Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Department of Public Safety to enter into contract with MobilePD for the provision of the MobilePD smartphone application.
The MobilePD smartphone application will serve as a central location where members of the Columbus community can engage with the Columbus Police Department through their Android and iOS devices. This application will allow end users to submit anonymous crime stopper tips, receive public safety alerts, view public safety maps, and have access to centralized Columbus Police information and resources. The application also allows live two-way chatting with police personnel, social media integration, push notifications, phone directory integration, and end-user to upload photos and videos
The smartphone application will provide a platform for the Columbus community to serve as the city’s eyes and ears. In other cities where MobilePD has been implemented, it has served as a force multiplier wherein adoption of this application has produced a 1,000% increase in crime tips. In addition, the smartphone application can serve as a recruiting tool for the Columbus Police Department and allow potential candidates to receive immediate notification and respond directly to police personnel.
This contract is authorized under the sole source procurement provisions of Columbus City Code, as MobilePD is the only authorized distributor of the MobilePD smartphone application.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Public Safety Initiatives subfund and the general fund.
Emergency action is requested in order to avoid any delay in entering into contract with MobilePD.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into contract with MobilePD for the provision of the MobilePD smartphone application in accordance with the sole source procurement provisions of Columbus City Code; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Public Safety Initiatives subfund; to authorize an appropriation in the general fund; and to declare an emergency. ($72,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the MobilePD smartphone application will serve as a central location where members of the Columbus community can engage with the Columbus Police Department through their Android and iOS devices; and
WHEREAS, the application will allow end users to submit anonymous crime stopper tips, receive public safety alerts, view public safety maps, and have access to centralized Columbus Police information and resources; and
WHEREAS, in other cities where MobilePD has been implemented, it has served as a force multiplier wherein adoption of this application has produced a substantial increase in crime tips; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Safety in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a contract with MobilePD to avoid any delay in implementation of the application; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Public Safety is hereby authorized and directed to enter into contract with MobilePD for the provision of the MobilePD smartphone applications.
SECTION 2. That said contract is entered into in accordance with the sole source provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $50,000.00 in the Public Safety Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100016, to the Department of Public Safety per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $50,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, is hereby authorized in the Public Safety Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100016 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $22,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, is hereby authorized in the general fund, fund 1000, subfund 100010 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared an emergency measure and shall take effect and be enforced from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.