PREPARED BY: LT. BUBAR, CELESTE TAYLOR DATE OF MEETING: 10/15/18
SUBJECT:
TITLE
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO AUTHORIZING (1) APPROPRIATION OF $117,436 FROM SUPPLEMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES GRANT REVENUES TO SPENDABLE ACCOUNTS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT’S GENERAL FUND BUDGET (100-2110-43600 FOR A FUTURE CELL PHONE PURCHASE AND 100-2110-46300 FOR A FORCE OPTION SIMULATOR); (2) WAIVER OF FORMAL BID REQUIREMENTS TO PURCHASE A USE OF FORCE SIMULATOR FROM TI TRAINING CORP.; AND (3) PURCHASE OF THE TI TRAINING LAB USE OF FORCE SIMULATOR AT A COST OF $54,984, INCLUDING TRAINING AND SERVICES
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution
Body
Compliance statements
Community Outreach and Technology Improvements under the Public Safety Policy Area is an adopted policy item under the FY 2018-21 City Council Priority Work plan, effective November 1, 2017.
CEQA Compliance Statement
This proposed action is not a project under CEQA pursuant to Guidelines Section 15378(b)(2): Continuing administrative or maintenance activities, such as purchases for supplies, personnel-related actions, general policy and procedure making. If a project, then the Ordinance is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act, (CEQA), under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 Existing Facilities; Section 15303 New Construction or Conversion of small structures; and Section 15061(b)(3), in that it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.
BACKGROUND
Funding Source
The Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Grant is a mandated grant as defined by Government Code 30061(b)(3)(i) wherein the County shall remit at minimum $100,000 annually to be spent on frontline law enforcement. Grant revenues have accumulated and are available for appropriation.
System- TL-100 Force Option Simulator
The San Pablo Police Department has explored opportunities to enhance services, training, and operational efficiency through technology. The Training Lab TL-100 produced by Ti Training Corp is a force option simulator in which officers can engage and react to real world scenarios which offer varying outcomes based on response. The software works by projecting stimuli onto a screen and allowing the trainee to interact with that stimuli. The laptop and projector setup allows staff to deliver training in varying locations and environments.
Equipment Familiarity:
This system allows officers to train using department-issued equipment such as handgun, rifle, pepper spray, and Taser. TL-100 offers Glock-22 recoil kits which use CO2 canisters to reproduce actual firing simulation while counting expended rounds and locking the slide back when the weapon is empty. This feature is also available for the AR-15 rifle. Officers can manipulate their assigned weapons without permanent modifications.
Currently the San Pablo Police Department issues the X2 Taser device. Many agencies in the surrounding area issue the X-26 Taser device. Both devices are available for simulation through the TL-100. Ti Training is the only simulation company authorized by TASER International to provide TASER Trainer Simulation.
Scenarios: The TL-100 comes with over 800+ fully branching scenarios. Each scenario is filmed using High Definition cameras. Other simulators only recently started to include HD video, and have opted to stretch old standard definition video to fit a 16x9 aspect ratio. This creates extremely distorted resolution and makes the scenarios very difficult to use, cutting the usable scenarios down to only the video filmed in HD. Ti Training is the only company providing all HD library of scenarios.
The scenarios are updated frequently and Ti Training offers the option of department input for a specific scenario request to be produced. Due to the quickly evolving trends involving police officers and use of force with technology, the benefit of receiving frequently updated content for training purposes is highly desirable.
Internal Training:
Staff will be able to develop highly involved training evolutions while reducing costs and staff time. De-escalation and communication skills will be a focus for officers as the TL-100 allows the trainer to modify responses and outcomes based upon the officer’s actions.
Training for scenarios such as active shooter response, are historically difficult to complete as staff would need to identify locations, schedule staff time, and exhaust equipment and supplies such as ammunition and/or munition rounds for officers to use. The TL-100 provides a much more efficient option in placing officers in complex scenarios and monitoring reactions. The system records the officer’s responses and provides an opportunity to review and critique with them and training staff.
External Training: The TL-100 offers an opportunity for staff to provide training to outside agencies. Ti Training will be training up to six members of staff to become certified trainers with the simulation system. There is currently not a POST certified force option simulator course offered in West Contra Costa County. Staff is anticipating pursuing POST certification to offer this training externally and create revenue for the City.
Waiver of Formal Bid Requirements
Staff recommends that the procurement of the TL-100 Force Option Simulator through Ti Training Corp. be exempted from City bidding requirements because: 1) it involves specialized services combined with equipment and products, in which the City acquires and installs equipment but must also retain specialized services for consulting on use, training, installing, maintaining, and servicing the products (San Pablo Municipal Code section 3.16.110(B); and 2) the unique software attributes discussed above support the use of sole source agreements (San Pablo Municipal Code section 3.16.110(C).
Further, competitive bidding requirements may be dispensed if the public interest is better served by doing so, as where competitive bidding would not produce an advantage. (Graydon v. Pasadena Redevelopment Agency (1980) 104 Cal.App.3d 631; Los Angeles Dredging Co. v. Long Beach (1930) 210 Cal.348.) The exception may be invoked where the product or service contracted for is of unique value and may not be obtained elsewhere (Hodgeman v. City of San Diego (1942) 53 Cal.App.2d 610,618).
Acquisition pursuant to the specialized services and equipment exception and sole source justification are met because the goods and services required to satisfy the agency’s specific training needs and product integration are only manufactured and available for purchase from Ti Training Corp. Ti Training Corp. is the sole developer and vendor of the proprietary recoil kits compatible with current weapons deployment (lethal and less lethal). Ti Training Corp. is the only simulation company authorized by TASER International to provide TASER trainer simulation. The Ti Training Corp. is the only company to provide an all HD library of scenarios which will also be updated regularly with opportunity for staff to develop our own scenarios if requested. The San Pablo Police Department has not been able to find another vendor to reliably deliver a combination equipment and service platform. The cost of the TI Training Corp. Force Option Simulator shall not exceed $54,985.
Appropriate Funding for Purchase of Cellular Devices
The Police Department proposes to appropriate $62,452 in Supplemental Law Enforcement Grant funds for the acquisition of cellular devices, which will enable the Department to maximize available technology and provide greater operational efficiency. With the proven technology the Police Department already has in place, including ShotSpotter, automated license plate readers (ALPR), body-worn cameras, surveillance cameras, and Government Outreach, these cellular devices will allow staff the opportunity to deploy the associated mobile applications on their City-issued cellular devices in the field. A vendor will be selected upon completion of a solicitation process as required by City of San Pablo Municipal Code chapter 3.16, and the Department will seek further approval from the City Council for that procurement.
FISCAL IMPACT
Grant revenues of $139,416 were received in FY 2017/18 and are available for appropriation from fund balance in the grant fund (210). The appropriation of $117,436 will cover the quoted cost of the Ti Force Option Simulator and the anticipated FY 2018/19 cost of the purchase of cellular devices and service at a future time. Appropriation of these funds will leave $21,980 available in fund balance for appropriation from FY 2017/18 actual revenues. Requested appropriations are as follows:
|
From Account |
Amount |
To Account |
Amount |
|
210-0000-00000 |
$117,436 |
|
|
|
|
|
100-2110-43600 |
$54,984 |
|
|
|
100-2110-46300 |
$62,452 |
|
TOTAL |
$117,436 |
|
$117,436 |