Number
070132
Version
SUBSTITUTE 2
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. ZIELINSKI
Title
Substitute resolution reserving and appropriating $28,000 from the 2007 Common Council Contingent Fund for camera systems related to surveillance of graffiti vandalism and criminal activity.
Analysis
This resolution reserves and appropriates up to $28,000 from the 2007 Common Council Contingent Fund to the Department of Neighborhood Services’ Equipment Account to purchase up to 10 Tripwire camera systems for surveillance of graffiti vandalism and criminal activity.
Body
Whereas, Graffiti vandalism on public and privately owned buildings and structures costs the City of Milwaukee and its taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars each year; and
Whereas, Graffiti is not simply a costly maintenance problem, but a complex social problem as well, which devalues neighborhoods and business areas because it gives the appearance of lawlessness and rampant criminal activity; and
Whereas, Graffiti “tagging” by juveniles is often done with the primary objective being peer recognition; and
Whereas, In certain cases, graffiti is the product of gang activity, and is used to identify territories, indicate associations or conflicts between gang members, or promote the sale of illegal drugs; and
Whereas, Most graffiti vandalism occurs in the late-night or early morning hours, under cover of darkness, with no witnesses; and
Whereas, Surveillance cameras are widely used in many cities today for such purposes as monitoring government buildings for security purposes and even catching speeders; and
Whereas, “Intelligent surveillance systems” known as Tripwire cameras, or Technical Resource for Incident Prevention, can detect heat and motion within a designated perimeter, and within seconds capture an image of activity in the area; the image is then instantly transmitted to the operator’s base, cell phone, vehicle or server-based e-mail; and
Whereas, A person receiving the alert and the image of graffiti vandals in action from a Tripwire camera may utilize the information not only to identify and apprehend the perpetrators, but also trace them to other historical graffiti incidents on file; and
Whereas, The cost of a single Tripwire camera system is estimated to be approximately $2,800; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that a total of $28,000 be reserved and appropriated from the 2007 Common Council Contingent Fund (Account Number 0001 9990 C001 006300) to the Department of Neighborhood Services’ Equipment Account (Number 0001 1320 R999 006800) for the purchase of up to 10 Tripwire camera systems to be used for surveillance of graffiti vandalism and criminal activity; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Comptroller and the appropriate City officials are authorized and directed to take whatever steps are necessary to fulfill the intent of this resolution.
Requestor
Drafter
mcw-lrb
LRB07217-3
05/22/07