HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 09h - Purchase of iPads and Mounting Components
STAFF REPORT
FIRE DEPARTMENT
DATE: September 15, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Chen Suen, Fire Chief
By: Richard Oishi, Deputy Fire Chief
SUBJECT: PURCHASE ORDER WITH THE CITY OF GLENDALE’S VERDUGO FIRE
COMMUNICATIONS CENTER FOR THE PURCHASE OF IPADS, HAVIS
MOUNTS, AND RELATED MOUNTING COMPONENTS REQUIRED FOR
THE VERDUGO COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH (“CAD”) UPGRADE, IN THE
AMOUNT OF $38,242
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: Approve
SUMMARY
The Arcadia Fire Department receives emergency fire and medical dispatch services
through the Verdugo Fire Communications Center ("Verdugo"). As part of its
Computer Aided Dispatch ("CAD") system upgrade, participating agencies are
required to provide compatible equipment that interfaces with the Verdugo system.
After assessing the Arcadia Fire Department’s existing Mobile Data Computer
(“MDC”) system, Verdugo determined that Arcadia would need to purchase 18 Apple
iPads, 16 Havis mounts, and related mounting components. This purchase will
replace all MDCs from the Fire Department’s emergency response vehicles, and
totals $38,242. Sufficient funds have been allocated in the FY 2026-27 Fire
Communication and Technology Equipment Replacement Budget for this purchase.
It is recommended that the City Council approve a Purchase Order with the City of
Glendale’s Verdugo Fire Communications Center for the purchase of iPads,
Havis mounts, and related mounting components required for the Verdugo CAD
upgrade project, in the amount of $38,242.
Purchase Order for iPads and Mounting Components
September 15, 2026
Page 2 of 3
BACKGROUND
The Verdugo system provides regional fire and emergency medical dispatch services,
and supports coordinated communications among participating agencies, including
the City of Arcadia. Current dispatch technology and the regionalized approach by
Verdugo allow the Fire Department to meet industry standards for response times.
The City of Arcadia’s 2014 Agreement with City of Glendale’s Verdugo Fire
Communications Center for dispatch services identifies the responsibilities of its
participating cities, including their equipment that interface with the Verdugo system.
Section IB of the Agreement, “Responsibilities of Contracting City”, requires the City
of Arcadia to provide equipment, hardware, and software that interface with the
Verdugo System. Additionally, Section II, “Equipment”, requires the City to purchase,
install, test, and maintain the equipment and hardware necessary to perform its
responsibilities under Section IB of the Agreement, and is responsible for all costs
related to the purchase and installation of such equipment. Accordingly, Arcadia is
contractually responsible for the cost of the equipment necessary to maintain
compatibility with Verdugo’s upgraded CAD system.
DISCUSSION
In FY 2025-26, as part of the required Verdugo Dispatch CAD upgrade, the need for
mobile equipment to support incident dispatch information in the
field was identified, which would replace all MDCs in Fire Department emergency
response vehicles. The required equipment for Arcadia consists of the purchase and
installation of 18 Apple iPads, 16 Havis mounts, and related mounting equipment to
Fire Department emergency response vehicles. These devices and mounts offer a
standardized mobile platform for receiving and accessing CAD
information, including data utilized for dispatching, incident coordination, and unit
status. Standardizing the mobile CAD platform also supports interoperability with
the broader Verdugo Dispatch Area.
The total cost for the required equipment is $38,242. This purchase is essential for
completing the City of Arcadia’s portion of the CAD upgrade and ensuring continued
compatibility with Verdugo’s regional dispatch platform. Verdugo is coordinating the
acquisition and purchase of the standardized equipment on behalf of participating
Purchase Order for iPads and Mounting Components
September 15, 2026
Page 3 of 3
agencies, and Arcadia is responsible for reimbursing Verdugo for its allocated
equipment.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California
Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), as it can be seen with certainty that it will have
no impact on the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total cost for the 18 iPads, 16 Havis mounts, and related mounting components
required for the Verdugo CAD upgrade is $38,242. Under the City's Agreement for
fire dispatch services, the contracting city (e.g. City of Arcadia) shall be responsible
for all costs related to the purchase of equipment and hardware necessary to
interface with, and support, the Verdugo system. In the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Fire
Communication and Technology Equipment Replacement Budget, $200,000 has
been budgeted for this purchase. The budgeted amount is substantially higher than
the final expense because the budget was developed before the exact number of
units and pieces of equipment were known.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council find that the proposed action does not
constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"); and
approve a Purchase Order with the City of Glendale’s Verdugo Fire Communications
Center for the purchase of iPads, Havis mounts, and related mounting components,
required for the Verdugo Computer Aided Dispatch (“CAD”) upgrade, in the amount
of $38,242.