City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: May 12, 2014 Item Number: PH-1
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: PUBLIC HEARING - Approval of a Three Year
Contract with Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc., with Two Optional One-Year
Extensions Based on Material Performance, for Use of an Automated Enforcement
System and Services Associated with Culver City’s Automated Enforcement
Program for Traffic Signal Red Light Violations.
Contact Person/Dept.:Sgt. William
Browne, CCPD
Phone Number: 310-253-6260
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [X] Action Item: [] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [] Date: _______________
Public Notification: Meetings and Agendas – City Council (05/06/14); Culver City
Observer (05/01/14)
Department Approval:
Scott Bixby (05/05/14)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by L. Vidra 5/05/14)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (05/06/14)
City Manager Approval:
John M. Nachbar (05/06/14)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a three year contract with Redflex
Traffic Systems, Inc., with two optional one-year extensions, based on material
performance, for use of an automated enforcement system and for services
associated with Culver City’s Automated Enforcement (Traffic Signal Red Light
Camera) Program.
PROCEDURE:
1. The Mayor seeks a motion from the City Council to receive and file the affidavits
of publication and posting of notices and correspondence received in response to
the public hearing notices; and,
2. The Mayor calls for a staff report and City Council Members may pose questions
to staff as desired; and,
3. The Mayor seeks a motion to open the public hearing; and,
4. The Mayor seeks a motion to close the public hearing after all public testimony
has been presented; and,
5. The City Council discusses the item and arrives at its decision.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
BACKGROUND
California Vehicle Code Section 21455.5 authorizes governmental agencies to utilize
automated enforcement at intersections and other locations within a municipality, if
certain conditions are met. Pursuant to this authority, the City’s automated
enforcement program (Program) for certain intersections was initiated in 1998 at the
intersection of Washington Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard. The program
uses “red light cameras” (the term used in popular discourse) to capture violators as
their vehicles proceed through the intersection after the signal turns red. The City’s
automated enforcement program is operated and managed by the Traffic Division of
the Police Department (CCPD).
The City originally contracted for equipment and support services associated with
the Program with Tellis Traffic, Inc. After a short period, the City transitioned the
contract with Tellis Traffic to Sensys Traffic AB, which had purchased Tellis Traffic.
Sensys Traffic AB, doing business as Traffic Safety Systems, subsequently became
a wholly owned subsidiary of Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc. (Redflex), and in 2002
Redflex entered into an amended and restated agreement with the City, which
expired on March 28, 2007.
On March 3, 2007, the City Council held a Public Hearing, and, upon
recommendation from CCPD, the City Council authorized a contract with Redflex to
continue to provide automated enforcement equipment and related support services.
This contract expired on March 28, 2014 and is currently on a two-month extension.
On October 17, 2013, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was published to solicit
responses from qualified red light camera enforcement solution providers. The City
received four (4) proposals submitted in response to the RFP by the November 14,
2013 response closing date. Based on the initial review, three finalists were
selected. After meeting with the three finalists, staff determined that it was
necessary to narrow the scope of the original RFP. The three finalists were issued
a revised scope of service on January 2, 2014 and given until January 9, 2014 to
submit an amendment to their original proposal that clearly identified any and all
changes based on the revised scope of service.
Under Vehicle Code Section 21455.6, Culver City is required to hold a public
hearing before entering into a contract with a red light camera vendor.
DISCUSSION:
Improving traffic safety has been a fundamental element of the City’s automated
enforcement program since its inception. At present, the automated enforcement
system is in place at eleven (11) intersections comprising eighteen (18) total
approaches. For the years 2012 and 2013, there were zero (0) rear end collisions City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
at automated enforcement system approaches attributable to red light violations.
The below sample comparison chart provides a high level view of program
performance.
Year
Approaches
Citations
Collisions
%Reduction
2000 vs. 2013
2000
11
13,697
13
2013
18
20,479
1
-92%
Since the inception of the automated enforcement program, Culver City, like other
westside cities, has experienced rapid and significant increases in the number of
vehicles that travel City streets. This includes those intersection approaches
monitored by the Program. The resulting traffic volume induced congestion has
highlighted the ongoing need to maintain efforts to help avert collisions resulting
from red light violators.
Traffic volumes in areas associated with automated enforcement intersections
average approximately 416,000 vehicles per day. In 2013, 36,048 red light
violation incidents were processed. Of those, 20,479 (or approximately 57%)
resulted in the issuance of a Notice to Appear (citation).
CCPD staff believes the program is successful at reducing the number of drivers
running red lights and is a major factor in reducing accidents associated with such
violations. The benefit received by the community is rooted most importantly in the
prevention and reduction of accidents, especially those that result in injury or
fatality.
The RFP responses include:
Vendor
Location
Cost (1
st
Year)
Cost (3
rd
Year)
American Traffic
Solutions, Inc.
Tempe, AZ
$734,400.00 per
year (3,400.00 per
approach x 18 plus
~2% CPI adjusted
increases annually)
$764,069.76
3-Year Total
$2,247,557.76
Redflex Traffic
Systems, Inc.
Phoenix, AZ
$693,599 per year
$693,599.76
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
(or 3,211.00 per
approach x 18 No
additional CPI
charge)
3-Year Total
$2,080,799.28
Xerox State &
Local Solutions,
Inc.
Germantown,
MD
$777,816.00 per
year ($3,601.00 per
approach x 18 plus
2% increases
annually)
$809,239.76
3-Year Total
$2,380,428.08
The proposals were analyzed to identify the most appropriate solution provider in
terms of provider experience, qualifications, adequacy, depth and clarity of the
response to the RFP, references, as well as operational and statutory compliance
and cost efficiencies. After extensive review by CCPD staff, Redflex Traffic
Systems, Inc. was found to offer the City the solution that best meets the City’s
needs for the following reasons:
1. Qualifications & Experience: Redflex has extensive experience with supporting
automated enforcement programs at local, regional and international levels and
has successfully supported CCPD in executing the operational goals of the
City’s Program for well over a decade.
2. Scope of service:
a. Technology: Redflex will progressively upgrade existing approaches to
use next generation technology, including, but not limited to, 24MP
cameras and HD video. Redflex will provide applications that provide
the flexibility to use tablet computers to access certain data.
b. Service: Redflex maintains an office in Culver City, employing three
technicians and one field supervisor allowing rapid response to damaged
or malfunctioning systems. Further, they will use the local Culver City
Post Office to mail citations requiring a USPS Certificate of Mailing form.
c. Public Relations: Redflex will work with the City to reassess the current
public relations plan to build a proactive, simple to execute, annual
communications plan to advance the City’s traffic safety message.
3. Fees: Redflex was found to offer the most cost effective solution. Redflex
offered the lowest proposal for the first year through third year total contract
cost with an optional extension for two (2) additional one (1) year terms should
material performance warrant.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
2010 - RedFlex in the News
In late 2010, news reports emerged relating to allegations of unethical business
practices between Redflex personnel and the City of Chicago, Illinois. The inquiry
into these allegations culminated in the termination of specific Redflex personnel
as well as at least one City of Chicago employee. CCPD staff met with Redflex
executive management and received subsequent written assurances from Redflex
as to corrective measures, training, and material changes implemented by Redflex
to ensure that such occurrences are prevented in the future.
The allegations were found to have had no correlation to the functional
performance of automated enforcement services and equipment as provided to
Culver City by Redflex. Additionally, no Redflex personnel associated with the
City’s program were involved in the Chicago matter. CCPD staff and the City
Attorney’s office maintain vigilance to assure the continued integrity of the City’s
automated enforcement program.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
The total cost for services is $3,211.11 per month per approach, or $693,599.76
annually. This is a flat monthly fee that applies to all eighteen (18) approaches.
This represents a savings of more than $250,000 annually as the existing agreement
requires a monthly payment of $4,401.01 per month per approach, or $950,618.16
annually. Total cost of the Redflex proposal is $2,080,797 over three (3) years.
These costs are offset by fine revenue.
As of January 01, 2013, the fine for a red light camera violation, as established by
the State of California, is $490.00. The ‘base’ fine is $100.00. The State and
County add Penalty Assessments and other fees to the base fine to arrive at the
total. Of the $490.00 total fine, Culver City realizes approximately $156; the State
portion is approximately $211, and $123 goes to the County of Los Angeles.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Copy of Public Notice
2. Proof of Publication
MOTION:
That the City Council:
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
1. Approve a three year contract with Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc., with two
optional one- year extensions, based on material performance, for use of an
automated enforcement system and for services associated with Culver
City’s Automated Enforcement (Red Light Camera) Program.; and,
2. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents;
and,
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the
City.