City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: SEPTEMBER 16, 2025 FROM: POLICE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL SUBJECT: ACQUISITION OF SMART PROGRAMMING SUBSCRIPTIONS FROM MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS FOR UP TO 550 MOTOROLA APX NEXT SINGLE BAND MODEL 4.5 PORTABLE RADIOS IN THE AMOUNT OF $182,622 – ASSET FORFEITURE FUNDS TRANSFER AND SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION IN THE SAME AMOUNT ISSUE:
Approve the purchase of Smart Programming Subscriptions from Motorola Solutions for up to 550 Motorola APX Next Single Band Model 4.5 Portable Radios in the amount of $182,622 and authorize a supplemental appropriation in the same amount from the Federal Treasury Asset Forfeiture Trust Account to the Grant and Restricted Programs Fund Police Department Account as detailed in this report.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That City Council:
Approve the purchase of Smart Programming subscriptions from Motorola Solutions for up to 550 Motorola APX Next Single Band Model 4.5 Portable Radios in the amount of $182,622, and With at least five affirmative votes, Authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenue in the amount of $182,622 and an equal amount appropriated in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Police Asset Forfeiture Programs revenue and expenditure accounts, fully funded from the Interest Bearing Special Deposits Fund, Federal Treasury Asset Forfeiture Trust Account as detailed in this report.
BACKGROUND:
On July 2, 2024, the City Council approved the purchase of up to 550 Motorola APX Next Single Band Model 4.5 Portable Radios, radio accessories, software, and warranty from Motorola Solutions, Inc., of San Diego, California, in the amount of $4,930,632.19 to replace all existing Motorola handheld radios and authorized the City Manager, or designee, to execute any documents that may be necessary to complete the purchase of the radios.
DISCUSSION:
Handheld radios are required safety equipment for each Riverside Police Department (RPD) Police Officer and civilian field personnel. As of FY24/25, RPD uses the Motorola APX Next Single Band Model 4.5 Portable Radio. The purchase of the radios included a 1-year subscription for several smart features that were not available on the previous model including the following:
Smart Connect - The ability to transmit over LTE cellular under emergency circumstances. This provides an officer with the ability to connect to dispatchers, supervisors, and other officers through a cellular connection in an area where a PSEC radio signal is not available.
Smart Locate – A safety feature that uses GPS functionality to allow radio users to locate one another in real time. Police Officers and other field personnel will be able to quickly find an officer actively engaged in a call and requesting emergency assistance.
Smart Mapping – A safety feature that allows designated personnel, such as dispatchers and supervisors, to see where every field employee with a radio is in real time geographically on a map display.
Smart Programming – The ability for the radio system administrator to troubleshoot and update radio programming remotely through an LTE cellular connection.
All of the smart features are necessary for the safety of the officers and have proven to be valuable tools for the Department. Subscriptions for year 2 (November 1, 2025, through October 31, 2026) are quoted to be $182,622. The Department is requesting to renew the subscriptions for another year and will fund the purchase with Asset Forfeiture Funds from the Federal Treasury Asset Forfeiture Trust Account.
The purchase is in accordance with Purchasing Resolution No. 24101, Section 702(u) which states, “Competitive Procurement through the Informal Procurement and Formal Procurement process shall not be required in any of the following circumstances… (u) “When the procurement id for the renewal of maintenance, license(s), support, or a similar need for existing technology systems, including hardware, and the items are procured from a vendor/reseller that was originally selected based on the City’s procurement standards, provided that 1) the vendor has been used consecutively since then and 2) if there are any non-substantive changes to the procurement, the Manger is satisfied that the best price, terms and conditions have been negotiated.” The Purchasing Manager concurs that this purchase complies with Purchasing Resolution No. 24101 Section 702(u).
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is an increase in revenue and expenditures of $182,622 for FY 2025/26. Upon City Council approval, an increase in revenue will be recorded in the amount $182,622 and an equal amount appropriated in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Police Asset Forfeiture US Treasury Software Purchases/Licenses Expenditure Account No. 3145501-425700 fully funded by the Interest Bearing Special Deposits Fund, Federal Treasury Asset Forfeiture Trust Account No. 0000721-225112.
The proposed annual cost of up to $182,622 for the smart features in future years will be included in the Departments budget during budget development for those fiscal years. The cost may vary based on the needs of each radio user.
Prepared by: Chris Wagner, Police Captain
Approved by: Larry V. Gonzalez, Chief of Police
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Mike Futrell, City Manager
Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Attachment: Quote
Motorola Radio - Smart Programming Subscription Purchase Year 2 – Page 2