Mesa City Council unanimously OKs Vera Mobility 18-month contract extension
By Terrance Thornton | Digital Free Press
Mesa City Council is moving forward with a continuation of the usage of photo radar technology on local roads, streets and thoroughfares approving an internal request from city staff Monday, Dec. 2 to allow City Manager Chris Brady to execute three consecutive extensions to the existing contract with American Traffic Solutions.
Mesa City Council unanimously approved the item found part of its consent agenda Monday, Dec. 2 at City Council Chambers, 57 E. 1st Street in the downtown sector of the community. Records show the city of Mesa will completed a 5-year contract with American Traffic Systems, which is now coined, “Verra Mobility,” a Mesa-based business, in quarter 1 of the new calendar year.
Kevin Christopher of the Mesa Communications Department read into the record aloud the items to be considered on the municipal consent agenda. The photo radar contract extensions were listed as item 5c and emboldened in Resolution No. 12307.
“The Police department and purchasing [department] recommend approving a resolution to allow the city manager to enter into up to three (3), six-month (6) extensions of the 2018 contract with American Traffic Solutions dba Verra Mobility (a Mesa business), and to expend funds at the same rates and terms set forth in the current agreement,” the Dec. 2 report to City Council states.
Here is the pay schedule approved by Mesa City Council in 2018:
In the city of Mesa these are the intersections that have photo radar technology including red light running devices:
- Alma School/Guadalupe
- Broadway/Stapley
- Broadway/Extension
- Country Club/Southern
- Country Club/University
- Ellsworth/Pecos
- Gilbert/Baseline
- Gilbert/McKellips
- Lindsay/University
- Power/Broadway
- Power/Hampton
- University/Mesa Drive
- Power/McKellips
- Power/Southern
- Power/Main
- Guadalupe/Carriage
The report was penned in collaboration between Edward Quedens, Mesa business services director; and Kristy Garcia, Mesa procurement administrator whereas the report was approved by Michael Kennington, chief financial officer at the city of Mesa.
Photo radar services have been provided by American Traffic Solutions in the city of Mesa since 2006, records show.
“A significant amount of infrastructure has been put in place to monitor red light violations, traffic speed, or other traffic movement, and issue citations for traffic violations,” the Dec. 2 City Council report states pointing out the municipal infrastructure includes proprietary technology of American Traffic Solutions DBA Vera Mobility.
“The equipment and software currently in place is proprietary and can only be serviced by Verra Mobility. The current contract with ATS will expire on February 26, 2024. Efforts to negotiate a new contract are ongoing. ATS has agreed to extend the contract at the current fee schedule.”
Mesa city officials report fines assessed and fees collected help to offset the cost of the citywide photo safety enforcement program.
Tenets of the contract state that if Mesa City Council were to terminate the now-approved contract the municipality will be liable for liquidated damages identified by the vendor, in this case Vera Mobility.
Found part of the 27-page, 2018 contract outline penalties for early termination:
- (i) Cancellation during the first year of the agreement entitles contractor to a payment of $120,000;
- (ii) Cancellation during the second year of the agreement entitles contractor to a payment of $96,000;
- (iii) Cancellation during the third year of the Agreement entitles Contractor to a payment of $72,000;
- (iv) Cancellation during the fourth year of the Agreement entitles Contractor to a payment of $48,000; and
- (v) Cancellation during the fifth year of the Agreement entitles Contractor to a payment of $24,000.
