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DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
MEMORANDUM
TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITlf COUNCIL
FROM: SERJIK ARZOUMANIANS, ACTING CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER DATE: JUNE 8, 2026
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SUBJECT: PROPOSED CONTRACTWITH MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC. FOR THE PURCHASE OF TWO-WAY
RADIO EQUIPMENT, PARTS, AN D ACCESSORIES
Executive Summary
On April 13, 2026, the Department of Information Technology (DolT) submitted a City Council agenda report to authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Motorola Solutions Inc. (Motorola) pursuant to City Charter Section 1002(H), contracts with other governmental entities or their contractors, for the purchase of radio equipment, parts, and accessories. The proposed contract would be through July 24, 2029, in an amount not to exceed $3,530,000. The proposed contract utilizes a competitive cooperative purchasing mechanism through Sourcewell. Sourcewell issued a public Request for Proposals (RFP) on December 12, 2024, and Motorola was awarded a contract that any government agency may use to obtain discounted pricing, meeting all formal competitive selection requirements in the City.
At the meeting, concerns were raised over Motorola's holding of contracts with the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), inclusive of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Division. Given those concerns, questions were raised on: (1) whether the City could realistically move away from Motorola; (2) the implications of moving away from Motorola on mutual aid coordination; and (3) if there is a suitable alternative to Motorola. Because of these concerns and questions, the agenda item was held, and staff was asked to return to Council with information in response thereto.
Based on the research below in response to the concerns and questions from Council, staff recommends proceeding with the proposed contract with Motorola, as decoupling from the regional Interagency Communications Interoperability (ICI) System that is built on Motorola technology would incur significant costs, and more importantly could limit and disrupt Pasadena's ability to effectively communicate with its 38 regional partners across Los Angeles County who also operate on the system.
Background on Pasadena's Participation in the ICI System The City is a founding member of the ICI system, a Joint Powers Authority established in 2003. On December 4, 2017, the City Council authorized a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Glendale to share infrastructure and operations for a combined radio system. This agreement, executed on February 28, 2018, includes a two-year cancellation clause, but has since delivered substantial 06/08/2026
ITEM 19
Contract with Motorola Solutions, Inc. for Equipment, Parts, and Accessories June 8, 2026
operational, financial, and public safety benefits.
The ICI System has grown into a major regional public safety communications network, now supporting 38 agencies across Los Angeles County, representing a cumulative investment exceeding $230 million in Motorola infrastructure. Pasadena benefits from extensive interoperability with surrounding jurisdictions, a capability that has proven critical during major incidents, such as the recent Eaton fire.
During such events, seamless radio communication eliminates coordination gaps, optimizes responsiveness, and improves safety for both first responders and the public.
Through its ICI system membership, Pasadena has access to 102 shared radio channels and 436 repeaters across the Southern California region. Eighteen of these channels directly support Pasadena's Police, Fire, Water and Power, PublicWorks, Transportation, and Parks operations. In contrast, without participation in thelCI system, the City would be limited to only four FCC licensed public safety channels to support more than 2,000 radio users. The shared regional infrastructure is therefore essential to daily operations and large-scale emergency response. Additionally, the City's partnership with Verdugo Fire Communications, which provides all fire dispatch services, also relies on this integrated system.
Pasadena would otherwise be required to construct and operate an independent fire dispatch center if it moved off the ICI system.
1. Feasibility of Replacing Motorola
While technically possible, replacing the Motorola-based radio system with a new platform would be a mutti-year effort expected to cost tens of millions of dollars. Costs would include constructing a fully independent communications network and fire dispatch center, reprogramming or replacing more than 2,000 subscriber radios, upgrading or replacing police dispatch consoles and network equipment, and conducting extensive retraining of dispatchers, field personnel, and technical staff.
Such a transition would likely introduce service disruptions, reduce reliability during migration, and diminish interoperability with regional partners.
2. Implications of Replacing Motorola on Mutual Aid Communications Operationally, leaving the ICI system would significantly impact mutual aid communications. The City would lose native access to the 102 shared radio channels and 436 repeaters used by 38 partner agencies. Temporary interoperability measures, such as patches or dual band radios, are functional but slower, less reliable, and less efficient under emergent conditions.
This loss of seamless communications would affect coordination during mutual aid events, citywide emergencies, and regional disasters. Maintaining interoperability would require surrounding jurisdictions to adjust their operations, creating additional regional complexity.
3. Suitable Alternative to Motorola
Alternative vendors such as L3Harris, Kenwood-JVC, and Tait Communications do exist and maintain contracts with many of the same federal agencies as Motorola. However, determining suitability requires evaluating operational impacts, not just vendor availability.
As previously mentioned, Pasadena's radio environment is integrated into the regional ICI system, which is built on Motorola ASTRO technology. Surrounding jurisdictions, including Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles, operate on the same platform.
Transitioning to another vendor would create:
• loss of seamless interoperability with regional partners; Contract with Motorola Solutions, Inc. for Equipment, Parts, and Accessories June 8, 2026
the need for patches, gateways, or replacement subscriber radios; significant migration, implementation, and retraining costs; risks of temporary service disruptions during cutover; and replacement of Motorola's mature support ecosystem with a newer vendor support model.
Although alternatives exist, the cost, risk, operational disruption, and ongoing communication challenges associated with Pasadena having and maintaining its own radio system make such a move impractical to consider. Further, replacingthe region's Motorola-based ICI system would be a mutti- year, multi-million-dollareffortthat would need to be coordinated with all 38 partner agencies in the best interests of maintaining the benefits that regional communication interoperability provides.