Resolution 2019-30884 RESOLUTION NO.1 2019-30884
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY
MANAGER, WAIVING BY 5/7TH VOTE, THE FORMAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING
REQUIREMENTS, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2-367(E) OF THE CITY CODE,
FINDING SUCH WAIVER TO BE IN THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST, AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY TO NEGOTIATE
AN AGREEMENT(S) WITH AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. FOR THE PURCHASE OF
OFFICER SAFETY PLAN SUBSCRIPTIONS AND ADDITIONAL A LA CARTE
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, INCUDING BODY-WORN CAMERAS,
CONDUCTED ELECTRICAL WEAPONS, A VIDEO EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT
AND DISTRIBUTION PLATFORM, INTERVIEW ROOM HARDWARE AND
SOFTWARE, AND RELATED EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES; AND FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE AN
AGREEMENT(S) WITH AXON ENTERPRISE, INC., UPON CONCLUSION OF
SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS, IN THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT
APPROPRIATED ANNUALLY FOR THESE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
THROUGH THE CITY'S BUDGET PROCESS.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach Police Department ("Department"), as part of its
normal public safety operations, utilizes body-worn cameras ("BWC") and conducted electrical
weapons equipment as effective tools in conducting its routine operations, including fighting crime;
and
WHEREAS, the Department has successfully utilized conducted electrical weapons for
approximately eighteen (18) years; and
WHEREAS, the Department also successfully utilizes interview room recording hardware
and software, cloud data storage and distribution platform, artificial intelligence video redaction
tools, on-line and virtual reality training, compliance and auditing tools; and
WHEREAS, beginning in April, 2014, pursuant to Resolution 2014-28746, the Department
began a pilot program to evaluate the deployment and use of BWCs; and
WHEREAS, an additional (4) City departments, including Code Compliance, Parking,
Building, and Fire, also utilize BWCs for daily business operations; and
WHEREAS, a one-year phased agreement with four (4) one-year renewals was executed
with Axon (formerly Taser International); and
WHEREAS, this contract and all renewals have now run to conclusion and will expire on
September 28, 2019; and
WHEREAS, the Department seeks to continue receiving the products and services
provided by Axon; and
WHEREAS, all five (5) City departments currently desire to continue utilizing the above-
referenced BWC products and services in the furtherance of the City's strategic objectives; and
WHEREAS, the Department has conducted market research as to viable options capable of
integrating BWC, conducted electrical weapons equipment, interview room recording hardware and
software, digital evidence management platform, cloud data storage and distribution platform,
artificial intelligence video redaction tools, on-line and virtual reality training, compliance and
auditing tools; and
WHEREAS, the Department has determined that market options do not exist which would
allow the seamless integration of the many products and services currently utilized and required for
the Department's daily operations; and
WHEREAS, the Axon ecosystem is proven to be successfully capable with providing the
Department a single and reliable source of public safety equipment, services, and video evidence
collection; and
WHEREAS, upon further review and input from the Police Department, and with the
support of the four (4) respective user departments, the Administration has determined that the
City's public safety needs, multi-department equipment compatibility, and real-time logistics would
be best met by standardizing purchases to Axon brand products and services; and
WHEREAS, for the reasons stated herein, the City Manager recommends waiving, by a
5/7ths vote, the formal competitive bidding requirement, as permitted in Section 2-367(E) of the
City Code, as being in the best interest of the City; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2-391 of the City Code (which allows materials, supplies,
equipment and certain contractual services to be standardized), the City Manager recommends
negotiating an agreement(s) with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for the purchase of Officer Safety Plan
subscriptions and a la carte products and services including: BWCs, conducted electrical weapons,
a video evidence management and distribution platform, interview room hardware and software,
and related equipment and services.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City Commission
hereby accept the written recommendation of the City Manager and waive, by 5/7ths vote, the
formal competitive bidding requirement, in accordance with Section 2-367 of the City Code, finding
such waiver to be in the City's best interest, and authorize the City Manager and City Attorney to
negotiate an agreement(s) with Axon Enterprise, Inc., for purchase of Officer Safety Plan
subscriptions and a la carte products and services including: BWCs, conducted electrical weapons,
a video evidence management and distribution platform, interview room hardware and software,
and related equipment and services, for the purpose of standardizing the Axon Enterprise, Inc.
solution; and further authorize the City Manager and City Clerk to execute an agreement(s) with
Axon Enterprise, Inc. upon conclusion of successful negotiations, in the not to exceed amount
appropriated annually for these products and services through the City's budget process.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this )7 day of ,'y 2019.
Dan Gelber, Mayor
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Resolutions-C7 M
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: July 17, 2019
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE CITY MANAGER, WAIVING BY 5/7TH VOTE, THE FORMAL
COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENTS, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2-
367(E) OF THE CITY CODE, FINDING SUCH WAIVER TO BE IN THE
CITY'S BEST INTEREST, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND
CITY ATTORNEY TO NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT(S) WITH AXON
ENTERPRISE, INC. FOR THE PURCHASE OF OFFICER SAFETY PLAN
SUBSCRIPTIONS AND ADDITIONAL A LA CARTE PRODUCTS AND
SERVICES, INCLUDING BODY-WORN CAMERAS, CONDUCTED
ELECTRICAL WEAPONS, A VIDEO EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT AND
DISTRIBUTION PLATFORM, INTERVIEW ROOM HARDWARE AND
SOFTWARE, AND RELATED EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES; AND
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO
EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT(S) WITH AXON ENTERPRISE, INC., UPON
CONCLUSION OF SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS, IN THE NOT TO
EXCEED AMOUNT APPROPRIATED ANNUALLY FOR THESE PRODUCTS
AND SERVICES THROUGH THE CITY'S BUDGET PROCESS.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the Resolution
ANALYSIS
Beginning in April, 2014, the Miami Beach Police Department began a pilot program to evaluate
the deployment and use of body-worn cameras (BWC) (see Resolution 2014-28746). Initially,
the pilot program involved gradual deployment of BWC as policy and procedures were
developed and training was conducted. Several other City Departments, including Code
Compliance, Parking, Building, and Fire, also began to deploy BWC at the same time. Testing
and evaluation of products and vendors done at the time resulted in the selection of Taser
International to provide body camera products and services. They were uniquely positioned to
provide a capable, reliable, and scalable camera solution as well as cloud-based storage and
redaction system. In addition, Evidence.com video storage eliminated the need to expand in-
house enterprise data storage, at a significant cost savings to the City. A one-year phased
agreement with four (4) one-year renewals was executed. This contract and all renewals have
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now run to conclusion and will expire on 9/28/2019.
I n 2017, Taser International was rebranded and is now called Axon Enterprise, Inc., ("Axon").
Their business model has since evolved from basically selling devices to a service-oriented
model where they offer comprehensive subscription plans, called Officer Safety Plans, which
include BWCs, conducted electrical weapons, docks, replacement cartridges, interview room
recording hardware and software, the Evidence.com cloud data storage and distribution
platform, artificial intelligence video redaction tools, on-line and virtual reality training, compliance
and auditing tools, automatic hardware upgrades, and a comprehensive warranty and return
policy. In addition, they offer products and services a Ia carte for departments that do not need
full plans. Furthermore, the conducted electrical weapon (CEW) offered by Axon is the industry
standard in that sphere, along with the City's long- standing use of the product over the course
of approximately eighteen years (18)years of service.
The most important technological development in the BWC field has been the evolution of the
Evidence.com digital evidence management platform. This platform, which started as relatively
basic cloud storage, has become a highly-developed ecosystem for uploading, categorizing,
sharing, and managing the vast amounts of data generated by the Police Department's now full
deployment of cameras. Evidence.com has been continually upgraded and enhanced with
innovative tools that allow integrated redaction, categorizing, and automatic purging of records
pursuant to records retention guidelines. Thanks to adoption by the Miami-Dade County State
Attorney's Office, we are also able to directly share video and other evidence with prosecutors
from within the platform, eliminating the need to download large amounts of data to physical
media. This level of platform sophistication is unique to Axon and unprecedented in the
marketplace.
Market research has revealed that there is no single vendor able to provide the integration
available in the Axon ecosystem. Although there are products in the market that are able to
perform individual tasks as described in the previous paragraphs, it would take great resources,
time, effort and coordination to make all of them work together in a seamless manner. Changing
from our current provider would require all new equipment to be purchased and significant
administrative, infrastructure, and training resources to be expended in each of the five (5) City
Departments utilizing Axon products.
Representatives from each involved Department have determined that it would not be cost
effective or operationally beneficial to consider other vendors at this time. Further, it would be in
the interest of the City to standardize the purchase of Officer Safety Plan subscriptions
including: BWCs, conducted electrical weapons, a video evidence management and distribution
platform, interview room hardware and software, related equipment and services, and a Ia carte
equipment and services as needed citywide. The Departments are requesting that the City
Manager be authorized to negotiate an agreement(s) with Axon to serve the public safety and
video evidence collection and distribution needs of the City, as well as maximize any cost
savings available through the standardization process.
CONCLUSION
In consideration of the above, I recommend, pursuant to Section 2-391 of the City Code (which
allows materials, supplies, equipment, and certain contractual services to be standardized),
standardizing the City's BWC, conducted electrical weapon, and video evidence management
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platform to a single and consistent vendor, Axon Enterprise, Inc., in order to streamline and
simplify equipment acquisition, maintenance, training, repairs, and compatibility and to provide a
single video evidence management platform,thereby reducing operational costs while achieving
the City's overall public safety objectives. Further, I recommend negotiating directly with Axon
Enterprise, Inc., to arrive at terms, conditions, and pricing that is in the best interest of the City.
Based on the foregoing, I recommend that the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami
Beach, Florida, approve the Resolution waiving, by 517th vote, the formal competitive bidding
requirements, in accordance with Section 2-367 of the City Code, finding such waiver to be in
the City's best interest, and authorizing the City Manager and City Attorney to negotiate an
agreement(s) for purchase of Officer Safety Plan subscriptions and a la carte products and
services including: BWCs, conducted electrical weapons, a video evidence management and
distribution platform, interview room hardware and software, and related equipment and services
from Axon Enterprise, Inc., for the purpose of standardizing the Axon Enterprise, Inc. solution;
and further authorizing the City Manager and City Clerk to execute an agreement(s), upon
successful negotiations, in the not to exceed amount approved for these products and services
through the City's budgeting process annually.
KEY INTENDED OUTCOMES SUPPORTED
Insist On Police Department Accountability And Skilled Management/ Leadership
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Cost of the related services are subject to funds available and approved through the City's
budgeting process.
Legislative Tracking
Police
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
D Resolution for Axon Enterprises Inc.
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