DATE: 08/20/2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Fire Department
2025-195
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBJECT:
TRANSITION OF FIRE DEPARTMENT RADIO COMMUNICATION TO THE COUNTY
OF RIVERSIDE PSEC SYSTEM
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City of Corona Fire Department requests City Council approval to transition its radio communications from the legacy Very High Frequency (VHF) system to the 800 MHz Public Safety Enterprise Communication (PSEC) system operated by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. This upgrade is urgently needed to address the obsolescence and reliability risks of the current VHF system, which could jeopardize emergency response if not replaced. The transition will enhance interoperability with regional public safety agencies, mirroring the successful migration completed by the Corona Police Department in 2017. Limited VHF connectivity will be maintained for mutual aid and legacy compatibility. The proposed solution offers significant cost savings and positions the Fire Department for future technological advancements.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council:
a. Authorize an Exception to Competitive Bidding pursuant to Corona Municipal Code Section 3.08.140(E), allowing direct contracting with the County of Riverside and associated vendors for the PSEC migration, as it is in the City’s best interest for operational continuity and public safety.
b. Authorize the City Manager, or their designee, to execute an agreement with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for PSEC system integration, not to exceed $1,283,386.77 over a one-year period.
c. Authorize the City Manager, or their designee, to issue Purchase Orders as detailed in the staff report herein.
d. Authorize the City Manager, or their designee, to execute non-substantive extensions, change orders, purchase orders, and amendments with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department within a 20% contingency of the original contract amount.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
The Corona Fire Department’s current VHF radio system has exceeded its service life, with replacement parts increasingly unavailable, creating operational vulnerabilities and risks to emergency response. Recognizing the need for a modern, interoperable system, the City issued RFP #24-065CA on March 21, 2024, but received only one proposal.
Motorola, the sole respondent, declined to bid after determining project costs would exceed the budget by over three times ($4.7 million vs. $1.8 million).
In response, the County of Riverside offered to integrate the Fire Department into its existing PSEC system, providing a cost-effective and proven solution. The Corona Police Department’s successful migration to PSEC in 2017 demonstrates the system’s reliability and regional interoperability. The Fire Department consulted with the Information Technology Department, Police Department, and County partners to ensure alignment and operational readiness.
ANALYSIS:
Benefits and Rationale: Transitioning to the PSEC system will enable direct, real-time communication with mutual aid partners, including County and State emergency services, which is critical during wildfires, large-scale incidents, and multi-agency responses. The project includes installing four Motorola GTR 8000 VHF repeaters at three PSEC remote sites and configuring Control Channel Gateways (CCGW) to ensure seamless integration.
All technical terms are defined in the attached glossary.
Risk Mitigation: Risks such as training needs and temporary service disruptions will be addressed through phased implementation, staff training, and ongoing support from the County and vendors. PSEC will conduct radio coverage mapping to ensure compliance with FCC and operational standards.
Future Readiness: The PSEC system is scalable, allowing the Fire Department to adapt as the City grows and public safety demands increase.
Purchase Orders to be issued are outlined in the table below:
Vendor/Service Purpose/Description Amount
Riverside County
Sheriffs
Installation of equipment at County sites $62,854.75
Riverside County
Sheriffs
Annual rack & tower space (FY25/26) $7,433.76
Motorola Solutions Handheld/mobile radio equipment for
PSEC compatibility
$674,231.61
RivComm Inc. Equipment purchase & installation in fire
vehicles & HQ
$289,961.26
Applied Technology
Group, Inc.
Fire station alert radios, legacy
equipment removal/disposal
$248,905.38
Total $1,283,386.77
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Funding for the recommended actions is available in the New VHF Radio Simulcast and Backhaul System Capital Improvement Project No. TC-2023-01 within General Fund 110.
The total project cost is $1,283,386.77, which includes all equipment, installation, and integration for the first year's annual subscription fee of $7,433.76 for rack and tower space. Ongoing monthly recurring subscriber fees are $48.20 per radio and based on the current number of 150. The anticipated yearly recurring cost for the radio service will be $86,760. Future recurring costs will be incorporated into the Fire Department’s operating budget and reviewed annually.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Section 15061(b)(3), as it involves minor alterations to existing facilities with negligible or no expansion of use. Therefore, no further environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: JIM AUKERMAN, SENIOR NETWORK ARCHITECT
REVIEWED BY: CHRIS MCMASTERS, CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER Attachments:
1. Exhibit 1 - Glossary of Technical Terms from the PSEC Staff Report.docx
2. Exhibit 2 - City of Corona Fire SOW Aug 2025 v1.pdf
3. Exhibit 3 - Finalized Cajalco J.C 7.3 (002).docx
4. Exhibit 4 - Green River Finalized.docx
5. Exhibit 5 - PSEC Grapehill 2025 7.22.25 Final (RY 7.31.25).docx
6. Exhibit 6 - QUOTE-2973371 Corona Fire - (37) APX 8000 XE – 071125.pdf
7. Exhibit 7 - GTR8000 - 8282027152__1750949609232.pdf
8. Exhibit 8 -QUOTE-2985229 Corona Fire - (12) APX 8000 Feature Upgrade – 071125.pdf
9. Exhibit 9 - QUOTE-3031683 Corona Fire - (62) APX 8000 XE Batteries – 071125.pdf
10. Exhibit 10 - QUOTE-2973403 Corona Fire - (5) APX NEXT XN – 071125.pdf
11. Exhibit 11 - Armada Server Quote 050625 REV 1.pdf
12. Exhibit 12 - City of Corona VM8000 Quote 071625.pdf
13. Exhibit 13 - Corona BC Office Base Station Quote 4.2.25 i.pdf
14. Exhibit 14 - Corona DOC Base Station Quote 4.2.25 H.pdf
15. Exhibit 15 – SDO AHMANSON WRF3 Decommission S-QUO1498.pdf
16. Exhibit 16 - 760 PUBLIC SAFETY Decommission S-QUO1504.pdf
17. Exhibit 17 - GREEN RIVER Decommission S-QUO1484.pdf
18. Exhibit 18 - GH Decommission S-QUO1442.pdf
19. Exhibit 19 - Eagle Glen Decommission S-QUO1474.pdf
20. Exhibit 20 - CoC-VM5900 Base Stations for PSEC Station alerting-NASPO-2025- 07-11-S-Quo1959.pdf