City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: OCTOBER 6, 2026 FROM: POLICE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL SUBJECT: PURCHASE OF SMART PROGRAMMING SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR UP TO 550 MOTOROLA APX NEXT SINGLE BAND MODEL 4.5 PORTABLE RADIOS FROM MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC. OF COLUMBIA, MARYLAND IN THE AMOUNT OF $183,583.50 AND AUTHORIZE A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION IN THE SAME AMOUNT ISSUE:
Consider approving the purchase of Smart Programming Subscriptions for up to 550 Motorola APX Next Single Band Model 4.5 Portable Radios from Motorola Solutions, Inc. of Columbia, Maryland in the amount of $183,583.50 and authorize a supplemental appropriation of asset forfeiture funds in the amount of $183,583.50 from the Federal Treasury Asset Forfeiture Trust Account to the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Police Asset Forfeiture US Treasury Software Purchases/Licenses Program Account.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That City Council:
Approve the purchase of Smart Programming subscriptions for up to 550 Motorola APX Next Single Band Model 4.5 Portable Radios in the amount of $183,583.50 from Motorola Solutions, Inc. of Columbia, Maryland; With at least five affirmative votes, authorize a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $183,583.50 to the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Police Asset Forfeiture US Treasury Software Purchases/Licenses Program Account from the Federal Treasury Asset Forfeiture Trust Account for the purchase of Smart Programming subscriptions for up to 550 Motorola APX Next Single Band Model 4.5 Portable Radios, fully funded by the Interest Bearing Special Deposits Fund, Federal Treasury Asset Forfeiture Trust Account; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the Purchase Order with Motorola Solutions, Inc., including making minor and non-substantive changes.
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. The approved purchase included one year of Smart Programming subscriptions.
On September 16, 2025, the City Council approved the purchase of the second year 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 authorized 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.
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. Therefore, a subscription for year 2 (November 1, 2025, through October 31, 2026) was approved by City Council on September 15, 2025 and purchased shortly thereafter.
The smart features continue to be a valuable tool for the Department and the RPD is requesting to renew the subscription for another year (November 1, 2026 through October 31, 2027) in the amount of $183,583.50 and will fund the purchase with Asset Forfeiture Funds from the Federal Treasury Asset Forfeiture Trust Account.
Purchasing Overview
This action is pursuant to Purchasing Resolution 24421, Section 702 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 is 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 Manager is satisfied that the best price, terms and conditions have been negotiated.” The Purchasing Manager concurs that the recommended action is compliant with Purchasing Resolution 24421.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is an increase in revenue and expenditures of $183,583.50 for FY 2026/27. Upon City Council approval, an increase in revenue will be recorded in the amount $183,583.50 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.
Prepared by: Chris Wagner, Police Captain
Approved by: Larry V. Gonzalez, Chief of Police
Certified as to
availability of funds: Julie Nemes, Finance Director
Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: James Johnson, City Attorney
Attachment: Quote No. 3475037
Motorola Radio - Smart Programming Subscription Purchase Year 3 – Page 2