For City Council Meeting March 11, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Tanya Williams, City Manager
FROM: Mark P. Kling, Chief of Police
Title
Request City Council to (1) Authorize the Purchase of Fourteen (14) CommandCentral AXS Dispatch Consoles, Fourteen (14) APX 6500 Mobile Radios, Site Networking Equipment, Including Accessories, from Motorola Solutions, Inc. for a Total Cost of $1,133,900.00; (2) Authorize the City Manager or her Designee to Execute all Documents.
(ACTION)
Body
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Authorize the purchase of fourteen (14) CommandCentral AXS dispatch consoles, fourteen (14) APX 6500 Mobile Radios, site networking equipment, including accessories, from Motorola Solutions, Inc. in the amount of $1,133,900.00; and
2. Authorize the City Manager or her designee to execute all documents.
BACKGROUND
The City’s emergency services department currently operates Motorola Dispatch Consoles, which are critical for managing communication between first responders and the public. These consoles are integral to the City’s 911 response infrastructure, enabling real-time coordination and ensuring effective management of emergency situations.
The existing dispatch consoles, while reliable, are aging and no longer meet the demands of the City’s growing service area and increasing population. Many of the current units are approaching the end of their lifecycle, and their functionality no longer aligns with the latest technology standards for enhanced communication capabilities. Additionally, the City’s new police station, currently under construction, requires the installation of additional dispatch consoles to meet operational requirements. These consoles are essential for expanding dispatch capacity and ensuring that the City’s emergency services can operate seamlessly and efficiently across all facilities.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
The City of Rialto is in the process of building a new police station to better serve the growing needs of our community. This new station will enhance our ability to respond to emergencies, but it also requires an expanded dispatch system to handle the increased call volume. By upgrading the dispatch infrastructure, we are ensuring faster, more efficient communication, ultimately improving response times and strengthening the overall safety of our community.
The proposed purchase includes fourteen (14) CommandCentral AXS dispatch consoles, with twelve (12) designated for dispatch operations and two (2) allocated for the Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC). Additionally, the purchase includes fourteen APX 6500 Mobile Radios, site networking equipment, and an AXS training course to ensure seamless implementation.
The CommandCentral AXS Dispatch Consoles represent a significant technological advancement in public safety communications. These consoles offer a streamlined, user-friendly interface designed to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of dispatch operations. Equipped with an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI), dispatchers will experience improved response times and decision-making capabilities. The system is designed to integrate seamlessly with the ASTRO 25 network, allowing for real-time coordination between field personnel and dispatch.
In addition to interoperability, the CommandCentral AXS consoles provide advanced security measures, including end-to-end encryption to safeguard sensitive law enforcement communications. The consoles are designed for versatility, allowing for future expansions of the system as operational needs advance. Features such as multi-channel radio access, customizable workflows, and touch-screen functionality further enhance dispatcher efficiency. Additionally, integrated analytics and real-time reporting tools will enable dispatchers to monitor better monitor field personnel and enhance resource allocation during critical incidents. The Motorola CommandCentral AXS consoles offer advanced redundancy and failover capabilities, ensuring dispatch operations remain functional in the event of system failures or hardware malfunctions.
Utilizing Motorola radios is crucial for maintaining consistent communication between the Rialto Police and Fire Departments, particularly during joint operations, training exercises, and emergency responses. Our existing infrastructure is designed around Motorola technology, making a switch to another vendor potentially disruptive, requiring extensive retraining, re-engineering, and increased costs, along with potential communication gaps.
Motorola Solutions, Inc. also offers warranties and ongoing technical support specific to our current systems, including software updates, maintenance, and repairs. Engaging a different vendor could jeopardize these warranties and lead to compatibility issues, risking our communication capabilities. Our systems require specific models and configurations provided solely by Motorola, ensuring seamless integration of new equipment.
Motorola Solutions, Inc. has been awarded Sourcewell contract 04021-MOT for the procurement of APX radios, dispatch consoles, P25 radio infrastructure and ASTRO systems, which are vital for the police department's operations. This acquisition aligns with the Rialto Municipal Code for cooperative purchasing programs, commonly known as "piggybacking," ensuring compliance with established procurement guidelines. The Sourcewell contract is valid until June 23, 2025, providing ample time for the department to utilize these critical communication systems. The department has collaborated with City Procurement, which has verified that this contract adheres to the requirements set forth in the municipal code. As stated in Rialto Municipal Code 2.48.430, the city council may authorize the acquisition of supplies or services through cooperative purchasing agreements, allowing the city to procure high-quality equipment at competitive prices while maintaining transparency and fiscal responsibility.
The purchase of fourteen (14) CommandCentral AXS Dispatch Consoles will greatly enhance the Rialto Police Department's ability to manage emergency communications and real-time crime monitoring. These advanced Motorola consoles will provide the department with the state-of-the-art technology required to support its expanding dispatch operations. By improving response times, boosting operational efficiency, and enhancing public safety, the CommandCentral AXS system will play a crucial role in the successful operation of the new public safety station.
Staff recommends approval for the purchase of fourteen (14) CommandCentral AXS dispatch consoles, fourteen (14) APX 6500 Mobile Radios, site networking equipment, including accessories, from Motorola Solutions, Inc. in the amount of $1,133,900.00 from Motorola Solutions, Inc.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed action is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has the potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. According to Section 15378(b), a Project does not include: (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
The City of Rialto has outlined key goals and objects relating to public safety. The purchase of this technology is consistent with meeting these objectives.
Goal 5-8: Provide effective and comprehensive policing services that meet the safety needs of Rialto.
Policy 5-8.4: Initiate proactive crime suppression and prevention strategies throughout the community.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed this staff report and recommends approval.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
This report does not impact the operating budget.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
The total cost of fourteen CommandCentral AXS dispatch consoles, fourteen APX 6500 Mobile Radios, networking equipment, and accessories is $1,133,900.00, over a two-installment payment plan. Funding in the amount of $113,742.00 for FY24/25, is available in FY24/25 COPS Allocation Fund 22146994. Funding in the amount of $1,020,158.00 for FY25/26, will be allocated during respective budget process in account 33006150 53030, for this purchase from Motorola Solutions, Inc.
Per Rialto Municipal Code Section: 2.48.145 a vendor disclosure form is attached.
Licensing
The Rialto Police Department will be purchasing the Motorola radios from Motorola Solutions, Inc., located in the City of Riverside, California. A business license is not needed from this vendor because the purchase of goods will be performed outside the City of Rialto.