Response to Request for Information No. 1 - RFP for Citywide Surveillance Camera System

CITYWIDE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM
PROPOSAL NO. PS-2026-01
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION NO. 1
RFI RFI Response
NO.
Page 5, Section 10: Proposal Instructions, Bonds: Do you anticipate that the City will Bonds will not be required for this project.
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deem this necessary?
2 Can I get a copy of the sign-in sheet? Yes. Sign-in sheet is attached.
Will the city be providing the areas of coverage they want to see based on the camera No.
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counts provided specifically for the parks?
Will the city be providing locations for cameras in the park areas so everyone bidding No.
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can provide the same coverage areas?
For the camera locations that will require solar panels, what length of time for battery Proposers should design solar-powered camera systems to provide
backup is required? reliable 24/7 operation under typical conditions and maximize
system uptime.
5 Battery capacity should be appropriately sized to support operation
during periods of low or no solar generation. Proposers should
specify expected battery autonomy under worst-case conditions.
Does the city currently have a cellular plan they will be using for the remote camera No.
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locations that do not have network access?
At Thompson Park it was stated that there is no IDF but then stated there is a switch in Yes. There is direct connection between the IDF at Thompson Park
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the attic. Is there a pathway between the main building and the pool building? office to the Aquatic Center via a switch in the attic.
What is the video storage retention requirements? (30, 60, 90, 365 Days). The required video retention period for this project is 365 days.
8 This requirement supersedes the retention period referenced in the
original RFP. Proposers shall base their solutions and pricing on a
minimum of 365 days of video storage.
What is the requirement for licensing? (1,3,5,7,10 Years). The minimum required licensing term is three years.
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Proposers may include optional pricing for extended licensing terms
(e.g., 5 years or longer) for the City's consideration.
During the site visit, it was mentioned that all data serving the aquatic center originates There is direct connection between the IDF at Thompson Park
10 from the Administration Building. Could you please confirm the source of the data office to the Aquatic Center via a switch in the attic.
signal for the aquatic center?
Is there an intermediate switch located within the aquatic center, or does the There is a switch in the attic.
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Administration Building serve as the sole source of connectivity?
12 Please provide security intent at Parks (coverage only, theft, vandalism, gangs etc). Coverage only.
Please provide security intent at facilities (coverage only, theft, vandalism, gangs etc). Coverage only.
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CITYWIDE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM
PROPOSAL NO. PS-2026-01
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION NO. 1
RFI RFI Response
NO.
Please list any areas that must be covered at facilities and Parks. None. Proposed coverage areas should include areas already covered
14 with existing cameras, please note existing cameras will not be
integrated into new solution.
Please list if any facilities that do not need internet access where vendor can use city City Hall, Public Works Yard, Simms Park, Thompson Park, and
15 provided internet? Caruthers Park (building facilities only, excluding surrounding areas
or detached facilities), and Parking Structure.
16 Please list if any facilities that vendors can reuse existing networking etc. Only the Parking Structure networking cabling can be reused.
17 Do the cameras need to be NDAA compliant. Yes.
Can there be hardware on prem to facilitate cloud access and work as buffer during No.
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outages etc.
Will the city be providing the switches or does the vendor need to provide the switches. Vendor to provide switches.
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20 Does the city want om prem server in addition to cloud for data sovereignty? No.
Can the City confirm whether all listed locations in Section 7 are in-scope for initial Contingent on budget.
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deployment or contingent on budget approval?
22 Is there an estimated total camera count expected for Phase 1 vs future expansion? No.
Are there any priority sites or critical infrastructure locations that should be deployed City Hall, Public Works Yard, Simms Park, Thompson Park,
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first? Caruthers Park, and Parking structure.
24 Will the City provide existing site drawings, network diagrams, or GIS data? No.
The sites that we did not walk, ten in total, do they have a network service at each site? No.
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26 Which sites need cellular services? All areas where cable networking is not feaseable to run.
Is there a preferred cabling manufacturer for this project? No manufacturer preference, but should be not lower than Cat6
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category. Shielded and/or weather protected where needed.
28 Are contractor pricing sheets per site needed for this RFP response? Yes.
29 Are all existing switches in place for this project? No.
Can we install exposed conduit on exterior walls and light poles? If no other path is easily attainable, then yes with approval from City
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on a case by case basis.
Can the City provide details on existing cameras and systems to be integrated The City intends to deploy a new system and does not require
(manufacturer, model, protocols, age)? integration with any existing VMS platform.
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However, integration with existing cameras or infrastructure may be
evaluated where feasible. Proposers should identify any limitations
and provide recommendations.
Are there any existing VMS platforms currently in use that must be migrated or No.
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interfaced with?

CITYWIDE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM
PROPOSAL NO. PS-2026-01
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION NO. 1
RFI RFI Response
NO.
What is the current network infrastructure at each site (fiber, broadband, cellular Combination of fiber and broadband (excluding unsupervised
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availability)? facilities), no cellular.
34 Are there bandwidth limitations at any locations? Security camera vlan to be limited to 30 Mbps (or less).
35 Does the City have a preferred cloud provider, or is vendor-hosted acceptable? Major cloud providers preferred (i.e. AWS, Azure).
36 Are there any data residency or CJIS compliance requirements? US based.
Can the City clarify expectations around video storage scaling beyond 30 days? The required video retention period for this project is 365 days.
The system must be capable of scaling to support this retention
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period across all deployed cameras, as well as future expansion in
camera count and storage needs. Proposers shall base their
solutions and pricing on a minimum of 365 days of video storage.
Who is responsible for ongoing cloud storage costs? Should be included in total cost of ownership upfront when proposal
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is submitted.
What is the retention length required for this project? The required video retention period for this project is 365 days.
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Proposers may include optional pricing for extended archival
storage beyond this period for the City's consideration.
40 Will the City require third-party penetration testing? No.
Can the City provide details on Microsoft Entra ID configuration? City will provide configuration details for setting up SAML SSO and
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SCIM. Proposed platform must be compatible.
Are there additional SIEM or logging integration requirements? No additional, only included in the platform and whats listed in RFP.
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Does "no inbound firewall ports" imply a zero-trust requirement? Yes. The system must operate without requiring any inbound
firewall ports to be opened on the City's network.
All components must function using outbound-only connections
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initiated from within the City network. Solutions requiring port
forwarding, inbound NAT rules, or persistent inbound connections
from external systems are not acceptable.
What are the primary operational use cases for AI analytics? To provide searchable options for city to find specific incident based
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footage.
Are there restrictions regarding facial recognition or biometric analytics? Facial recognition or biometric analytics are not required as part of
this project.
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Proposers may include such capabilities as optional features;
however, their use would be subject to City policy and approval.

CITYWIDE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM
PROPOSAL NO. PS-2026-01
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION NO. 1
RFI RFI Response
NO.
46 What level of false positive tolerance is acceptable? Not applicable.
47 Will analytics be used for evidentiary purposes? No.
48 Can the City provide solar feasibility data (sun exposure, uptime requirements)? No.
49 Is there a preferred cellular carrier or 5G provider? No.
50 Should vendors include ongoing cellular data plans? Yes.
51 Is the pole circuit always hot or controlled by a photocell/timer? City has a combination of both.
What is the voltage available at the pole (120V / 208V / 277V)? There are numerous poles at the various locations with varying
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power outputs.
Can we tap power legally, or is a dedicated meter required? Power can be tapped from city facilities or poles as needed, no
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dedicated meter required.
54 What are the expected response protocols for monitoring services? Vendor to provide options for city to consider.
55 Will the City provide dispatch authority guidelines? No.
56 Are there liability expectations for false dispatches? No.
57 What integration is required with law enforcement systems? None.
58 Does the City have a target go-live date or phased rollout expectations? No.
Are there permitting or installation restrictions? No permitting restrictions, city must approve all installation
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locations.
60 What is the expected timeline for assessment, design, installation, and acceptance? Complete project must be completed by 2029.
What are expectations for training format and number of users? Virtual training is expected. total number of users will be no more
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than 20.
What are required support SLAs? Proposers must include support SLAs with 24/7 availability for
critical issues, defined response times (critical 1 hour), escalation
procedures, and uptime commitments (target 99.9%+ for cloud
services).
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Hardware replacement timelines (next business day preferred) must
be included. Proposers should also provide target resolution or
workaround timeframes for critical incidents and submit their
standard SLA documentation for evaluation.
Is 24/7 support required? Support is expected to be available 24/7 for critical system issues.
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Proposers should clearly define their support hours and escalation
procedures for non-critical issues.
64 What is the expected equipment lifecycle? 5 years.
65 Should vendors include hardware refresh plans? Yes, please include.
66 Are firmware updates included in base pricing? Yes, please include.

CITYWIDE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM
PROPOSAL NO. PS-2026-01
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION NO. 1
RFI RFI Response
NO.
Is there a maintenance requirement to quote for this project? Yes, please include ongoing system and hardware maintenance for
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locations.
Should pricing be CapEx, OpEx, or hybrid? The City is open to CapEx, OpEx, or hybrid pricing models.
Proposers should clearly identify their pricing structure and provide
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a detailed breakdown of all costs, including hardware, software
licensing, cloud services, installation, and ongoing support.
How should optional services be priced? Should be listed per location and per optional service for city to
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consider.
70 Are there budget constraints or target ranges? $800,000 in grant funding.
71 What is the anticipated cost for this project the city has in mind? Using grant funding in the amount of $800,000.
72 How will innovation vs cost be weighed? Please refer to proposal evaluation grading listed in RFP.
Will there be a product demo or proof-of-concept? A product demonstration or proof-of-concept is not required as part
of the initial proposal submission.
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However, the City may request demonstrations, interviews, or
system validation from shortlisted proposers as part of the
evaluation process.
74 Are there negotiable terms in the sample agreement? No.
75 Will the City accept exceptions to insurance requirements? Yes, depending on what exception is being requested.
Who owns derived data and analytics outputs? All video data, metadata, and any derived data or analytics outputs
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generated by the system shall be the sole property of the City.
Please provide complete and current documentation of existing network infrastructure, Detailed network documentation, including bandwidth capacity per
including bandwidth capacity, for all proposed locations. location, is not available.
Proposers should assume that the security camera network will
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operate within a constrained environment and design accordingly.
The security camera VLAN should not exceed 30 Mbps (or less)
where applicable.
Please provide all available site drawings, as-built drawings, and mapping information No documents are available.
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beyond Exhibit F necessary to support accurate system design and pricing.
Please confirm whether locations identified as "desired expansion goals" are to be Should be included in base scope of work.
79 included in the base scope of work or treated as separately priced optional/phased
components.

CITYWIDE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM
PROPOSAL NO. PS-2026-01
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION NO. 1
RFI RFI Response
NO.
Please define future integration points with existing surveillance and public safety The City intends to deploy a new system; however, integration with
systems, including applicable interfaces, protocols, and performance expectations. existing cameras and systems should be evaluated where feasible.
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The proposed solution must also support future integration with
access control and other security systems within a unified platform.
Please confirm whether locations identified as "desired expansion goals" are to be Should be included in base scope of work.
81 included in the base scope of work or treated as separately priced optional/phased
components.
Please confirm whether locations identified as "desired expansion goals" are to be Should be included in base scope of work.
82 included in the base scope of work or treated as separately priced optional/phased
components.
Please define minimum performance requirements for all deployments with limited 99.9% or better uptime.
83 power or connectivity, including uptime, redundancy, and acceptable service levels for
solar or wireless solutions.
Please confirm any restrictions, limitations, or prohibitions related to advanced analytics City would like to see options for advanced analytics, but will not
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(including facial recognition). need facial recognition.
Please provide the required commencement timeline following contract award, Only timeline is project must be completed by 2029.
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including any milestone constraints.
Please identify all priority locations and required sequencing for phased deployment. Priority locations are City Hall, Public Works Yard, Simms Park,
86 Thompson Park, and Caruthers Park. No sequencing of locations
is needed, priority sites must be completed by 2029.
Please confirm the required pricing structure for subscription-based services in the Yearly charge for subscription services is preferred.
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mandated format.
Please confirm that all optional services (including monitoring and analytics) are to be Yes.
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separately itemized and clearly distinguished from base scope costs.
Please define required service level agreements, including uptime guarantees, Proposers must include support SLAs with 24/7 availability for
maintenance requirements, and response/resolution time expectations. critical issues, defined response times (critical 1 hour), escalation
procedures, and uptime commitments (target 99.9%+ for cloud
services).
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Hardware replacement timelines (next business day preferred) must
be included. Proposers should also provide target resolution or
workaround timeframes for critical incidents and submit their
standard SLA documentation for evaluation.

CITYWIDE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM
PROPOSAL NO. PS-2026-01
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION NO. 1
RFI RFI Response
NO.
Please confirm the required support delivery model, including any mandatory on-site Proposers must include support SLAs with 24/7 availability for
support requirements versus acceptable remote support provisions. critical issues, defined response times (critical 1 hour), escalation
procedures, and uptime commitments (target 99.9%+ for cloud
services).
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Hardware replacement timelines (next business day preferred) must
be included. Proposers should also provide target resolution or
workaround timeframes for critical incidents and submit their
standard SLA documentation for evaluation.
Please confirm whether shortlisted vendors will be required to participate in interviews, Yes, if desired by the city.
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demonstrations, or system validation processes.
What core features are required (live view, playback, search, export, audit logs)? Core system features shall include, at a minimum, live viewing,
video playback, search and filtering capabilities, video export, and
audit logging.
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Proposers should refer to the RFP for additional functional and
system requirements and include any enhanced capabilities as part
of their proposal.
Are open APIs required for third party integrations? Yes. The proposed solution must support open and standard
integration methods, including APIs (such as REST) and webhooks,
to enable third-party integrations.
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Solutions must provide sufficient integration capabilities and must
not restrict the City's ability to integrate with external systems.
What is the desired video retention period per camera type? The required video retention period is 365 days for all camera types.
94 Proposers shall base their solutions and pricing on a minimum of
365 days of video storage.
95 Do you have a preference to where and how data is stored? Secured and redundant cloud.
How are you currently protecting your servers? The City does not currently maintain on-premises video storage
96 infrastructure as part of this project. Security responsibilities for
cloud-hosted systems should be defined by the proposer.
Is data expected to scale over time, and what growth rate should be assumed? Yes, the City expects data storage to scale over time as additional
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cameras, locations, and retention needs expand.

CITYWIDE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM
PROPOSAL NO. PS-2026-01
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION NO. 1
RFI RFI Response
NO.
What network types are available (fiber, wireless, LTE/5G, municipal Wi Fi)? Do you Existing network infrastructure varies by location and includes a
use Netos? combination of fiber and broadband connectivity at certain facilities.
98 At locations where wired connectivity is not available or feasible,
proposers should include wireless or cellular solutions as part of
their design. The City does not utilize Netos.
99 Are there bandwidth constraints or QoS requirements? Security camera vlan to be limited to 30 Mbps (or less).
100 What switches are in use (make/model, PoE capabilities, are there available ports)? Vendor to provide switches for cameras.
101 Are there any bandwidth limits or backhaul constraints (wireless, low speed links)? Security camera vlan to be limited to 30 Mbps (or less).
102 Do you want to implement network segmentation? Security cameras will be on separate vlan.
103 Are there public transparency or privacy impact assessment obligations? No.
104 How are software updates, patches, and firmware handled? Scheduled OTA delivery.
105 Are spare parts, replacements, and lifecycle management required? Part replacement within warranty period.
Where do people congregate or linger (benches, central lawn, dog staging area, plaza No specific congregation issues at locations.
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center)?
107 Which features are most at risk (fences, art installations, planters, small structures)? No specific features.
108 May we get access to blueprints and/or building drawings, schematics. None are available in relation to this project.
109 Can the customer provide any drawings of city hall? No current floor plan is available.
110 Can the customer provide any drawings for all site locations with IDF locations? Not available.
111 What is your expected budget for this project? $800,000 in grant funding.
112 Are you using a state or government funding source for this project? Federal grant.
113 What is the expected completion date? The end of 2029.
114 Are there any liquidated damages? Please refer to sample agreement and insurance requirements.
115 Can we utilize local power from utility poles at the various sites where possible? Yes, existing power on city property can be utilized.
Are there any DVBE requirements or credits offered for utilizing this pricing model for No.
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this RFP?
117 Does the city have a 10Gig Network / fiber distribution city wide? No.
Does the city have a centralized Emergency Operations Center where they are No.
118 currently viewing or plan to view the City-Wide Video Surveillance System? Is there a
location that will be set up for this in the event the city does not have a designated
location?
Will there be other agencies involved like LASD or the local PD who would need access No.
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to these cameras?
As for the additional request for Active (live) or Remote Video Monitoring, is there also No.
120 the request to have the central station report / dispatch Police and or Fire Rescue?

CITYWIDE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM
PROPOSAL NO. PS-2026-01
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION NO. 1
RFI RFI Response
NO.
Does the city want to have an extended service agreement included with the proposal Please include this as a separate line item in the proposal.
121 that would extend the manufacturer's warranty beyond 1-5 years from the time the
items are placed into service.
For some of the larger or longer distance parks like Somerset, has the city considered No.
122
the use of Emergency Call Stations [Code Blue].
Can bidders submit proposals for specific buildings only, or is a bid required for the Yes, vendors can bid on specific buildings only and not the entire
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entire project? project.
124 Is there a preferred or required brand of network switches? NDAA compliant.
Several locations appear to have limited power availability. Is it permissible for the City If power is available on existing light poles, city is open to having
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to provide power via existing light poles? these poles used for equipment.
126 Indicate whether License Plate Recognition (LPR) is required at any location. No.
127 If applicable, please identify the locations where LPR is required. Not applicable.
128 Indicate whether Facial Recognition is required. No.
Provide the required video retention period (in days). The required video retention period is 365 days for all camera types.
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Proposers shall base their solutions and pricing on a minimum of
365 days of video storage.
130 Indicate whether recording should be continuous, motion-based, or both. Both.
Indicate whether network switches are included as part of this bid. If not, please confirm Proposers shall include all required network equipment as part of
131 that the City will provide PoE switches with sufficient available capacity. their proposal, including switches and Power over Ethernet (PoE)
switches.
Provide the internet service provider and the available bandwidth at each park site. Detailed information regarding internet service providers and
bandwidth availability per site is not available.
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Proposers should design their solutions to operate within a
constrained network environment, with the security camera VLAN
limited to approximately 30 Mbps (or less) where applicable.
If internet service is not available, please confirm whether the City will provide SIM No, vendor to provide all materials.
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cards for cellular connectivity.
134 If applicable, please provide the carrier used by the City. Not applicable.
Confirm whether staff or PD should have live viewing access to all park cameras from Yes, staff needs to have live viewing access.
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the main building.
Provide the number of locations requiring monitoring stations. Intent of project is to set up a web based system for staff to access,
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no specific monitoring stations.
137 Indicate whether a centralized 24/7 monitoring location with video wall is required. No.
138 Confirm whether cameras are permitted within pool areas (indoor and outdoor). Yes.

CITYWIDE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM
PROPOSAL NO. PS-2026-01
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION NO. 1
RFI RFI Response
NO.
If permitted, please confirm whether camera coverage in pool areas should be limited Yes.
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to doors and access points only.
At City Hall, please confirm whether there is accessible crawl space above the wood Space is availabe for cable runs only.
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soffit ceiling for cable routing.
If no accessible space is available, please confirm that cabling shall follow existing Yes.
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pathways and that camera locations may be adjusted based on these limitations.
Confirm whether a UPS is required to support camera through PoE switches for power No.
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stability and if yes, for how long.
If available, provide CAD layouts or floor plans indicating IDF/MDF locations for each Not available.
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building.
Confirm whether wireless point-to-point connectivity is acceptable for locations such as Yes, if properly secured.
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the Public Works maintenance yard.
Can Bellflower use facial matching to set up proactive alerts? (Facial matching as No facial matching or recognition is needed.
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opposed to facial recognition which we do not do).
My questions center around power and PW coordination at the sites with no power Yes, we can coordinate with Public Works to determine if power is
provisions. Mainly, where I located power on sites, would PW be able to collaborate in available at specific locations. Final approval and determination of
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providing a nearby pole (15' above grade to prevent vandalism) and 110 continuous power locations will be by Public Works.
power to that pole?
Riverview Park: Can either/both of the power boxes be tapped into for an on-site power Public Works will need to determine if feasible.
147 source if PW runs 110 power to a nearby 15' above grade 4" round pole (also supplied
and installed by PW)?
148 Riverview Park: Is this enclosed lot with a gate also part of Constitution Park? No, it is city owned by not part of the park property.
Friendship Square: All of the poles pictured below have receptacles. Can we use them City is open to using the poles already in place with Public Works
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on one or more? approval.
Pirate Park: Is there power available inside of this building? Yes, there is power on the northeast and southeast corners of the
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park.