City Council Staff Report Page 1 of 7 June 23, 2026
Staff Report
Agenda Item No. 6.1
DATE: June 23, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Joan Malloy, City Manager
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Five-Year Agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for Continued Use of the Integrated Public Safety Technology Ecosystem in an Amount Not to Exceed $1,995,420.50
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a five-year agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. (“Axon”). for the continued provision of the Police Department's integrated public safety technology ecosystem, including body-worn cameras, in-car video systems, conducted energy weapons (TASERs), Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) licensing, interview room recording systems, Axon Air drone technology, digital evidence management, video redaction software, cloud-based evidence storage, and associated hardware, software, training, maintenance, and support services.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
Goal C: Institute forward-thinking business, land use development, housing, social services, and public safety strategies that promote growth and innovation.
Strategy 13: Align public safety services with community needs based on a data-driven decision-making approach.
BACKGROUND
In October 2021, the Union City Police Department entered into a five-year agreement with Axon after evaluating available options and determining that Axon offered the best overall solution for officer safety, transparency, accountability, and evidence management. The current agreement is set to expire in October 2026.
Staff is requesting authorization to enter into a new five-year agreement with Axon to continue providing these critical services and technologies. Funding for this project was approved by the City Council as part of the adopted Fiscal Year 2025-2026 and Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budgets.
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While many components of the original agreement will remain unchanged, the proposed contract reflects the Department's evolving operational needs since 2021. Specifically, the agreement includes additional technology and equipment implemented during the current contract term, including drone-related hardware and software, Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) licensing, and additional equipment and licensing necessary to support staffing increases and expanded operational requirements.
The proposed agreement will continue to provide an integrated technology platform that includes body-worn cameras, in-car video systems, interview room cameras, digital evidence management, video redaction software, conducted energy weapons, drone technology, and other related public safety technologies. These tools remain essential to maintaining transparency, enhancing officer and community safety, and ensuring compliance with public records and evidentiary requirements.
DISCUSSION
Benefits of An Integrated Public Safety Technology Ecosystem The Union City Police Department recognizes the importance of maintaining public trust through transparency, accountability, and the responsible use of technology. Since entering into a partnership with Axon in 2021, the Department has successfully implemented a fully integrated public safety technology ecosystem that has enhanced evidence collection, streamlined investigative processes, improved officer safety, and increased transparency with the community.
Since implementation, the Department has successfully used the Axon platform to manage thousands of body-worn camera recordings, in-car video files, interview room recordings, and digital evidence submissions, while improving evidence sharing with prosecutors and reducing the administrative workload associated with evidence management and public records requests.
Over the past five years, these technologies have become an essential component of daily operations. Body-worn cameras, in-car video systems, interview room recording systems, digital evidence management, and less-lethal tools are now fully integrated into the Department's workflows. They are relied upon by officers, supervisors, prosecutors, and professional staff. The continued use of a single, integrated platform allows for seamless evidence collection, storage, review, redaction, and sharing while reducing administrative burdens and improving efficiency.
The proposed agreement will allow the Department to continue using these existing technologies while incorporating additional equipment, software, and services added since the original agreement. These enhancements include drone-related software, expanded licensing, additional in-car technology, and equipment necessary to support staffing growth and evolving operational needs.
Staff evaluated available options and determined that Axon is the sole source provider capable of delivering a fully integrated public safety technology ecosystem that combines body-worn cameras, in-car video systems, interview room recording, conducted energy Agenda Item No. 6.1
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weapons, drone integration, digital evidence management, artificial intelligence-assisted redaction tools, cloud-based storage, and evidence management within a single platform.
Maintaining a unified system minimizes training requirements, reduces administrative complexity, enhances evidentiary integrity, and avoids the significant costs associated with migrating data and replacing interconnected technologies.
In addition, the Department has utilized the Axon platform since 2021 and currently maintains more than five years of digital evidence within the Axon ecosystem.
Transitioning to another vendor would require migrating substantial amounts of evidentiary data, resulting in high costs, operational disruption, additional training requirements, and potential evidentiary challenges. For these reasons, staff has determined that Axon is uniquely qualified to provide the required services and equipment and therefore qualifies as a sole source provider for this integrated public safety technology solution.
The proposed agreement will continue to provide the Department with industry-leading technology solutions that support officer safety, operational effectiveness, transparency, accountability, and compliance with public records and evidentiary requirements.
Key Components of the Proposed Agreement
• Axon Body-Worn Cameras
The proposed agreement provides continued deployment and support of Axon body-worn cameras for sworn personnel. These cameras provide high-definition audio and video recordings, enhanced battery life, GPS functionality, wireless connectivity, and automatic activation features. Body-worn cameras have become an important tool for documenting police interactions, collecting evidence, increasing transparency, and enhancing accountability. The integrated platform enables efficient evidence management and sharing while reducing the administrative workload associated with evidence processing and public records requests.
The body-worn camera system also includes real-time livestreaming capabilities that provide supervisors and incident commanders with enhanced situational awareness during critical incidents. This functionality improves operational coordination, supports informed decision-making, and enhances officer safety during rapidly evolving events.
The system also integrates with Axon's real-time operations platform, allowing authorized personnel to access live video when necessary for operations.
Axon Fleet 3 In-Car Video Systems, Point of View (POV) Cameras, and Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR)
The Axon Fleet 3 system provides fully integrated in-car video recording capabilities that synchronize with body-worn cameras and other Axon devices. The system automatically records critical events based on configured triggers, including emergency light activation, siren activation, firearm unholstering, and conducted energy weapon deployment. Video evidence is securely uploaded to Evidence.com, allowing for rapid review, evidence management, and sharing with investigators and prosecutors.
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The proposed agreement also includes five Axon Point-of-View (POV) cameras for the Department's Traffic Unit motorcycle officers. These cameras are specifically designed for motorcycle deployment and provide high-definition video recording capabilities while operating in the field. Similar to Fleet 3 cameras installed in patrol vehicles, POV cameras integrate directly with the Axon ecosystem and synchronize with body-worn cameras and other Axon devices. This technology enhances transparency, accountability, and evidence collection during traffic enforcement, collision investigations, special events, and other motorcycle operations while ensuring that critical interactions are accurately documented.
In addition to the Fleet 3 and POV camera systems, the proposed agreement includes 30 Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) camera licenses. These licenses allow Fleet 3 cameras to function as mobile ALPR units, significantly expanding the Department's ability to identify stolen vehicles, vehicles associated with wanted suspects, AMBER Alerts, and vehicles involved in felony investigations, as well as other public safety concerns.
The addition of mobile ALPR technology enhances the Department's existing ALPR network and investigative analytics platforms by increasing coverage throughout the community and providing officers with real-time investigative information while on patrol.
Unlike fixed ALPR cameras, mobile ALPR systems allow officers to actively scan vehicles throughout the city, increasing the likelihood of locating wanted vehicles and suspects.
The integration of ALPR technology supports crime reduction efforts, improves investigative capabilities, and enhances officer and community safety while maintaining compliance with applicable privacy and data retention requirements.
Together, the Fleet 3 vehicle systems, Point of View motorcycle cameras, and mobile ALPR technology provide a comprehensive video and intelligence platform that improves evidence collection, officer accountability, transparency, and public safety operations throughout the City.
• Axon TASER Ecosystem
The agreement includes the continued deployment and support of Axon-conducted energy weapons and associated accessories. The system integrates with body-worn cameras and Fleet systems, allowing critical incidents involving less-lethal force to be automatically documented and recorded. The TASER ecosystem includes training support, equipment replacement, software integration, and reporting tools that improve accountability while providing officers with effective less-lethal options. • Evidence.com Digital Evidence Management System
Evidence.com serves as the Department's centralized digital evidence management platform. The system securely stores body-worn camera footage, in-car video, interview room recordings, drone footage, photographs, and other digital evidence. The cloudbased platform allows authorized users to quickly access, review, manage, and share evidence with prosecutors and investigators while eliminating the need for costly on-site storage infrastructure. The system also improves efficiency by simplifying evidence transfers and maintaining comprehensive audit trails.
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The platform also includes automated evidence-tagging capabilities that use artificial intelligence to categorize and organize digital evidence. Auto-tagging reduces administrative workload, improves evidence retrieval, and assists investigators and prosecutors in efficiently locating and reviewing relevant digital evidence. • Axon Community Link
The proposed agreement includes Axon Community Link, a secure digital communication platform designed to improve interactions between the Police Department and the community. Community Link allows officers and staff to electronically share crime prevention information and other relevant materials with community members through a secure online portal. Additionally, community members can share evidence with officers through this system. This technology enhances customer service, improves accessibility, reduces administrative workload, and supports the Department's commitment to transparency and modern service delivery. The platform also streamlines communications by providing community members with secure access to information without requiring in-person visits or extensive staff involvement. • Axon Redaction Assistant
The agreement includes advanced automated redaction software designed to assist staff in processing public records requests and releasing video evidence. Utilizing artificial intelligence, the system can automatically identify and redact faces, license plates, computer screens, and other protected information. This technology significantly reduces the staff time required to process video evidence while ensuring compliance with applicable privacy laws and public disclosure requirements. • Axon Performance
Axon Performance provides supervisors with a comprehensive platform to review bodyworn camera footage, monitor policy compliance, document performance, and identify training opportunities. The system streamlines supervisory review processes and provides valuable analytics to help the Department maintain accountability, reduce liability exposure, and ensure compliance with departmental policies and best practices. • Axon Interview Room Recording System
The agreement includes continued support for interview room recording equipment and software. The system provides high-definition audio and video recording capabilities, automated uploads to Evidence.com, and secure storage of interviews and statements.
Integration with the Department's evidence management system ensures consistency, reliability, and ease of access for investigators and prosecutors. • Axon Air Drone Program
The proposed agreement includes Axon Air, a comprehensive drone ecosystem that integrates unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), cloud-based evidence management, flight operations software, and real-time situational awareness tools into the Department's Agenda Item No. 6.1
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existing Axon platform. The system allows authorized personnel to safely deploy drones during critical incidents, searches, tactical operations, crime scene documentation, disaster response, and other public safety events.
Axon Air enhances officer and community safety by providing real-time aerial intelligence while reducing the need to place personnel in potentially dangerous situations. The system includes DroneSense flight management software, real-time mobile streaming capabilities, unlimited evidence storage for drone operations, and professional implementation services. These capabilities allow authorized personnel and command staff to access live aerial video during critical incidents, improving situational awareness, decision-making, and operational effectiveness. Drone-captured video and imagery are automatically uploaded and managed within Evidence.com, ensuring secure storage, streamlined evidence sharing, and compliance with evidentiary requirements. Integrating drone operations into the Department's existing Axon ecosystem improves efficiency, accountability, and transparency while providing valuable investigative and operational capabilities.
• Technology Refresh and Equipment Replacement
The proposed agreement includes scheduled technology refreshes and equipment replacement throughout the contract term. The agreement provides for replacement body-worn cameras, Point of View (POV) cameras, docking stations, and other associated equipment at designated intervals to ensure personnel continue to utilize current-generation technology. This approach reduces the need for significant future capital expenditures, minimizes equipment obsolescence, and ensures officers have access to modern, reliable, and fully supported public safety technology throughout the life of the agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff evaluated the costs of maintaining separate technology platforms and determined that continuing with Axon's fully integrated ecosystem is the most cost-effective and operationally efficient solution. The proposed agreement consolidates body-worn cameras, in-car video systems, conducted energy weapons, drone technology, digital evidence management, cloud-based storage, redaction software, and related support services under a single vendor and platform.
Maintaining a unified system eliminates the costs and operational challenges associated with managing multiple vendors, separate software platforms, independent data storage solutions, and complex evidence migration processes. In addition, the integrated platform provides ongoing equipment replacement, software updates, training, technical support, and unlimited cloud-based storage throughout the term of the agreement.
According to Axon's pricing analysis, the proposed bundled agreement results in estimated savings of $750,935.80 over the five-year term compared to purchasing the individual components and services separately. The bundled approach allows the Department to maximize value while maintaining a fully integrated public safety technology ecosystem.
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The total cost of the proposed five-year agreement is $1,995,420.50, including applicable taxes. Annual costs are structured as follows:
• Year 1: $399,084.09
• Years 2 through 4: $399,084.07 annually
• Year 5: $399,084.20
The City Council approved funding for the first year of this project as part of the adopted Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget. Funds for this contract have been appropriated in the account number 11017001-54111. Funding for subsequent years will be considered and appropriated through the City's biennial budget process.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a five-year agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $1,995,420.50, for the continued provision of the Police Department's integrated public safety technology ecosystem, including conducted energy weapons (TASERs), bodyworn cameras, Point of View motorcycle cameras, in-car video systems, automated license plate recognition (ALPR) licensing, interview room recording systems, Axon Air drone technology, Axon Community Link, digital evidence management, video redaction software, artificial intelligence-assisted evidence management tools, cloud-based evidence storage, and associated hardware, software, training, maintenance, warranties, and support services.
Prepared by: Andrew Holt, Police Captain
Submitted by: Jared Rinetti, Police Chief
Attachments:
1. Draft Resolution
2. Exhibit A – Axon MSPA and Binding Quote
3. PowerPoint Presentation