San Marcos City Council Postpones Change In Service Agreement For Police Video Project

Corridor Staff

On Tuesday, the San Marcos City Council postponed the consideration of a Change in Service to an agreement with Axon Enterprises Inc. relating to the Police Video Upgrade Project.

The change in service was to increase the contract in the amount of $180,002.01 for additional equipment and annual software maintenance, and hosting and plan fees.

According to the agenda, the Council awarded a contract with Taser International Inc, which later became Axon Enterprises Inc., to support the police video upgrade project in June 2016; the amount of the original contract was $1,162,862.77.

Councilmember Maxfield Baker pulled the item from the consent agenda expressing concerns related to the company’s services.

Baker said he was uncomfortable with the item, and that a quick google search revealed a lot of frustrating information about the company and their website, Evidence.com.

“There are concerns from defense attorneys about the use requirements that they are required to accept in order to retrieve their clients video footage,” Baker said. “There are concerns about the terms of agreement you have to subject yourself and your client to.”

Director of Public Safety, Chase Stapp, said the streamlined defense attorneys’ ability to access body camera footage and video footage related to their client’s case.

While the District Attorney’s office received several concerns in the beginning, everyone has come on board with the services the company provides, and it’s role in streamlining the office’s data-sharing processes, according to Stapp.

“I understand the statements made about Axon being a sort of proprietary take over the industry kind of company,” Stapp said. “Axon has done this by providing useful equipment. The system brings all case videos together in one nice package.”

Mayor Jane Hughson noted that information Baker had provided to the council was dated 2017 and said they could hope that things had improved over the years to address attorneys’ concerns.

Michael Cosentino, City Attorney, said he couldn’t comment on the language in the contract as the council was considering a change in service and not a full contract.

According to Stapp, the council will be able to review and consider the contract in September when it is brought back for renewal.

Councilmember Saul Gonzales proposed postponing the amendment to allow Cosentino and staff an opportunity to review the original contract.

Stapp noted that if the city lost the contract, they would be losing most of their video recording including the interview room, body camera, and vehicle cameras.

Axon Enterprises Inc. provides the police department’s video equipment as well as digital evidence storage for footage. 

The council voted 4-3 to postpone with council members Mark Rockeymoore and Ed Mihalkanin and Hughson voting against.