To the Editor:
On the March 4 agenda, item 2025-4702, there is a discussion of traffic cameras and such, which has caused some confusion in my non-mathematical mind. I have read it several times and, in the third paragraph under “Discussion,” numbers appear which cause my confusion. Here is that paragraph:
“The other significant ongoing cost associated with running an automated enforcement program is the staff time to administer the program. The automated enforcement contractor will prepare all recorded violations for review, but a staff member at APD is required to review each violation prior to it being sent to the court for enforcement and fine payment. Using the previous estimate of three citations per camera (assuming two cameras per intersection), that is a minimum of 180 violations per month, per intersection, that must be reviewed individually to ensure cost neutrality for equipment. At an estimated two minutes per violation, this requires 900 hours of staff time each month. The recommended staffing model is one full-time staff member per five intersections (which can vary depending on the number of violations produced per camera). Staff recommendation for the pilot program is utilizing part-time staff for two intersections.”
The number that is confusing me is “900 hours of staff time.” My understanding, from the text, is that 180 violations per month per intersection would come to 360 violations per month (two intersections), each of which, according to that same paragraph, would require 2 minutes of review. Well, 2 minutes per violation per month comes to 720 minutes, or 12 hours. 900 hours is equivalent to 54,000 minutes. At 2 minutes per violation, that would be 27,000 violations. In one month. However, if what is meant is 2.5 hours of review per violation, that would make more sense, since 2.5 x 360 = 900. Can you clarify this, or let me know if I missed a later clarification altogether? And perhaps this refers to five or more intersections?
I know I’m three months behind the time of this item being on the agenda, but I sincerely hope cameras are installed as soon as possible, and all over the island. I can name a couple of intersections that might run at a sizable profit!
And I hope and pray it won’t take the death of someone, maybe even a child you know, to spur you into action on this critical need.
Peace.
Art Lenhardt
Alameda resident
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