Crestview approves immediate replacement of city hall security cameras, waives competitive-quote rule

Council approved an immediate purchase and integration of a city-owned security camera system for City Hall and associated departments, after staff reported service outages and poor local support following Brink's acquisition of Cox Business Security Solutions.

Staff explained the city had been migrating from leased Cox cameras to an independent system the city owns for higher video quality and easier access to footage. After the vendor acquisition, Brinks told staff there were no local service technicians and required equipment upgrades to restore service.

To expedite restoration of security coverage and integrate the system with other city camera systems, staff requested a waiver of the purchasing policy requiring three quotes for purchases greater than $7,500. Staff said a deposit issue had been resolved and that project costs would be split across affected departments to reduce the impact on any single fund.

Mayor Pro Tem Capps and other council members said rapid action was important, noting an absence of working cameras created a public-safety vulnerability: “...we just announced to the world we have no working security cameras around here,” one member said. The motion to approve the purchase and to waive the purchasing policy was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Capps, seconded by Councilman Hayes and passed with two votes in favor and Councilman Frost recorded in opposition.

Staff said a lower, updated quote was received that afternoon and that the departments would split costs proportionally; specific contract details were attached to staff reports.