Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Procurement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission approves package of public-safety contracts, equipment and positions including school speed cameras, drones and mobile command unit
Summary
The City Commission approved a series of police department resolutions authorizing a school-zone speed camera contract, DOJ-forfeiture-funded school resource coverage and a mobile command vehicle, drone and counter-drone systems, virtual-reality training and other public-safety equipment.
Sunny Isles Beach commissioners approved a package of public-safety measures and procurement agreements covering school speed enforcement, equipment and personnel funded in part by forfeiture funds and cooperative contracts.
The items were considered as individual resolutions and, collectively, the Commission approved each of the following during the meeting:
- A vendor agreement with RedSpeed Inc. (Red Speed Florida) for speed photo enforcement in the Norman S. Edelkupp school zone (five-year agreement procured via a cooperative piggyback). The resolution authorizes the contract and installation of a speed camera system near the school. (Resolution 9b; approved.)
- Authorization to allocate $633,980.16 in U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) forfeiture funds for two initiatives: continued funding for a school resource sergeant (salary/fringe estimated at about $215,000) and purchase of a mobile command center vehicle (not to exceed $418,980.16, including a 15% contingency). The Commission approved the allocation. (Resolution 9c; approved.)
- A separate resolution authorizing the purchase and fabrication of a mobile command center vehicle from Fly Motion Inc. for up to $418,980.16 (to be funded from the authorized DOJ forfeiture allocation). (Resolution 9d; approved.)
- Amendments to the police department’s master services agreement with Axon Enterprises to expand the drone-as-first-responder program, add two drones and implement a counter-drone detection system; the five-year financing and capital plan were described in the packet. (Resolution 9e; approved.)
- Purchase of a virtual reality training system from Axon (or under the Azon procurement path outlined in the agenda) intended to give officers immersive scenario-based training, including autism-encounter modules and discretionary-shooting scenarios. The Commission approved the purchase; funding was identified in the FY2025–26 CIP pending final budget approval. (Resolution 9f; approved.)
- Purchase to expand the department’s hyperwall visual-data system for situational awareness and incident coordination. (Resolution 9g; approved.)
- Authorization to continue school crossing guard services through Waterfield (doing business as Waterfield Staffing) for deployment of 13 crossing guards and a supervisor via piggyback agreement. (Resolution 9h; approved.)
- Ratification of the purchase of two Harley-Davidson police motorcycles originally ordered in Dec. 2024; the final cost rose to $53,876.42 and the Commission ratified the purchase. (Resolution 9i; approved.)
How they were procured and paid: the department explained multiple cooperative procurement vehicles were used (Sourcewell, GSA, piggyback contracts and cooperative bids led by other jurisdictions). The mobile command center and many equipment purchases were designated to be funded from DOJ forfeiture funds; other systems were budgeted in FY2025–26 capital projects or procured under existing contracts.
Several commissioners and the chief described these purchases as investments in officer safety, school safety and tactical readiness. A commissioner clarified that forfeiture funds are monies seized through federal forfeiture processes and are not general-tax revenues; the chief confirmed that seized funds are used for law-enforcement equipment and programs.
Public comment at the police items was limited and supportive; speakers congratulated the department and recommended programs to continue. The packet contains vendor names, contract terms and contingency amounts for the items approved.
Votes at a glance: each listed resolution was moved, seconded and approved during the meeting by voice or roll call, with no recorded “no” votes on these public-safety items.
What’s next: staff will finalize vendor agreements, begin procurement steps under the cooperative contracts and schedule deliveries and installations as each vendor’s lead time and contingencies allow. The SRO funding and mobile command center purchases will proceed under the DOJ forfeiture allocation authorized by the Commission.
