION REGARDING CAMERAS AND SECURITY LIGHTING IN PARKS
- REQUEST FROM COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ-VIADO
RECOMMENDATION:
It is requested that the City Council provide staff direction.
BACKGROUND:
At the May 21, 2019 City Council Meeting, Councilwoman Lopez-Viado requested this item be agendized for
further discussion. The City Council directed staff to return to a future meeting and provide information on other
Cities that use security cameras and the cost to install cameras and security lighting at City parks.
DISCUSSION:
The City of West Covina IT Master Plan of CIP initiatives was implemented in Fiscal Year 2016-17. The
Comprehensive IT Assessment report at that time estimated the IT Assessment Capital Budget at $6.6 million
through the five-year life cycle of the plan. The Adopted FY 2016-17 Budget included $1,200,000 for initiatives in
this assessment, but due to budgetary constraints the IT Master Plan projects are on hold until funding is available.
A citywide camera system was not identified as a needed initiative in the 2016 IT Master Plan, so the project would
need to be added.
The City of West Covina currently has cameras throughout community facilities for internal building areas. There
are no cameras currently focused on the parks or parking lots. The current camera system that is being used by the
Police Department could be improved so that the sixteen (16) City parks would also have surveillance. The
estimated cost for the upgrades (including five (5) new cameras per park, new Wi-Fi systems, increased
storagelbandwidth, etc.) is approximately $500,000.
Breakdown of Cost and Infrastructure needs for City Park Cameras and Security Lighting:
Camera Connectivity
First point will be how to bring the camera feed back to the Police Department and City Hall. There are three ways
you can do this: cellular, local Internet provider (Spectrum, Frontier, etc.), and/or build your own wireless mesh.
• Cellular
• Each camera will need to have its own modem and data plan (unless the carrier can create a group or
shared plan). The cost of a modem is approximately $536. T-Mobile is currently the City's provider for
mobile devices. Last month, T-Mobile had an unlimited data plan for $10/month, but the availability of
data plans will depend on when the project is moved forward. Extra costs for this solution will be
network cables, junction box to house the modem (between $11 - $39 unless the camera has its own
housing where the modem can fit inside), and power (if no power, the cost to run power, any adapters
for the power, and power strip). Power usually determines where a camera is eventually mounted.
• Local Internet Provider
• Some locations will only be able to obtain internet access through a local provider. This can be costly,
as plans can range from approximately $200/month to over $500/month. If there is a location where
the only option is a local provider, the number of cameras will dictate the plan that is needed. This
solution will require two or more access points (AP's) depending on how many cameras are at the
location. The AP's will connect the second or more cameras back to the modem. Each AP will cost
approximately $132.
• Wireless Mesh
This solution has the most upfront costs but will have the highest cost savings. The following is the
cost of each type of AP needed for this:
• Small close -range AP - $132 each (will connect the camera(s) at each park)
• Long distances or to create a sector to connect other AP's - $250 to $302 for two (connecting
long distances or broadcasting signal for other AP's)
• Central point to stream data back to the Police Department or City Hall - $1,565 (each site will
need this to carry all the streaming data from one location back to the central point)
• Outdoor switches - $108 - $190 (depending on how many ports needed)
Cameras
There are a wide variety of cameras available depending on the City's needs. Each location will have different
needs and viewpoints will be the deciding factor when selecting camera type.
• Multidirectional Cameras (panoramic) give a 180 degree view and allows imaging of an entire area all at
once. Cost ranges very. Below are three high quality examples:
• Multidirectional with PTZ(pan-tilt-zoom) - $1,812
• Multidirectional with IR(infrared) - $1,607
• Multidirectional with better overall camera technology and lighting - $2,009
• PTZ Cameras allow 360 degree movement with the ability to zoom in and out:
• PTZ - $2,048
• PTZ with IR(infrared) - $3,183
• Fixed Cameras point to one location and cannot be moved.
• Fixed with IR(infrared) - $358
• Fixed with far IR range of 262ft - $1,562 (It's also 4k, 60 fps, and has an optical zoom of 32x)
• Thermal Cameras allow the best vision at night but are the costliest.
• Thermal (fixed camera, but a specific mount can make it a PTZ) - $6,605 (for reference and comparing
to the IR above you can detect a human up to 2,005 yards with this camera)
Data Storage
Each camera listed above is high definition and at least 30 frames per second, but typically the frame rate is
lowered between 8 to 15 frames per second for storage purposes. Watching live will always be at the camera's max
frame rate, but the recording is up to the agency based on the amount of storage available. City policy for video
storage will dictate the amount of storage needed. The estimate for the database was configured using 64-80
cameras for two years of data storage.
Storage - 1 Petabyte PB - $132,010
Camera Licensing
Adding cameras means adding additional camera licenses to the current camera system. West Covina is using
the Milestone system and the license per camera is approximately $250.
Installation
Installation costs are estimated at $2,500 per camera.
The advantages of cameras in public places include improvement of public safety, reduction of crime rates,
providing evidence for investigations of illegal activity, and the ability to monitor parks at all times. The biggest
detractor for cameras and security lighting is the cost for installation and ongoing maintenance. Cameras and
lighting are easily abused and expensive to replace. Some people in the public have started to doubt their
effectiveness because in order for the cameras to be effective they need to monitored regularly, which is expensive
due to the staff hours required to monitor around the clock. Most of the benefits from cameras come after the crime
has been committed, not during, because it is difficult to monitor cameras at all times.
Security Lighting
Currently, all City parks have security lighting throughout the park on walkways and in parking lots. Security
lighting is currently scheduled to come on at dusk and stay on until dawn, during closed park hours. Additional
lighting can be added throughout all parks for approximately $3,500 per light pole, cost would include equipment
and installation. Current lighting could also be retrofitted to either a motion sensor light or LED flood light for
approximately $1000 per pole. Each park would need an assessment to determine where additional lighting is
needed, and then total cost can be determined. Costs very on the type of light and how far electricity needs to be run
to provide power for each pole. Another option would be to place solar lights throughout each park. This would cut
installation cost, but materials are more expensive which makes them cost neutral. Types of security lights include:
• Motion Sensor Lights - offer a balance between energy efficiency and security. Lights only come on when
something moves, it causes awareness that someone or something is present.
• LED Flood Lights - offer a powerful widespread illuminated area but do not turn off until scheduled.
Public Services staff reached out to 26 nearby Cities. Five Cities responded confirming they have security lighting.
All responded that lights are on timers around walkways and buildings. There were no responses that flood lights or
motion sensor lighting were used. 13 Cities responded regarding cameras in parks with four having no cameras in
parks and the nine other City responses are below:
Surveyed Cities
Questions
1. Do you have cameras in your parks? If so, all parks or specific sites and for what reason?
2. What amenities do they face (e.g. playground, parking lot, restrooms etc.)?
3. Who monitors the footage?
4. Do you have Security Lighting in your parks?
5. Particular area of the park or generally throughout?
6. Do they run on a sensor, timer, or any specific setup?
City Specific Responses
El Monte
1. Park Sites
• Specifically parks with high traffic, or known to have had issues with vandalism and negative activity.
2. Multiple cameras covering as much of the park as possible to get a general view of the park.
3. P.D. monitors the cameras. Other staff currently do not have access.
Monrovia
1. In parks with high traffic for safety reasons.
2. Locations:
• Julian Fisher Park- newly renovated park with high traffic.
• Wellfield- pointed at the water treatment plant.
• Library Park- high traffic area with known homeless population/ ongoing illegal activity.
• Station Square- high traffic area close to Gold Line.
• Recreation Park- high traffic area pointed to the skate park.
3. P.D. monitors cameras. Public Works division maintains the cameras.
Diamond Bar
1. Three parks that have meeting room facilities.
2. Inside and Outside the facilities focused on entrances and exits to the buildings.
3. Information Systems Department monitors footage on an as needed basis in cases of vandalism.
Covina
1. Located at Cougar Park.
2. Cameras face outward from the Community Center toward the playground.
3. Public Safety Dispatchers monitor footage.
4. Yes, in all parks
5. Generally throughout
6. They run on a timer
Chino
1. Multiple sites
• Locations with nuisance activity.
2. Baseball dugouts, skate park, outdoor basketball courts
3. PD monitors footage in their Real Time Crime Center. Site Supervisors have access to footage if needed.
4. Yes, security lighting at all parks
5. Generally throughout the walking paths of the parks. We also have some security lighting around the
skatepark (this lighting turns off at 10:15 p.m.)
6. All security lighting runs on a timer. Our newer parks have security lighting that is operated through
Musco's Control -Link, so we are able to program lights to turn on from dusk to dawn.
Chino Hills
1. Community Park due to recent burglaries
2. Cameras facing office and snack bar area, storage shed and inside facing entrance.
3. Public Works monitors footage and site staff have access if needed.
Montebello
1. Multiple sites
• Sr. Center, Youth Center, Aquatics Center, Skate Park. Infrastructure at these sites allows for it and
prevents vandalism and liability to the City.
2. Interior and entryways
3. Director has a monitor in office. Facility Coordinators have aces to live view or review. IT has access to
review and pull files.
Rosemead
1. Multiple sites within park grounds
• Preschool, Pool, Community Centers
2. Facility entryway and front parking lot.
3. Full -Time Parks and Rec staff.
4. Yes, throughout most major parks
5. It is located in various locations throughout the park on light posts and facilities in the parks (ex: Restrooms,
offices, gyms, etc.)
6. The majority of the lights run on timers. Some are set manually on a timer dial and others are set through our
Musco Lighting system which is controlled remotely.
Pomona
1. Parks with Community Centers only
2. Facing building and entryways only
3. Facility Staff, but limited. (Notes below)
4. No intemet/Wifi at each site means no way to access footage remotely and could not be monitored in
real-time.
5. Cameras were installed by a company specialized in building security.
6. Cameras in the park face entryways only, with no view beyond the immediate entryways.
7. Cameras were installed too low allowing for frequent vandalism or theft of the cameras.
8. Cameras often go out of focus or malfunction for one reason or another, rendering footage captured useless.
9. Staff is currently trying to find funding to repair, replace and upgrade camera system.
10. Cameras have been beneficial in capturing some incidents and giving a sense of security
OPTIONS:
The City Council has the following options:
1. Receive and file until funding is available;
2. Direct City staff to release an RFP for cameras in City Parks outlining scope of work to include parking lots
and any facilities of concern; or
3. Provide alternative direction.
Prepared by: Mike Cresap - Public Services Superintendent
Additional Approval: Nikole Bresciani, Assistant City Manager/Public Services Director
Fiscal Impact
FISCAL IMPACT:
Currently there is no funding source for this project, however it can be eligible as a future Measure A project. The
City will receive approximately $323,000 annually, and can combine that amount over a 5-year period for a total
of $1,615,000. The total cost to put cameras and security lighting at all parks would be approximately $1,000,000.
If Measure A Funds were utilized, the City would have to carry over funds for four years and the project could be
completed in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 which would not include funds from FY 2019-20. In addition to the
purchase and installation of equipment, Measure A Funds could be for used maintenance and service on all
equipment including any monthly software subscriptions or network fees.
For Fiscal Year 2019-20, Measure A Funds have been earmarked for Shadow Oak Park improvements.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS & OBJECTIVES: Enhance City Facilities and Infrastructure
Enhance Public Safety
Enhance City Programs and Activities