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Palm Coast will continue to issue red light citations with the city’s 10 cameras, and there is a possibility that more cameras could be coming, officials said.

The City Council was presented with the latest proposal Tuesday to reach a new agreement with American Traffic Solutions — the company that maintains the cameras.

In December 2007, the city entered into a three-year agreement with ATS to implement red light cameras.
The city began issuing citations by June 2008.

The contract was set to expire Dec. 31, 2011, but four of the five City Council members agreed to continue the red light cameras program. City Councilman Jason DeLorenzo was the lone member who wanted to terminate the program.

In July 2010, state legislation was passed, increasing the citation price from $125 to $153 under the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act. Of the $153, the state gets $83.

During the meeting in December, the city’s new agreement with ATS was a proposed 60-40 split, meaning ATS would get 60% of the remaining $70.

However, city attorneys said the 60-40 split wasn’t a viable option.

City Manager Jim Landon highlighted the latest proposal at Tuesday’s workshop.

The revenue distribution calls for the city to get $700 per camera per month. Then, a maximum of $4,250 per camera per month would go to ATS. However, there would be a cap of $4,950 per month, and if any camera exceeded that amount, the additional funds would go to the city.

All program costs, other than city staff time, fall to ATS, Landon said.

Under the initial 60-40 split with the average gross monthly revenue of $24,171, the city would have netted $4,584 (19%); ATS’ portion would have been $6,877 (28%); and the state would receive $12,740 (53%).

The new breakdown, however, increases the city’s net to $7,000 (29%). ATS decreases slightly, to $4,431 (18%), and the state remains the same.

The city’s annual projected proceeds under the proposed formula is $48,000 — all of which is dedicated to the city’s streets improvement fund.

Under the proposed agreement, ATS will likely install additional cameras, Landon said.

The proposed term of the contract is a seven-year agreement if new cameras are installed or a three-year agreement if no new cameras are installed.

City Councilmen had issues with some of the wording in the contract, and the item will be revisited at an upcoming meeting.

“The contract needs to be word-smithed,” Mayor Jon Netts said to close out the discussion.

 

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