* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmembers Costello and Pinkett, President Young
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Informational Hearing - Coordination of CitiWatch with ATVES and DAS Installations
For the purpose of calling on representatives from the Department of Transportation, the Baltimore Police Department, Baltimore City Information Technology, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, the Department of Finance, the Office of Real Estate, the Department of Planning, and the Mayor’s Office of Sustainable Solutions to appear before the Council to testify on how DAS and ATVES installations can ease the burden of cost of installation of additional CitiWatch cameras.
body
Recitals
In 2015, Baltimore City signed a 10-year deal with Crown Castle LLC to equip the City with small cell systems. The goal was to enhance the existing wireless infrastructure in the City so as to satisfy the City’s growing demand for mobile data. Citizens, workers, and tourists alike rely increasingly on the data in their handheld devices for directions, communications, and entertainment. They also use this data to report problems to 311 and 911.
Crown Castle’s method for efficiently implementing this new technology in Baltimore has relied on the utilization of existing infrastructure. The company has installed low-powered antennae, called “nodes,” on street signs, streetlights, and utility poles. These nodes connect to fiber optic cable and handle large amounts of data at high speeds. At the same time, they blend into their surroundings and preserve the aesthetics of the built environment.
The Baltimore City Department of Transportation has also implemented an “Automatic Traffic Violation Enforcement System,” (ATVES) to enable the City to enforce traffic laws consistently. This enhanced enforcement will modify driver behavior, reduce crashes, and improve safety. These ATVES cameras will also connect to fiber optic cable and utilize existing City-owned infrastructure as much as possible.
The Mayor considers violence reduction another key priority, and has continued the use of the CitiWatch program, a public-private partnership that enables business owners and residents to aid the Baltimore Police Department by sharing important information. Those who participate in the program add the footage from their privately-owned cameras to the footage from City-owned police cameras. This compilation of information helps the BPD solve crimes while saving police - and taxpayer - resources.
Given the fact that all of these systems make use of City-owned infrastructure and rely on fiber-optic cable to operate, the City can save money by coordinating DAS installations, ATVES installations, and CitiWatch camera installations.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That the Council calls on representatives from the Department of Transportation, the Baltimore Police Department, Baltimore City Information Technology, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, the Department of Finance, the Office of Real Estate, the Department of Planning, and the Mayor’s Office of Sustainable Solutions to appear before the Council to testify on how DAS and ATVES installations can ease the burden of cost of installation of additional CitiWatch cameras.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Director of Transportation, the Police Commissioner, the Chief Digital Officer, the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, the Finance Director, the Director of Real Estate, the Director of Planning, the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainable Solutions, and the Mayor’s and the Comptroller’s Legislative Liaisons to the City Council.