STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
May 26, 2026
CONSENT
11 SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE DISPATCH CONSOLE AND RADIO
ANTENNA SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
REDUNDANCY AT THE LAGUNA BEACH COMMUNITY & RECREATION
CENTER
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the Cooperative Agreement with Motorola Solutions, Inc. for the purchase of communications equipment and services in an amount not to exceed $125,022.11 (inclusive of estimated taxes), pursuant to Los Angeles County Contract No.
MA-IS-2240228-2;
2. Authorize the City Manager to approve an agreement with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Communications Division for antenna system procurement and installation at the Laguna Beach Community & Recreation Center Emergency Operations Center in an amount not to exceed $7,401.61;
3. Authorize total project expenditures not to exceed $132,423.72, funded from the Wildfire Mitigation / Fire Safety Police Support Services account (Account No. 1412101-12071-S2604); and
4. Find this action is not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
This report recommends that the City Council approve the purchase and installation of emergency communications equipment to establish a fully functional backup dispatch center at the Laguna Beach Community & Recreation Center (LBCRC) Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The total project cost is $132,423.72 and is fully funded through the Wildfire Mitigation / Fire Safety Police Support Services account.
The project addresses a critical gap in emergency response identified following recent wildfire events, including the Rancho Fire, by providing redundant dispatch capabilities to support Police, Fire, Marine Safety, and Public Works operations during emergencies.
This project aligns with the City Council’s Strategic Priority of Wildfire Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness, specifically enhancing emergency response coordination, communication resiliency, and operational continuity.
The project has been reviewed in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and is categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15303 (Small Structures), as it involves minor equipment installation at an existing facility with no expansion of use.
AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE DISPATCH CONSOLE AND RADIO ANTENNA SYSTEM
FOR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER REDUNDANCY AT THE LAGUNA BEACH
COMMUNITY & RECREATION CENTER
May 26, 2026
DISCUSSION
Background and Need
The Rancho Fire and other significant wildfire events affecting Southern California communities have reinforced the need for redundant emergency communications infrastructure. Following an after-action review of the City’s emergency response posture, the Laguna Beach Police Department and City leadership identified a critical gap in dispatch continuity: the City currently lacks a fully capable secondary dispatch location capable of sustaining Police Department, Fire Department, Marine Safety, and Public Works radio operations during primary dispatch disruptions.
The City is in the process of establishing an EOC at the LBCRC, located at 30516 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651. To support this initiative and ensure uninterrupted public safety communications during major incidents or disasters, installation of a fully operational radio dispatch rack at the LBCRC to serve as the back-up dispatch center within the new EOC.
This project directly addresses an identified after-action gap from the Rancho Fire and aligns with the City’s commitment to strengthening emergency preparedness infrastructure.
Component 1: Motorola Radio Dispatch Equipment- LBCRC/ EOC The Police Department, in coordination with the City’s Information Technology Division, has identified the Motorola MCD 5000 Deskset System and APX All-Band Consolettes as the appropriate platform for the new EOC dispatch station. This equipment is consistent with existing dispatch radio infrastructure, ensuring seamless interoperability with the City’s current Motorola APX radio ecosystem.
The proposed equipment package (Motorola Quote No. 3293895, dated April 21, 2026) includes:
1. 4 MCD 5000 Desksets with Radio Gateway Units (RGUs), rack hardware, and accessories
2. 8 APX All-Band Consolettes (7 primary + 1 spare) with SmartZone, AES Encryption, ASTRO 25 OTAR, P25 Trunking, and 3-Year Essential Service agreements
3. 8-Channel Control Station Combiner (passive, 764–869 MHz)
4. Multiplexer, rack unit, and supporting hardware
The quote reflects a total discount of $39,033.88 off list pricing, with an estimated tax of $8,826.59, for a grand total of $125,022.11.
Component 2: Antenna System Installation- LBCRC Rooftop To support radio transmission and reception at the LBCRC EOC, a dedicated antenna system must be installed on the facility’s rooftop. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) Technology Division – Dispatch Systems Unit has submitted a proposal dated October 1, 2025, to furnish and install the complete antenna system for a total project cost of $7,401.61.
AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE DISPATCH CONSOLE AND RADIO ANTENNA SYSTEM
FOR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER REDUNDANCY AT THE LAGUNA BEACH
COMMUNITY & RECREATION CENTER
May 26, 2026
Project Scope and Benefits
The scope of OCSD’s work includes:
1. Non-penetrating roof-mounted antenna support structure with 10-foot mast and ballasting
2. Two (2) 800 MHz directional antennas and one (1) VHF fiberglass omnidirectional antenna
3. 200 feet of LMR-400 coaxial feedline with standoff hangers and connectors
4. Three (3) PolyPhaser lightning surge protectors and grounding bus bar
5. All installation labor (estimated 10 labor hours over two days), configuration, and system testing The City of Laguna Beach will be responsible for providing roof access, equipment room access, and any required site approvals or authorizations.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The Motorola equipment is being procured through a cooperative agreement leveraging Los Angeles County Contract No. MA-IS-2240228-2 (MOTOROLA COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT & SERVICES), which became effective July 1, 2025, and expires June 30, 2026. Pursuant to Laguna Beach Municipal Code Section 2.30.050(b) and (c), this purchase is exempt from competitive bidding as the Motorola equipment is exclusively available from one vendor and the underlying pricing was established through the competitive bidding efforts of Los Angeles County.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES
The City currently operates a single dispatch center located at City Hall. In the event that the primary dispatch location becomes unavailable, the proposed dispatch console at the LBCRC EOC will serve as a redundant backup, ensuring continuity of operations during emergencies.
This request is consistent with the City Council's commitment to public safety, emergency preparedness, and responsible fiscal stewardship. Establishing a secondary emergency communications capability at the LBCRC EOC maximizes the value of existing appropriations and advances the City's long-term goal of building a modern, resilient emergency operations infrastructure.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
This action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.) ("CEQA") because it does not qualify as a "project" under CEQA. The state CEQA Guidelines provide that "[a]n activity is not subject to CEQA if ... The activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378." (State CEQA Guidelines, § 15060(c).) Here, the action does not qualify as a "project" as defined in State CEQA Guidelines section 15378. Section 15378 defines a project as an activity that "has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment." (State CEQA Guidelines, §15378(a).) Here, the action is to approve the acquisition and installation of certain emergency communication devices and infrastructure. .
AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE DISPATCH CONSOLE AND RADIO ANTENNA SYSTEM
FOR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER REDUNDANCY AT THE LAGUNA BEACH
COMMUNITY & RECREATION CENTER
May 26, 2026
ATTACHMENTS
1. Cooperative Agreement: City of Laguna Beach and Motorola Solutions, Inc. (LA County Contract No.
MA-IS-2240228-2), and Motorola Solutions Quote No. 3293895, dated April 21, 2026 (Pgs. 5-43)
2. OCSD Technology Division Antenna System Proposal, dated October 1, 2025 (Pgs. 44-46) Submitted By: Jeff Calvert Approved: .David A Kiff
Jeff Calvert, Police Chief Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Cornelius Ashton, Acting Captain Matt Squires, Senior IT Analyst