CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
5/27/2025
1 SUBJECT:
Data Sharing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County of San Mateo and San Mateo County law enforcement agencies for a Data Aggregation Platform to provide a standardized approach and method of collection and sharing of information within their electronic data systems.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a resolution of the City Council of the City of Pacifica authorizing the execution of a Data Sharing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County of San Mateo, the Town of Atherton, the City of Belmont, the City of Brisbane, the Town of Broadmoor, the City of Burlingame, the City of Colma, the City of Daly City, the City of East Palo Alto, the City of Foster City, the City of Menlo Park, the City of Redwood City, the City of San Bruno, the City of San Mateo, and the City South San Francisco for a Data Aggregation Platform to provide a standardized approach and method of collection and sharing of information within their electronic data systems with no cost to the City of Pacifica.
STAFF CONTACT:
Brandon Smith, Police Sergeant
(650) 738-7314
[email protected]
Maria Sarasua, Police Chief
(650) 738-7314
[email protected]
BACKGROUND:
San Mateo County allied law enforcement agencies have a longstanding history of working together to provide efficient utilization of resources in public safety efforts. In 2023, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office secured grant funding from the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Organized Retail Theft Grant. The primary objectives of the grant are to fund law enforcement agency initiatives to address organized retail theft, vehicle and vehicle accessory theft, and cargo theft. Part of these funds supported the development of a data aggregation platform, designed to facilitate seamless information-sharing among San Mateo County law enforcement agencies and enhance bi-directional data collaboration.
The Police Department already participates in a data-sharing MOU with other law enforcement agencies in San Mateo County via Sunridge Systems RIMS which is our records management system. RIMS serves as the records management system for every agency in San Mateo County, as well as the computer aided dispatch software for all agencies not contracted with Public Safety Communications. While RIMS enables data sharing, it requires users to search each agency’s data independently, leading to redundant work and limited efficiency.
Additionally, users may need to log into multiple platforms to retrieve necessary information.
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The proposed software aggregation platform allows for centralized data access through a single, user-friendly application, streamlining data retrieval and improving operational efficiency.
This platform is meant to enhance and simplify access to existing data, not replace existing records management software.
The shared law enforcement system uses a software aggregation platform called C3 AI. The C3 AI tool will aggregate data from police records, dispatch software, license plate readers and other intelligence into a single application, enabling law enforcement to efficiently and accurately search through various disparate datasets.
This tool will enhance efficiency by allowing searches across multiple platforms to be completed within seconds, rather than taking several minutes or hours as previously required. In addition, it will improve accessibility by allowing officers to retrieve information directly from their patrol vehicles, eliminating the need to return to the police station to conduct follow-up inquiries. This increased accessibility will improve field operations and streamline investigative workflows.
DISCUSSION:
In January 2021, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office initiated a project with C3 AI to develop a consolidated data aggregation platform. The software consolidates data from four core record systems into a single, unified interface, enabling efficient cross-agency data viewing. The C3 AI Law Enforcement system went live in the Sheriff’s Office in March 2022. Daly City Police Department joined as a pilot agency, helping test the software’s ability to integrate data securely across multiple agencies. In September 2023, grant funding expanded the program to include the Pacifica Police Department and the police departments for the following cities: the Town of Atherton, the City of Belmont, the City of Brisbane, the Town of Broadmoor, the City of Burlingame, the City of Colma, the City of East Palo Alto, the City of Foster City, the City of Menlo Park, the City of Redwood City and the City South San Francisco. Daly City will fund implementation of the C3 AI Law Enforcement platform for their agency, as well as for the San Bruno and San Mateo Police Departments.
This platform supports collaboration amongst participating agencies and significantly improves investigative efficiency by simplifying data access. The platform is hosted within a Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS)-compliant secure government cloud environment managed by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. Its features support single source information procurement, including resolution/correlation of person and vehicle identities into one record, and it already contains and will provide access to San Mateo County law enforcement data. This software solution enhances public safety by efficiently integrating disparate data sources into a single, searchable platform for law enforcement personnel to derive investigative insights in near real-time. All shared data is managed securely and in compliance with applicable laws, with usage restricted to authorized personnel.
The proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between County law enforcement agencies will allow for more efficient secured sharing of data in support of public safety efforts.
The MOU establishes a standardized framework for collaboration and data exchange, specifically to enhance public safety using this centralized, AI-powered law enforcement system.
Authorized personnel from each agency will have secure, regulated access to shared data for investigative purposes, adhering to federal and state security standards. Member agencies retain control over their data and can restrict access as needed. The agreement emphasizes data security, proper training for users, compliance with legal standards, respect for privacy rights, and prohibits data use for immigration enforcement in a manner that is consistent with the City’s obligations, rights and applicable laws and regulations, including the California Values Pacifica City Council 3
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Act. The MOU will be reviewed every three years, with an option for parties to withdraw or amend. Agencies may withdraw from the MOU with 90 days’ notice.
The Pacifica Police Department would contribute data to the platform and only participating agencies would have access to the data. All agencies will share and participate in the Sheriff’s Office’s custom version of the application, which is hosted on the Sheriff’s Office secure government cloud account. All searches and queries into the platform are logged in an audit trail. The information residing in the shared data repositories would be used as a pointer system for investigative leads or guidance.
Data sharing among law enforcement agencies is essential for creating a comprehensive view of criminal activity across jurisdictions. This can enable a faster response and ultimately improve public safety. Staff recommends approving the MOU as it fosters a unified approach to data sharing across all participating entities. Approval of the MOU will enable the Pacifica Police Department to leverage this platform, optimizing resource use and reinforcing public safety efforts through efficient data-sharing and collaborative engagement ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
The City Council may choose not to adopt the proposed resolution.
RELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND WORK PLAN:
Strategic Goal 2 - Improve and steward City infrastructure, streets, and facilities.
FISCAL IMPACT
The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office fully funds the application through the BSCC Organized Retail Theft Grant, allowing the Pacifica Police Department access at no cost. There is no associated in-house cost as the associated databases are configured for data sharing.
ORIGINATED BY:
Police
ATTACHMENT LIST:
Attachment A: Data Sharing MOU (DOCX)
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RESOLUTION NO. _______
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PACIFICA AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A DATA SHARING MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) WITH THE COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, THE TOWN OF ATHERTON, THE CITY OF
BELMONT, THE CITY OF BRISBANE, THE TOWN OF BROADMOOR, THE CITY OF
BURLINGAME, THE CITY OF COLMA, THE CITY OF DALY CITY, THE CITY OF EAST
PALO ALTO, THE CITY OF FOSTER CITY, THE CITY OF MENLO PARK, THE CITY OF
REDWOOD CITY, THE CITY OF SAN BRUNO, THE CITY OF SAN MATEO, AND THE CITY
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO FOR A DATA AGGREGATION PLATFORM
WHEREAS, in 2023, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office secured grant funding from the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Organized Retail Theft Grant.
Part of these funds supported the development of a data aggregation platform, designed to facilitate seamless information-sharing among San Mateo County law enforcement agencies and enhance bi-directional data collaboration; and
WHEREAS, the proposed software aggregation platform allows for centralized data access through a single, user-friendly application, streamlining data retrieval and improving operational efficiency; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pacifica already participates in a data-sharing MOU with the other law enforcement agencies in San Mateo County via Sunridge Systems which serves as the records management system for every agency in San Mateo County, as well as the computer aided dispatch software for all agencies not contracted with Public Safety Communications; and
WHEREAS, approval of the MOU will significantly improve investigative efficiency by simplifying data access while maintaining a Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS)- compliant secure government cloud environment managed by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office; and
WHEREAS, the proposed data aggregation platform enhances public safety by efficiently integrating disparate data sources into a single, searchable platform allowing City of Pacifica Police Department personnel to derive investigative insights in near real-time and improving operational efficiency; and
WHEREAS, approval of the MOU will enable the City of Pacifica Police Department to leverage this platform, optimizing resource use and reinforcing public safety efforts through efficient data-sharing and collaborative engagement; and WHEREAS, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office fully funds the data aggregation platform through the BSCC Organized Retail Theft Grant, allowing the Pacifica Police Department to access the platform at no cost.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Pacifica that the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute a Data Sharing Memorandum Of Understanding with the County of San Mateo, the Town of Atherton, the City of Belmont, the Pacifica City Council 5
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City of Brisbane, the Town of Broadmoor, the City of Burlingame, the City of Colma, the City of Daly City, the City of East Palo Alto, the City of Foster City, the City of Menlo Park, the City of Redwood City, the City of San Bruno, the City of San Mateo, and the City South San Francisco for a data aggregation platform; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute the MOU in the form attached hereto, with minor revisions that may be approved by the City Attorney.
• • • • •
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Pacifica, California, held on the 27th day of May 2025, by the following vote:
AYES, Councilmembers:
NOES, Councilmembers:
ABSENT, Councilmembers:
ABSTAIN, Councilmembers:
_________________________
Sue Beckmeyer, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________ _________________________
Sarah Coffey, City Clerk Michelle Kenyon, City Attorney