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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Lieutenant Andy Wolcott, Aurora Police Department
DATE: 11/07/23
SUBJECT:
A Resolution authorizing the Mayor or the Aurora Police Department Chief of Police to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Aurora, Illinois and Chicago Premium Outlets, LLC.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding is to allow the Aurora Police Department access to the Chicago Premium Outlets, LLC’s Mall Surveillance System establishing channels of communication and sharing of digital information and images through the Fusus software platform, for improved situational awareness and efficiency of emergency response by the Aurora Police Department.
BACKGROUND:
Chicago Premium Outlets, LLC facility at 1650 Premium Outlet Blvd. is a vital piece of the Aurora economy, with roughly 170 stores and millions of visitors a year. The Aurora Police Department has recently obtained the Fusus software platform that assists in the sharing of video between businesses and the police department. Previously there were no reasonable options for sharing of video from the Chicago Premium Outlets, LLC. Chicago Premium Outlets, LLC has authorized Fusus as an acceptable and secure manner in which to share video and images.
DISCUSSION:
The Chicago Premium Outlets, LLC facility at 1650 Premium Outlet Blvd is one of the busiest locations in the City of Aurora. The facility is frequented by people regionally and from around the world. Its proximity to the Interstate 88 tollway makes it easily accessible for people all across the northern half of Illinois. For many of those people, the facility is the face of Aurora. Based on this, the continued safety and security of the Chicago Premium Outlets, LLC facility is of upmost importance to the city.
The police department has been unable to obtain access to the Outlet’s cameras due not having a secure manner that the police department and Chicago Premium Outlets, LLC were comfortable with. The police department had begun to explore other means to securely share the video data, but the equipment and yearly maintenance costs were expensive. Chicago Premium Outlets, LLC has prior experience with Fusus and are willing to provide access to its Mall Surveillance System through the Fusus platform. The platform will allow officers to access the cameras when authorized through their laptop computers and cellular phones, when responding to emergencies at the property.
The police department has purchased the necessary hardware that that will facilitate the sharing through the Fusus platform and other than the initial cost of that device, there will be no costs to the City of Aurora.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Entering into this Memorandum of Understanding will allow the Aurora Police Department to effectively monitor and quickly respond during emergency situations using existing software, Fusus. This Memorandum of Understanding will enhance response time, increase situational awareness and will make the city safer for the citizens and patrons of the Chicago Outlet Mall in Aurora.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Aurora Police Department is requesting the proposed resolution be adopted.
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution authorizing the Mayor or the Aurora Police Department Chief of Police to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Aurora, Illinois and Chicago Premium Outlets, LLC.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Aurora Police Department is a law enforcement organization of the City of Aurora, County of Kane, State of Illinois, responsible for the preservation of safety and security in the geographic area in which it has jurisdiction
WHEREAS, Chicago Premium Outlets, LLC. owns and operates Chicago Premium Outlet Mall located at 1650 Premium Outlet Boulevard, Suite 150, Aurora, Illinois 60502 and is an organization, corporation, or business operating within the jurisdiction of the Department; and
WHERAS, the Chicago Premium Outlets operates a system of closed-circuit surveillance cameras; and
WHERAS, the objective of this Memorandum is to set forth the terms and conditions of the sharing of video through the Mall Surveillance System with the Department in the spirit of partnership for improved situational awareness and efficiency of emergency response by the Department; and
WHERAS, this Memorandum establishes channels of communication and sharing of digital information and images between the Aurora Police Department and Chicago Premium Outlets, LLC’s using its Mall Surveillance System via software designed by Fusus
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the Mayor or the Aurora Police Department Chief of Police is hereby authorized to sign the attached Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Aurora, Illinois and Chicago Premium Outlets, LLC.