Oxnard Red Light Cameras

In 2008, the City entered into a five year contract with Redflex to install, operate, and maintain a new RLC system. The contract was dated the 23rd of September. The year was not indicated.

The contract was subsequently extended for two, one year terms. In October, 2015, the contract was extended on a month to month basis.

Per the contract, Redflex invoices the City a fixed fee of $30,500 per month. The City pays Redflex an amount equal to the monthly RLC revenue less the City’s operating costs of $2,562.

For the 24 month period from January, 2015 through December, 2016:  RLC monthly revenue to the City ranged from a low of $17,794 to a high of $32,254, before operating costs were deducted. Oxnard Red Light Cameras  In each of the 24 months, after operating costs were deducted, the City's payment to Redflex was less than Redflex’s invoice amount of $30,500.  The difference between the invoice amount and the payment by the City ranged from a high of $15,268 to a low of $808. The average monthly shortfall during the 24 month period was $7,976. (Att-01)

The contract contains a “Cost Neutrality” clause which establishes the City will not pay more per month than actual receipts from RLC fines, less operating costs. If the amount of fines collected is less than the Redflex invoice amount, the difference accrues as an outstanding balance. The contract states, “Cost neutrality will be reconciled and any necessary adjustments made at the end of the contract.” As of December 31, 2016, the outstanding negative balance of such accruals was $806,460. The outstanding balance accrued from the first Redflex contract signed in 2008. (Att-02)

The City's interpretation of the Cost Neutrality clause is that the accrued balance is to be zeroed out at the end of the contract. They contend there is no specific language detailing any type of repayment requirement. (Att- 02)

All RLC infractions submitted by Redflex are reviewed by the City before citations are issued. The typical RLC fine is $490. After County and State administrative fees, approximately $154 is remitted to the City. In 2016, 9,668 RLC incidents were processed. A majority were rejected. There were 4,131 citations issued. As of March 2017, approximately 23% of these citations had not been paid.

Yellow light duration in California is established in conformance with the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices 2014 (CA MUTCD). The yellow light phase duration was modified by the CA MUTCD in August, 2015. Yellow light duration is directly related to the observed speed of traffic. The higher the speed, the longer the duration. The City allows a 0.2 second grace period after the light turns red before considering a violation has occurred. (Ref-02)

The City maintains the yellow light duration at all eight RLC intersections is in compliance with the CA MUTCD. An independent traffic engineer determined the minimum yellow light duration, as reported by the City, at four RLC intersections is not in compliance with CA MUTCD standards. (Att-03).

California Vehicle Code 21455.5(a) requires signage at RLC intersections: “...(1) Identifies the system by signs posted within 200 feet of an intersection where a system is operating that clearly indicate the system’s presence and are visible to traffic approaching from all directions in which the automated traffic enforcement system is being utilized to issue citations…". Seven of eight RLC intersections in the City had the required Oxnard Red Light Cameras 3 signage. The sign was missing at southbound Victoria Avenue and Channel Islands Boulevard. (Ref-03) Conclusions C-01. The Redflex contract was not well vetted by the City prior to signing. The contract’s effective date is missing. The Cost Neutrality clause is vague and does not make it clear if the City is required to pay any accrued balance at the end of the contract period. If the City does not prevail in its interpretation of the clause, the City may be exposed to a significant financial liability. (FA-01, FA-02, FA-05, FA-06, FA-07) C-02. It appears the RLC program as currently structured is likely to generate a significant outstanding balance. The fact that an $806,460 balance was allowed to accrue over nine years, despite multiple contract extensions, suggests the City has not employed proper oversight in regards to the RLC program. (FA-03, FA-04) C-03. The duration of the yellow light at four RLC intersections, as reported by the City, is not in conformance with the CA MUTCD. Even small inaccuracies in yellow light durations pose a potential financial liability to the City as citations could be dismissed. (FA-06, FA-07, FA-08, FA-09) C-04. The missing required Photo Enforced sign at the intersection of southbound Victoria Avenue and Channel Islands Boulevard poses a potential loss of revenue to the City. Resulting citations could be dismissed. (FA-10) Recommendations R-01. The Grand Jury recommends the City Council ensure any future RLC contracts do not obligate the city to pay vendors more than the revenue collected by the City, less operating expenses. (C-01) R-02. The Grand Jury recommends the City Council require an audit of the RLC program, dating back to the 2008 Redflex contract. The audit should examine if adequate oversight, financial controls, and procedures were employed in the management of the program. (C-02) R-03. The Grand Jury recommends the City Council direct a program be instituted, starting with the RLC intersections, to ensure yellow light duration at all intersections is set in accordance with the CA MUTCD. (C-03) R-04. The Grand Jury recommends the City Council arrange for the installation of the required Photo Enforced sign at the intersection of southbound Victoria Avenue and Channel Islands Boulevard. (C-04) 4 Oxnard Red Light Cameras Responses Responses Required From: City Council, City of Oxnard (C-01, C-02, C-03, C-04, R-01, R-02, R-03, R-04) References Ref-01. IIHS-HLDI Red Light Camera Forum, “Red light running new research”, July 28, 2016, http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/presentations (accessed May 4, 2017). Ref-02. CA.GOV, Caltrans, “CA MUTCD 2014 Archive”, http://www.dot.ca.gov/trafficops/camutcd/camutcd2014.html (accessed May 4, 2017). Ref-03. California Legislative Information, California Vehicle Code 21455.5(a), https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?law Code=VEH&sectionNum=21455.5 (accessed May 4, 2017). Attachments Att-01. Oxnard Police Department Payments to Redflex Att-02. Cost Neutrality Clause of Redflex Contract Att-03. Oxnard RLC Intersection Yellow Phase Duration Glossary TERM DEFINITION CA MUTCD California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices City City of Oxnard Grand Jury 2016-2017 Ventura County Grand Jury Police Department Oxnard Police Department Redflex Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc. RLC Red Light Camera Oxnard Red Light Cameras 5 Attachment 01 Oxnard Police Department Payments to Redflex 6 Oxnard Red Light Cameras Oxnard Police Dept. Payments to Redflex Operating Payment to Cumulative Invoice Month/Year Revenue Costs Redflex Balance Amount Jan-15 20,781.95 2,561.80 18,220.15 627,308.25 30,500.00 Feb-15 23,255.76 2,561.80 20,693.96 637,114.29 30,500.00 Mar-15 28,321.98 2,561.80 25,760.18 641,854.11 30,500.00 Apr-15 22,257.79 2,561.80 19,695.99 652,658.12 30,500.00 May-15 18,809.59 2,561.80 16,247.79 666,910.33 30,500.00 Jun-15 19,341.04 2,561.80 16,779.24 680,631.09 30,500.00 Jul-15 23,018.29 2,561.80 20,456.49 690,674.60 30,500.00 Aug-15 22,789.17 2,561.80 20,227.37 700,947.23 30,500.00 Sep-15 30,210.69 2,561.80 27,648.89 703,798.34 30,500.00 Oct-15 23,034.57 2,561.80 20,472.77 713,825.57 30,500.00 Nov-15 22,107.08 2,561.80 19,545.28 724,780.29 30,500.00 Dec-15 27,410.72 2,561.80 24,848.92 730,431.37 30,500.00 Jan-16 28,125.28 2,561.80 25,563.48 735,367.89 30,500.00 Feb-16 31,332.91 2,561.80 28,771.11 737,096.78 30,500.00 Mar-16 32,012.99 2,561.80 29,451.19 738,145.59 30,500.00 Apr-16 32,253.60 2,561.80 29,691.80 738,953.79 30,500.00 May-16 28,726.80 2,561.80 26,165.00 743,288.79 30,500.00 Jun-16 29,008.54 2,561.80 26,446.74 747,342.05 30,500.00 Jul-16 29,176.02 2,561.80 26,614.22 751,227.83 30,500.00 Aug-16 27,721.59 2,561.80 25,159.79 756,568.04 30,500.00 Sep-16 26,594.56 2,561.80 24,032.76 763,035.28 30,500.00 Oct-16 18,121.13 2,561.80 15,559.33 777,975.95 30,500.00 Nov-16 17,793.69 2,561.80 15,231.89 793,244.06 30,500.00 Dec-16 19,845.56 2,561.80 17,283.76 806,460.30 30,500.00 Totals $602,051.30 $61,483.20 $540,568.10 $732,000.00 Oxnard Red Light Cameras 7 Attachment 02 Cost Neutrality Clause of Redflex Contract 8 Oxnard Red Light Cameras (From Redflex contract ) EXHIBIT "D" Oxnard Red Light Cameras 9 Attachment 03 Oxnard RLC Intersection Yellow Phase Duration 10 Oxnard Red Light Cameras Oxnard RLC Intersection Yellow Phase Duration Yellow Phase Duration (seconds) for Straight Through and Right Turns h e d d * Direction/ ta r a r Direction/ yn d 85th bx n Posted Speed Intersection d O a Percentile e f S t Limit do Speed vi y e P r o Ci t S t a t SB 39 R O S E AVENUE @ SB 3.9 NB & SB 45 - 40 NB 51 GONZALES ROAD 4.6 NB 5.0 NB 42 S A V IERS ROAD @ NB & SB 40 - 40 SB 42 CHANNEL ISLANDS BLVD 4.1 4.3 NB 48 V I C TORIA AVENUE @ NB & SB 50 - 50 SB 48 CHANNEL ISLANDS BLVD 4.8 4.7 GONZALES ROAD @ WB 45 WB 42 SNOW AVENUE 4.6 4.3 WB 43.1 F I F TH STREET @ WB & EB 35 -35 EB 43.1 VENTURA ROAD 4.2 4.3 ROSE AVENUE @ NB 40 NB 43 FIRST STREET 4.4 4.3 VICTORIA AVENUE @ NB 50 NB 53 WOOLEY ROAD 4.8 5.0 WB 44 G O NZALES ROAD @ WB & EB 45 -45 EB 44 VENTURA ROAD 4.6 4.3 *State standard as verified by independent Registered Professional Traffic Engineer Oxnard Red Light Cameras 11 This page intentionally blank 12 Oxnard Red Light Cameras