City staff proposed an integrated security platform to unify existing independent camera and alarm systems across city facilities, but council voted on Nov. 6 to continue the item and request a vendor presentation before approving expenditure.

Staff said current systems are fragmented and sometimes require multiple logins and different computers; the proposed web-based system would provide centralized access, mobile access by officers, and potential integration with existing body-camera systems. The staff estimate included significant upfront hardware costs and a 10-year software contract, though staff and council debated the trade-offs between long-term software support and potential rapid hardware obsolescence.

Chief and staff argued the platform would improve operational monitoring, investigative access and interoperability with existing systems. Council members requested a vendor demonstration to answer specific questions about warranty terms on hardware, upgrade paths if technology changes, whether multi-year contract terms can be shortened to five years, and whether Santa Clara or nearby agencies could offer reference visits.

A motion to continue the item passed; staff said they would schedule a future presentation with the vendor to address the council's questions and provide a detailed proposal comparing 5-year vs. 10-year options and expected lifecycle costs.