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Council approves purchase of web-based emergency operations software, 13-0
Summary
The City Council unanimously authorized purchase of an off-the-shelf emergency operations software package budgeted at $992,000 and granted authority to proceed after resolving a vendor property-rights issue.
The Los Angeles City Council on Feb. 2 unanimously approved a request to purchase an off‑the‑shelf emergency operations software package intended to improve the city’s emergency operations center capabilities.
Bob Canfield of the City Administrative Officer’s office and staff from the emergency operations organization described the software as a web-based emergency management system that adds mapping, improved damage assessment and better information organization. Canfield told the council the purchase had been budgeted in the CAO’s $992,000 allocation but that a property-rights issue with the vendor required explicit council authority to move forward.
Councilmember Padilla, who called the item special, and Councilmember Ridley-Thomas praised the effort to modernize the city’s emergency-information systems and noted the product is the first of its kind being implemented by a U.S. city, according to staff. Padilla said the system would make the emergency operations center more intuitive and improve coordination.
The council voted 13-0 to approve the purchase and to send the matter forthwith for implementation. Council records indicate the council asked staff to finalize vendor agreements consistent with city attorney and CAO recommendations and to proceed with scheduled implementation tasks.
No additional city funding was requested at the meeting; staff said the purchase was already budgeted and the council vote resolves the property-rights questions raised during contract negotiations.
