Police Department
www.santa-ana.org/pd
Item # 14
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
January 20, 2026
TOPIC: Automated Parking Citation and Processing Services
AGENDA TITLE
Agreement with Turbo Data Systems, Inc. for Automated Parking Citation and Processing Services (Specification No. 25-114) (General Fund)
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Turbo Data Systems, Inc. to provide automated parking citation and processing services in an amount not to exceed $2,657,098, for a term beginning February 15, 2026 and expiring February 14, 2029, with provisions for two, one-year extensions (Agreement No. A-2026-XXX).
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: Yes
DISCUSSION
Automated Parking Citation and Processing Services
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In 2004, the City of Santa Ana began contracting with a vendor to provide automated parking citation and processing services to the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD).
The contracted services include managing the parking citation database, processing parking citations, sending daily payment notices for collection, providing a customer service call center, and collections of unpaid citations.
The City’s current parking citation processing agreement with Data Ticket is set to expire on February 14, 2026. To ensure citation processing service continues uninterrupted, the Police Department issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 25-114 on September 11, 2025, via the City’s online bid management and publication system.
A summary of vendor participation and results is as follows:
299 Vendors notified
9 Santa Ana Vendors notified
20 Vendors downloaded the RFP packet
4 Responsive proposals received
1 Responsive proposal received from Santa Ana vendor
Four proposals were submitted by the RFP deadline, which were determined to be responsive to the specifications, and met the City’s requirements. The proposals were evaluated and scored by a committee pursuant to the criteria identified within the RFP.
This included Organization / Completeness of Response, Background, Qualifications & Experience, Key Personnel / Proposed Staffing, Technical Approach / Methodology, and Cost Proposal.
Staff recommends awarding an agreement to the highest-ranked firm, Turbo Data Systems, Inc (TDS) (Exhibit 1). TDS has been in business since 1985 providing citation processing services. TDS services more than 150 municipalities and colleges across California, most of whom they have partnered with for over 20 years. With offices in Santa Ana and San Jose, TDS has a team of 30-plus professionals delivering fast, reliable services to their clients. TDS has an established partnership with the California Department of Motor Vehicles as well as the Franchise Tax Board, as it pertains to citation processing.
TDS also has an existing partnership with LAZ (the City’s current parking control provider), which will allow for a seamless transition. TDS has their own citation issuance devices, which are pre-programmed with all necessary applications.
Turbo Data Systems, Inc.’s enhancements include cloud-based products and services.
This consists of a platform which supports the parking citation processing, as well as the mobile enforcement and technology integrations. Customers have the ability to pay citations via the TDS portal or make a payment over the phone. Customers also have the ability to contest the citation immediately following the issuance of the citation. City staff will have immediate access to information they need to assist customers.
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TDS's web platform requires no dependency on the police department network, but data from the citations will be interfaced to the Police Department’s Records Management System. Their software solution will enable City staff to develop statistical information on citations issued (i.e., location of citations, violation types, time, and days issued) quickly and efficiently. Staff anticipates TDS’s previous experience and services to larger municipalities, along with their core services, will allow for minimal disruption during the transition period.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.
FISCAL IMPACT
The current fiscal year funding is available in the FY 25-26 budget and future fiscal year funding will be included in the proposed budgets for City Council consideration as follows:
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Fiscal
Year
Accounting Unit
– Account #
Fund
Description
Accounting Unit,
Account
Description
Amount
FY 25-26
(Feb. - June) 01114405-62300 General Fund
Traffic, Contract
Services-
Professional
$ 332,137
FY 26-27 01114405-62300 General Fund
Traffic, Contract
Services-
Professional
$ 885,699
FY 27-28 01114405-62300 General Fund
Traffic, Contract
Services-
Professional
$ 885,699
FY 28-29
(July – Feb.) 01114405-62300 General Fund
Traffic, Contract
Services-
Professional
$ 553,563
Total $2,657,098
The amounts above are estimates only and are subject to change. If an increase to the not-to-exceed amount is necessary due to higher than projected out-of-state, delinquency, and Franchise Tax Board collections, or upon exercising the options to extend the term, the item will be presented to City Council for approval in the future.
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Agreement with Turbo Data Systems, Inc.
Submitted By: Robert Rodriguez, Police Chief
Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager