City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: MAY 12, 2026 FROM: POLICE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL SUBJECT: PURCHASE OF CLIPS SOFTWARE AND LICENSES FROM COMMSYS CALIFORNIA LLC, OF CENTERVILLE, OHIO, FOR CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM CONNECTIVITY FOR A FIVE-YEAR TERM IN THE AMOUNT OF $241,776 ISSUE:
Authorize the purchase of CLIPS software and licenses from CommSys California LLC, of Centerville, Ohio, for California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) connectivity for a five-year term in the amount of $241,776.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council authorize the purchase of CLIPS software and licenses from CommSys California LLC, of Centerville, Ohio, for California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) connectivity for a five-year term in the amount of $241,776.
BACKGROUND:
The Riverside Police Department (RPD) requires California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) access to instantly access state, federal, and local criminal justice databases for information, including but not limited to, criminal records, warrants, vehicle registrations, and protective orders. The current software used by RPD to connect to CLETS is Motorola OpenQuery. The RPD is currently the only remaining agency still using this platform to run CLETS inquiries. OpenQuery is no longer supported by Motorola and is not compliant with California Department of Justice (DOJ) requirements including AB1747. Therefore, RPD is required to purchase new software to retain CLETS connectivity.
DISCUSSION
The RPD Communications Center currently uses the Motorola, PremierOne, Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) environment through CommSys, ConnectCIC. The same vender (CommSys California LLC) offers replacement computer-based software for accessing the CLETS system called CLIPS.
CLIPS (by CommSys California LLC) is the only Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) software capable of utilizing ConnectCIC for CLETS connectivity. Selecting another software vendor would require replacement of the CAD system.
The RPD can use the existing CAD system to connect to CLETS in an emergency situation but not as the primary connection. The CAD system is not designed to be used regularly to connect to CLETS. It is not an efficient use of the CAD system. However, utilizing CLIPS with our existing CAD connection through ConnectCIC, offers redundancy to maintain CLETS connection which is imperative in keeping RPD Officers safe and informed.
Therefore, the Police Department is proposing to purchase CLIPS software and licenses from the manufacturer, CommSys California LLC, in the amount of $241,776 for a five-year term.
Purchasing Resolution 24101, Section 702 states that, “Competitive Procurement through the Informal Procurement and Formal Procurement process shall not be required in any of the following circumstances…(c) When the Procurement can only be obtained from a sole source and the Manager is satisfied that the best price, terms, and conditions for the Procurement thereof have been negotiated.” The Purchasing Manager concurs that the recommendation is in compliance with Purchasing Resolution 24101.
The Chief Innovation Officer concurs with staff’s recommendations and confirms that this item is in accordance with the City’s technology standards, guidelines and policies FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of the action is $241,776 over a five-year term. Funding is budgeted and available in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Police Administrative Services, State COPS 24/25 Account 9353100-440210 in the amount of $134,106 for FY 2025/26. Sufficient funds for the subsequent four years as outlined in the table below have been included in the proposed FY 2026-2028 Biennial Budget for adoption by City Council in June. Future years budgets will be incorporated in the department’s budget for the remaining contract years.
Year
Description
Amount
Year 1
Annual Support and Maintenance, One-Time License Purchases, One-Time Fees $134,106
Year 2
Annual Support and Maintenance
$25,356
Year 3
Annual Support and Maintenance
$26,370
Year 4
Annual Support and Maintenance
$27,424
Year 5
Annual Support and Maintenance
$28,520
Total:
$241,776
Prepared by: Brandi Becker, Police Administrator
Approved by: Larry Gonzalez, Chief of Police
Certified as to
availability of funds: Julie Nemes, Interim Finance Director Approved by: Mike Futrell, City Manager
Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Attachment: CommSys California LLC, CLIPS Quote for five years Purchase of CommSys CLIPS Software 2026 • Page 2