A new $115,000 network of security cameras in downtown Lakeland is keeping an eye on crowds, patrons and even business owners. Downtown leaders say the built-in facial recognition is helping security personnel and law enforcement track people with whom they have already had run-ins.
“I found the guy that we’ve been looking for, for multiple businesses to make contact with,” Tony Davila, the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority’s clean and safe manager. “I was able to upload certain photos of people who are people of interest throughout the downtown, who have caused issues, and actually detect when those people are downtown on camera. I’ll receive emails those people are throughout the downtown area, so it’s been great.”
In fact, LDDA Director Julie Townsend said there are three men with whom they have had issues. Another man threatened one of her employees at the Farmer’s Market last Saturday and was found on camera after he vanished into the crowd.
“At least now we know where he is and we can kind of follow some of the patterns of behavior,” Davila said. “He’s caused problems at other businesses, as well, so he’s someone, again, he’s a person of interest. You want to keep an eye out for him.”
The LDDA is putting up a total of 13 Verkada Building Security cameras, nine of which have already been installed. Townsend said the remaining four will be installed in the next 30 days. All but one have 360-degree views.
Currently, Davila, Townsend, Lakeland Police and LDDA Board members have access to all the cameras. Individual business owners have access to the one camera that is mounted on their property. Footage is stored for 30 days.
Facial recognition helps monitor ‘people of interest’
Information about the cameras and their locations was shared at the monthly meeting of the LDDA’s Board of Directors, with full transparency to the public. Davila explained that the cameras will also monitor activity in the alleyways behind businesses, and hopefully deter a problem business owners have been complaining about — people urinating and defecating in the alleys and business doorways.
“For the folks that are behaving badly in the alleys, and sometimes as people who are using alleys as bathrooms, it just gives us the opportunity to sort of figure out who they are and then report that back to LPD,” Davila said.
In the past, Townsend, Davila and the LDDA Board have discussed hiring off-duty officers or deputies to act as a public safety patrol team, but on Thursday, they were leaning toward hiring well-trained personnel.
“They’ll be trained in dealing with situations in a firm, yet courteous manner,” Davila said. “Our public safety team will assist in discouraging aggressive solicitation, educate the public on ordinance violations, report crimes to proper authority and provide information to our downtown police officers.”
In addition, the LDDA would appoint downtown ambassadors, who would help clean up the areas on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings, including picking up trash and painting over graffiti.
The proposed safety patrol would operate Mondays through Wednesdays between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. with one person and Thursdays through Saturdays from 6:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. with two people to patrol downtown and assist businesses.
Townsend said she would be bringing the subject back to the board next month, but said it would probably run the LDDA about $150,000 annually. But, she said a private company that offers the same services in downtown Tampa and Orlando charges about $250,000.
Downtown to get 130 self-watering flower planters
Townsend reported there are other changes underway downtown, including a beautification effort involving grant funding to help businesses and large flowerpots sprouting up along sidewalks. When fully installed the 130 self-watering pots will run about $100,000. Townsend explained that the pots have water reservoirs at the bottom, so a watering truck won’t have to be utilized as often.
The board members discussed issuing matching grants of up to $5,000 for those wanting to place furniture and/or awnings along the sidewalks to expand their businesses outdoors. Businesses spending $10,000 will be reimbursed 50%.
Some of the container gardens have already appeared along Tennessee Street by Munn Park, the railroad tracks and Mojo Federal restaurant.
“Mojo (Federal) is like always talking about them, taking care of them, telling me if they look dry or whatever. They love them,” Townsend said. “People are happy to see the plants and it’s going to be much more impactful when we start adding a lot more of them — especially if we’re going to do some clusters at the railroad tracks. Because it’s such a dead space. And so instead of just having one pot, we’re going to do like three uneven sized pots and we would make those intersections with train tracks more visually impactful.”
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