TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Douglas J. Hewett, ICMA-CM, City Manager
FROM: Kemberle Braden, Chief of Police
DATE: September 23, 2024
RE:
Title
Consider the Annual $210,000 annual Contract Renewal Options for Soundthinking Gunshot Detection Technology Services (ShotSpotter). The 3-year renewal will cost the City $210,000 per year. The first year will be paid using ARPA funding, and the subsequent years will be paid for out of the General Fund operating budget.
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
Districts 2, 4 and 7
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal I: Safe and Secure Community
Executive Summary:
The City entered into a 1-year subscription service to ShotSpotter on Sept. 26, 2023. ShotSpotter is a gunshot detection technology service that serves as a part of the Police Department’s violent crime reduction multi-strategy plan and the anti-gun violence program. The initial ShotSpotter contract utilized $197,500 in ARPA funding.
The City received quotes for 3-year and 1-year contract renewal options. The 3-year renewal will cost the City $210,000 per year. The first year will be paid using ARPA funding, and the subsequent years will be paid for out of the General Fund operating budget.
The 1-year renewal will cost the City $210,000, which will be paid for with ARPA funding. Should the City choose to do an additional renewal for the Sept. 2025 - Sept. 2026, then there will be a 5% cost increase applied.
Background:
The current ShotSpotter coverage is set for 1 square mile in each of the 3 districts within the City totaling 3 sq. miles of coverage with the technology.
Over the past year, ShotSpotter technology has significantly enhanced our ability to respond to gunfire incidents within designated neighborhoods in the City of Fayetteville. Notably, 81% of ShotSpotter alerts did not have any corresponding 911 calls from residents reporting shots fired or shootings. This technology has enabled officers to respond promptly to incidents that would otherwise have gone unnoticed.
As a result, we have made 24 arrests and collected over 629 shell casings from these alerts. These casings have been instrumental in assisting our forensic unit, leading to 46 National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) leads that have advanced investigations within our jurisdiction and with surrounding agencies.
ShotSpotter has provided our detectives with an invaluable investigative tool, enabling us to connect cases that might have remained unsolved due to the absence of collected evidence from scenes without initial 911 reports. This technology continues to play a critical role in enhancing public safety and supporting our mission to reduce gun violence in our community.
Issues/Analysis:
The current subscription expires on September 27, 2024
Budget Impact:
There will be no impact to the General Fund fund balance.
Options:
1) Authorize a three-year ShotSpotter contract renewal.
2) Authorize a one-year ShotSpotter contract renewal.
3) Do not authorize a ShotSpotter contract renewal and provide further direction to staff.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends that Council move to authorize a three-year ShotSpotter contract renewal.
Attachments:
ShotSpotter Renewal Letter
ShotSpotter 3-Year Renewal Quote
ShotSpotter 1-Year Renewal Quote
Fayetteville Amendment One 08.26.24
PowerPoint presentation