TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to reappropriate $350,000 of Upland Oil funds currently budgeted for gunfire location services technology to the Long Beach Police Department to be utilized for
FY 13 overtime costs.
DISCUSSION
On October 4, 2011, the Council approved the appropriation of one-time Upland Oil funds to the Long Beach Police Department for the potential deployment of gunfire detection technology. The vendor referred to in these discussions was ShotSpotter.
ShotSpotter, and other similar vendors, assist public safety agencies in gathering specific data about gunfire, using microphones and computer technology to determine location, number of shots fired and timing.
After analysis by City Management and the LBPD, it has been determined that ShotSpotter's technology does not currently meet the public safety needs of the City. Further, it has been concluded that a gunfire detection technology that is compatible with the City's landscape does not currently exist with any vendor. At this time, the existing funds will not be used to purchase or subscribe to this type of program.
It is appropriate that the funds be utilized to further one-time public safety needs, as was the Council's intention. A positive one-time use for these funds would be Police Department overtime costs for Fiscal Year 13. This would allow the Department, at its discretion, to have additional officers in the field where they are greatly needed. The LBPD and City Management will continue to discuss and analyze gunfire location services as they are developed.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds in the Long Beach Police Department overtime budget will be increased by $350, 000.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
COUNCILWOMAN GERRIE SCHIPSKE
FIFTH DISTRICT