DATE: 08/05/2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Police Department
2026-264
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBJECT:
ESTABLISH PUBLIC SAFETY TECHNOLOGY OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE PROJECT USING REMAINING FUNDS FROM EMERGENCY 911 PHONE SYSTEM
REPLACEMENT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the City Council to approve the reallocation of $494,372 from the Emergency 911 Phone System Replacement, Capital Improvement Project No.
TC‑ 2016‑ 01 to a newly established Public Safety Technology Operating and Maintenance Project, while retaining $166,560 within TC‑ 2016‑ 01 to cover ongoing contractual obligations.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council approve the reallocation of $494,372 from the Emergency 911 Phone System Replacement, Capital Improvement Project No. TC-2016-01 to a newly created Operating and Maintenance Project, titled Public Safety Technology within the General Fund (FD_1110) and Measure X Fund (FD_1120).
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
The City of Corona has a longstanding commitment to maintaining robust public safety communications and technology infrastructure to support emergency response, law enforcement, and community services. Historically, the City has utilized a dedicated Emergency 911 Phone System Replacement Capital Improvement Project (CIP) to supplement the replacement and maintenance of its 911 phone system and related dispatch technology. The original intent of the 911 Phone System Replacement CIP was to supplement state funding so the City’s Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) could reliably receive and process emergency calls, in compliance with state and federal requirements for emergency communications systems. Over time, this project has supported the acquisition of new equipment, system upgrades, and ongoing maintenance to keep pace with evolving technology standards and operational needs within the Police Department and other public safety agencies.
Over the past several years, the funding and management framework of California’s 911 system has undergone notable changes. The California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) has led a statewide effort to transition from legacy analog systems to Next Generation 911 (NG-911), adopting digital, IP-based platforms. This initiative aims to improve interoperability, optimize call routing, and introduce advanced features such as text-to-911 and multimedia communication capabilities. Within this program, CalOES and its contracted vendors oversee the funding, maintenance, and modernization of local 911 systems, using revenues from the State Emergency Telephone Number Account (SETNA) along with other state resources. Their responsibilities include reimbursing vendors for eligible maintenance expenses and establishing extended maintenance agreements throughout the transition phase.
CalOES has temporarily suspended the NG‑ 911 transition process to facilitate the selection of a single vendor. Upon resumption, the chosen vendor will be funded by state resources and tasked with providing all necessary equipment and labor for the NG-911 project. Local PSAPs will remain responsible for maintaining local infrastructure, including cabling and equipment rooms.
ANALYSIS:
Because of the changes by CalOES to NG911, Capital Improvement Project No.
TC‑ 2016‑ 01 is no longer be required. Reallocating the project’s remaining balance is to a new Public Safety Technology Operating and Maintenance Project will help the Corona Police Department enhance responsiveness and efficiency. Investing in updated technology for dispatch, records management, and AI tools aims to boost officer response times, data accuracy, and public safety.
These funds will be used to modernize law enforcement and communication infrastructure and improve services for residents. The project will support technology enhancements— including expanded community access, improved workflows, reduced administrative burden, and better data management. Projects may involve new digital platforms, the integration of AI solutions for reporting, and upgraded communication systems, further strengthening efficiency and promoting accountable public safety. This project allows for flexible adoption of innovative technologies and strategic resource utilization as operational needs change.
This action directly supports the City of Corona's Strategic Plan 2021–2026, Goal 4: Safe Community, which carries the overarching mission to "protect our quality of life by ensuring the community is safe and clean." Under this goal, the City identified improving public safety services and emergency response, specifically, improving response times as a primary objective. One key approach to reaching this goal is using technology to support dependable emergency response services. This project demonstrates the City’s commitment to advancing its technology infrastructure for public safety and municipal efficiency. This strategy aligns with evolving state-level support for emergency communications and enables the City to address new challenges and opportunities in the technology sector while ensuring compliance with all applicable legal and policy requirements.
The proposed reallocation of the remaining Emergency 911 Phone System Replacement, Capital Improvement Project funds to the Public Safety Technology, Operating and Maintenance
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
With CalOES funding and the maintenance of the City's 911 system and the NG-911 transition, the majority of the remaining balance in the Emergency 911 Phone System Replacement, Capital Improvement Project No. TC-2016-01 is available for reallocation.
The Corona Police Department proposes the following fund disposition:
Action
Current
Project
Balance
Proposed Project
Budget
Funding Source
Transfer to New Public
Safety Technology
(O&M)
$0
$494,372
Measure X
(FD_1120) and
General Fund
(FD_1110)
Retain in 911 Phone
System(CIP No. TC2016-01)
$660,932
$166,560
Measure X
(FD_1120)
The $166,560 retained in TC-2016-01 will cover the City's remaining contractual obligations under system maintenance agreements, ensuring uninterrupted 911 service and continuity of public safety communications. The $494,372 transferred to the new Public Safety Technology, Operating and Maintenance Project will be directed toward the technology priorities identified in this report and toward future procurements.
Approval of the recommended actions will reallocate a total of $494,372, $3,444.50 from the General Fund (FD_1110) and $490,927.50 from the Measure X Fund (FD_1120), from the Emergency 911 Phone System Replacement, Capital Improvement Project No.
TC-2016-01 to the newly created Public Safety Technology, Operating and Maintenance Project.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the common sense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.
Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: CHAD FOUNTAIN, POLICE CAPTAIN
REVIEWED BY: ROBERT NEWMAN, POLICE CHIEF