Fontana City Council Approves More Flock Cameras

New Flock Safety cameras were installed around Labor Day weekend near 34.164957778757206, -117.46610214042967, with new roadside signs on both sides of the road. The photos above document that local installation.

That installation is part of a larger automated license-plate-reader buildout in Fontana. In File 21-3479, Fontana police staff asked the City Council to authorize a 60-month Flock Safety ALPR purchase using the city's non-competitive single-source/sole-source purchasing method. The same staff report requested approval for $642,750.00 in Flock equipment and software, and said Council had already approved 15 Flock cameras in April 2024. [1]

The staff report says Flock cameras are not ordinary traffic cameras. It describes the system as automated license-plate recognition equipment with LTE connectivity, unlimited 30-day data storage, machine-vision services, software updates, solar panels, mounting equipment, and alerts from databases including California SVS, NCIC, FBI-related data, and local agencies. [1]

The authorization is broad. Staff asked Council to approve additional Flock ALPR cameras "as needed" as Fontana expands and wherever law enforcement determines the cameras are appropriate for safety. [1]

The Flock order form attached to the city record gives the purchase details behind that request: 60-month initial term, 60-month renewal term, 30-day retention period, 25 Flock Safety Falcon cameras, 10 Flock Safety Falcon LR cameras, and $642,750.00 total contract due at signing. [2]

Flock is not Fontana's only ALPR system. File 21-3479 says Fontana already had Vigilant and Flock ALPR systems. A later Motorola item, File 26-0770, says Vigilant Solutions, now Motorola, was awarded a 2017 contract to install ALPR cameras in Fontana and that older Phase One and Phase Two cameras needed replacement because of environmental damage and support ending after March 2026. [1] [3]

The Motorola item requested approval for $1,052,673.97 to upgrade, install, and service the License Plate Camera Project. The staff report says those cameras are designed for multi-lane intersections and can capture multiple lanes of traffic, and that the quote includes camera hardware, extended warranties, licensing fees, and related items. [3] [5]

The non-competitive source-selection justification is especially important. In the Motorola LPR justification document, city staff described the proposed procurement as a non-competitive source selection and explained that the existing Vigilant/Motorola infrastructure and system design made Motorola a sole-source solution for that part of the ALPR network. [4]

Fontana's FY 2026/27 supplemental budget materials also show continued police technology spending from Federal Seizure DOJ funds. The budget report lists a CAD/RMS software project funded from the Federal Seizure DOJ Fund; the Legistar budget item is the public agenda record connected to that supplemental budget action. [6] [7]

The local story is larger than a few new cameras on one road. Fontana records show a citywide ALPR infrastructure involving at least two systems, ongoing hardware replacement, software and licensing costs, source-selection decisions, and database-connected vehicle tracking.

That leaves the central public question: Did Fontana really file a non-compete clause when this technology is not advanced enough to warrant a non-compete?

Sources:
[1] Fontana Legistar File 21-3479, Flock ALPR staff report and attachments: https://fontana.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?GUID=E6A86E75-324C-4292-A25A-DF9983C16C99&ID=7039163&Options=&Search=
[2] Fontana x Flock Safety ContractQuote order form PDF: /local-news/media/2026/09/fontana-flock-order-form-2024.pdf
[3] Fontana Legistar File 26-0770, Motorola ALPR staff report and attachments: https://fontana.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?GUID=4112BB48-4457-4B9F-A0E5-0B676BD7C6B2&ID=7922556&Options=&Search=
[4] Motorola LPR non-competitive source selection justification PDF: /local-news/media/2026/09/fontana-motorola-lpr-non-competitive-source-justification-2026.pdf
[5] Motorola Quote 3448566-4 PDF: /local-news/media/2026/09/fontana-motorola-quote-3448566-4-2026.pdf
[6] Fontana FY 2026/27 Supplemental Budget Report PDF: /local-news/media/2026/09/fontana-fy26-27-supplemental-budget-report.pdf
[7] Fontana Legistar File 26-1033, FY 2026/27 supplemental budget agenda item: https://fontana.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?GUID=94F58331-577A-43FF-A49C-56ACB3AB9325&ID=8058084&Options=&Search=

Related piggyback-purchase documents:
Santa Monica Flock award staff report PDF: /local-news/media/2026/09/santa-monica-flock-award-staff-report-2024.pdf
Santa Monica ALPR RFP PDF: /local-news/media/2026/09/santa-monica-alpr-rfp-2024.pdf