CC SR 20211116 07 - Security Cameras
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 11/16/2021
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to receive a report on installing security cameras at
popular trailheads and parking lots.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Receive and file an informational report on installing security cameras at popular
trailheads and parking lots; and
(2) Direct Staff to issue a request for proposals to vendors for the procurement and
installation of security cameras and return to the City Council outlining the scope
of work, cost estimates, and specific locations for consideration at a future meeting.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: NA
Additional Appropriation: NA
Account Number(s): NA
ORIGINATED BY: Matt Waters, Senior Administrative Analyst, Recreation and Parks
REVIEWED BY: Cory Linder, Recreation and Parks Director
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
BACKGROUND:
Incidents of vandalism, accidents, and crimes have occurred at several of the City’s open
space preserve trailheads and parking lots over the years. In response to a recent string
of incidents at various trailheads, at the August 3, 2021 City Council meeting, Mayor Pro
Tem Bradley requested that Staff prepare a report to be considered at a future City
Council meeting on the City’s options for the installation of security cameras at trailheads
and parking lots.
DISCUSSION:
The use of cameras for security has been proven effective in capturing crime and
incidents in real time or on recorded video, and used in crime investigations. The number
of “smash and grab” vehicle burglaries throughout Rancho Palos Verdes have increased
in recent years as shown in the chart on the next page. Statistics are included for
January-September for each year to show an even time comparison:
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Source: Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
The above chart covers vehicle burglaries, but the total is even higher when vehicle thefts
are taken into account. A total of 218 separate vehicle thefts and burglaries were reported
in Rancho Palos Verdes from January 2020 through October 2021 as shown in the chart
below. Petty thefts refer to items taken from unlocked vehicles while burglaries refer to
items taken from locked vehicles with a value below $950; grand theft covers items $950
or above.
Vehicle Burglaries and Thefts from Vehicles in RPV
Period Vehicle Burglary Grand Theft from
Unlocked Vehicle
Petty Theft from
Unlocked Vehicle
January-March 2020 12 2 9
April-June 2020 11 0 12
July-September 2020 14 1 2
October-December 2020 22 3 11
January-March 2021 20 3 8
April-June 2021 29 1 6
July-September 2021 22 7 6
October 1-30, 2021 7 4 6
Totals 137 21 60
Source: Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
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The map below shows the approximate location of vehicular burglaries between January
1, 2020 and October 22, 2021.
The Burma Road Trailhead gate and adjacent area has been damaged in the following
three separate vehicular incidents since it was installed in November 2020.
• July 3, 2021: Vehicle crashed into the gate, damaging the center section of the
gate.
• July 17, 2021: Vehicle crashed into fire hydrant on Burrell Lane near Burma Road
Trail, resulting in water flowing down Burma Road.
• September 9, 2021: Vehicle crashed into the right-hand side of the gate
There was also an incident on July 3 involving a Lamborghini driving on Burma Road Trail
subsequent to the earlier damage to Burma Road gate. This was brought to the City’s
attention by a video taken by a trail-user, not by an official camera.
The individuals and vehicles involved in the first three incidents cannot be determined
since there were no witnesses and no camera footage available. The presence of a
camera could have assisted law enforcement in identifying the individuals and/or vehicles
involved in these incidents.
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Types of Camera Systems
A security system in the form of security cameras provides many safety benefits.
Cameras act as a crime deterrent, increase public safety awareness, facilitate the
apprehension of perpetrators, and are recommended in areas visited by young children.
The following are two types of security camera systems (similar to the discussion on the
Ladera Linda Community Center project):
A. Supervised Camera System: Supervised camera security systems require
allocated security personnel monitoring the system 24 hours a day, se ven days a
week. These systems are typically specified for institutions such as schools with
full-time dedicated security staff. Cameras used for this system are typically pan -
tilt-zoom and are operated by security staff. The advantage of a supervised system
is that incidents are witnessed in real time by staff. The disadvantages of this type
of system are monthly personnel costs for staff, as well as higher equipment and
lifecycle costs, as pan-tilt-zoom cameras are more expensive than fixed cameras
and need to be replaced more often.
B. Unsupervised Camera System: An unsupervised camera security system records
camera footage for after-the-fact incident viewing and can also be viewed in real
time if desired. This type of system uses fixed cameras. The main advantage is
that there are no monthly personnel costs for staff to view footage in real time.
Also, equipment lifecycle costs are lower than for supervised systems.
A supervised system is not recommended because of the high costs in relation to the cost
impact of burglary or vandalism. An unsupervised system would have a deterrent effect
while enabling staff and law enforcement to investigate crimes and incidents, such as the
incidents at Burma Road.
Potential Locations
Currently there are no cameras installed at City-owned parking lots or trailheads. Staff
has developed a preliminary list of proposed locations based on the following criteria:
• A relatively open view of specific trailheads and parking lots
• High use trailheads and parking lots
• Recent crime statistics
• Trailhead and parking lot areas not easily visible from homes
• Existing infrastructure to mount cameras on poles or similar structures
• Wi-Fi and power access (or solar-powered option)
Certain locations are marked “high priority” based on the anticipated high number of
vehicles parking at those sites, their popularity, recent incidents, and their comparatively
isolated locations.
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FACILITY
NUMBER
OF
LOCATIONS
HIGH
PRIORITY
SMASH AND GRAB
INCIDENTS IN 2020
OR 2021
TRAILHEAD, PARKING LOT
OR STREET PARKING
Hesse Park 3 Parking Lot: Two in upper lot and
one in Lower Hesse.
Ryan Park 2 Upper and lower parking lots
PVIC 3 One in each parking lot and
overflow parking area.
Pelican Cove 2 YES Parking lot
Abalone Cove 2 YES YES Parking lot
Ladera Linda
Comm.
Center
Forrestal Dr.
4 YES YES Parking lot and Forrestal Drive
Marilyn Ryan
Sunset Point
Park
1 YES Parking lot
Founders
Park
1 Parking lot
Eastview Park 2 Parking lot
Vanderlip
Park
1 YES Street parking
Del Cerro
(Park Place)
1 YES YES Parking lot
Burma Gate 1 YES Trailhead
Rattlesnake
Gate
1 Trailhead
Crenshaw
Blvd.
4 YES Street parking
Crest Rd.near
intersection
with
Crenshaw
Blvd.
1 YES Street parking
Vicente Bluffs
- Calle
Entradero Lot
1 YES YES Parking lot
La Rotunda
Lot
2 YES YES Parking lot, and parking along
road
Trump
National Dr.
1 YES Street parking
Estimated Costs of Cameras
Preliminary discussions with camera vendors showed a range of potential costs per unit
due to a number of factors (type/height of pole, power source, type of camera, cell service
location/topography, etc.). Estimated costs ranged from $5,000 to $10,000 per unit.
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Request for Proposals
The City has experienced an increase in vehicular burglaries and thefts in recent years.
While the installation of cameras is not a panacea and will involve upfront and ongoing
expenses, security cameras have a proven positive impact on crime, both in terms of
identifying perpetrators and as a deterrent to criminal activities. With Council approval,
Staff will issue a request for proposals to determine the precise costs and scope for
installing security cameras at identified locations with an initial focus on high priority sites
for consideration by the City Council at a future meeting.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the City Council direct Staff to issue a request for proposals to vendors
for the procurement and installation of security cameras. Staff would then return to the
City Council to outline the scope of work, cost estimates, and specific locations for
consideration at a future meeting.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to Staff recommendation, the following alternative action s are available for the
City Council’s consideration:
1. Provide direction to Staff to conduct additional research on cameras and location
before proceeding with issuing an RFP.
2. Take no action at this time.
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