The Virginian-Pilot
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NORFOLK
The city's plans to install surveillance cameras in all 15 downtown parking garages have hit a snag.
Officials expected bids to install the cameras to come in at around $1.4 million. Instead, the bids were all at $3 million or more, Assistant City Manager Stanley A. Stein said.
The installation of cameras has been delayed indefinitely while city officials figure out what do to.
The cameras were requested by City Council members Theresa Whibley and Barclay C. Winn after a series of car break-ins last year. A deadly shooting in March in the Waterside parking garage heightened security concerns.
"We're not sure what we're going to do at this point," Stein said.
Kevin Murphy, head of the Downtown Civic League, said the cameras are "a big priority for our civic league." Many civic league members who live in downtown condominiums park in the garages.
City leaders had planned to tap the parking budget to pay for the cameras. But City Manager Regina V.K. Williams told the council recently that parking revenue barely is paying for debt service and to operate and maintain the garages.
The city's 15 garages range in size from four stories to eight. More than 100 cameras were planned to improve security.
Winn said that perhaps the cameras should be installed in stages. He also suggested pulling money from the capital improvements budget, which the city uses to borrow money to pay for construction projects.
Because of the recession and a drop in construction prices, bids for a new police precinct came in $2 million lower than estimated, Winn said.
"Perhaps we could take some of the money we saved on that and other projects and use it for the cameras," he said.
"Clearly, we've got to do something. This is a huge issue. People need to feel safe walking into our parking garages."
Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com
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Who goes to Norfolk?
All the security cameras in the world are not going to change the fact it is Norfolk. Who goes to Norfolk anyways other than those who have bought into living in downtown, the rich people? Virginia Beach offers so much more in a much safer environment. You place yourself in an area known for being dangerous and you increase the odds of being hurt or even worse. All a camera is going to do is be after the fact, after something happens.
An Idea
I have an idea which I know contractors won't necessarily like because it's not really profit friendly, but I prefer to look out for the interest of the people actually paying for this, i.e. Norfolk taxpayers. Why doesn't the city but the job out there with all requirements and job specifications (to include set suspense dates), as well as the FINAL price tag of what the city will pay (and not one penny more), and tell these contractors to take it or leave it. If the inspector passes their work, they get paid. If not, redo it or don't get paid. If these contractors are looking for some easy money and work during these hard economic times, they'll entertain the city. If not, like someone else said, let the people already on payroll do it (which I don't know why Norfolk doesn't do that anyways... well, I do know why, but that's a different story all together)...If the city is going to spend the money regardless, at least let this one be to the constituents' favor.
Cameras
Did this go out as an RFP on the Norfolk Purchasing website? Or did this simply get handed to three or so 'Good Old Boy' contractors for pricing?
WHAT WERE THE REQUIREMENTS
for the installation? From the perspective of a long-time government contractor who has done security camera installations one of two things occurred; either the analysis of the expected cost was flawed (obvious when you consider the source), or the RFQ was so poorly written that the bidders sought to protect themselves financially by "going high", especially if they took a look at the garages and decided that there was a lot of risk associated with the job.
Request for Quote
I thought the same thing as I read the article. I bet the RFQ was vague enough to bankrupt any contractor that didn't bid high to cover himself.
Cameras
No they dont have cameras in any of the garages. Yes its expensive, but can you really put a price tag on safety and security?? I guess they did and that why its in a holding pattern.
AND...for all you "family friendly" "family environment" people, how about that store with all the womens panties hanging?? Im pretty laid back, but I have to say that was a bit much. There were all sorts of styles. Yeah I liked it, but I dont think I want my 12 year old daughter seeing all that. Oh wait, I dont have a 12 yr old daughter, she only 11 months.
Well.........
Since Norfolk has cleaned up all of downtown by closing the only 2 bars that cause trouble and attract problem people it should be safe now. And how about this thought, have those guys they pay to prevent crime called cops actually patrol the area.
The two bars in waterside
The two bars in waterside are not the only two bars causing problems downtown. What about Club Reign, or whatever it is called now on bank street? The police are stationed in front of the bar because of the number of problems its patrons cause. Couple of years ago a girl got her eye gouged out by another women's shoe. There are shots fired in the adjacent garage often.
City Employees.
Why not use the people you already employ? What are they for? What do they do? If the electricians you have on the payroll cannot install something as easy as a camera system then you need to fire and hire.
Are there already security
Are there already security cameras in the parking garages? Are the new cameras in addition to the present system? Did someone see this as a chance to tear out all existing equipment and upgrade to the newest equipment. It would seem that the monitoring equipment and rooms should already be in every parking garage with the new cameras tying into existing infrastructure. The RFQ would be interesting to see on this.