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Traffic cameras inch forward
Arizona company, KPD to brief City Council workshop today
By HAYES HICKMAN, [email protected]
July 28, 2005
A city-appointed selection committee has chosen Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Redflex Traffic Systems for exclusive contract negotiations to install an automated camera system to catch Knoxville's red-light-running drivers.
A presentation on how the technology works will be made today at a City Council workshop by the Knoxville Police Department and a Redflex representative.
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Police officials presented the concept of the automated camera enforcement system to council members in January. City officials have not revealed the identities of the committee members who picked Redflex over five other companies.
The city does not have a proposed contract with Reflex for council's review yet, said KPD Deputy Chief Don Green, who is spearheading the project.
"We've only presented the idea," Green explained. "This is about the technology and how it will be used in the city and what this particular vendor can deliver."
A final contract is expected for council's consideration at its Aug. 16 meeting.
"This (workshop) isn't a decision-making point," Green said. "This is information sharing. Later on will be the time to talk about whether or not the public wants it."
Green, however, refused Wednesday to explain the basis for the selection of Reflex's proposal, which was chosen from among six bids received in May.
Details of the six proposals also have been kept private.
City spokeswoman Amy Nolan said a city ordinance allows for such terms of confidentiality during the request-for-proposals process.
She cited that same basis Wednesday for refusing to release the names of the selection committee members who chose Reflex.
"None of the information about the proposals or the evaluation committee will be released until after the contract is awarded," Nolan said.
Such discretion, she explained, partly is intended to prevent a bidding company from improperly lobbying any selection committee member.
The city has chosen to release such information during other ongoing city request-for-proposals processes, such as the redevelopment of several World's Fair Park properties and the selection of a planning company to draft a South Knoxville waterfront redevelopment plan.
"We have chosen, in a few select cases, to make the information public," Nolan said. "But as a matter of policy, we do not."
Today's workshop, Green said, will focus on how offenders' images are captured by the red-light cameras, how the digitally recorded images are reviewed for confirmation, how traffic citations would be issued and how any revenue fines to the city would be used.
The presentation will not include any possible revenue-sharing agreements between the city and Reflex, he added. Such an agreement is still to be negotiated by staff members of the city's Law, and Finance and Accountability departments.
The city's RFP for the cameras, issued in April, requested a digital-only photo system to be installed, operated and maintained entirely by a private vendor at no cost to the city.
Also requested were various pricing scenarios, including the cost to the city to own and operate the system.
One KPD officer would be assigned to review each offense before a $50 ticket is issued to the address of the vehicle's registered owner, Green explained.
According to the company's Web site, Reflex has operating contracts with 71 cities in 10 countries. It is the largest provider of digital photo enforcement services in North America, including 56 cities and towns in 11 states.
Hayes Hickman may be reached at 865-342-6323.
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