Agenda Item Wording:
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Authorization to purchase electronic door access controls - Authorize the City Manager to enter into a purchase agreement with NTM Productions for the design and installation of Verkada electronic door access control systems at various City facilities not to exceed $1,300,000 utilizing the California Multiple Award Schedule contract and appropriate $262,500 in additional funding.
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Agenda Date: 11/02/2026
Prepared by:
Jaime Salazar, IS Supervisor, jaime.salazar@visalia.gov, 559-713-4121
John Howison, IS Manager, john.howison@visalia.gov, 559-713-4122
Renee Nagel, Finance & Technology Services Director, renee.nagel@visalia.gov, 559-713-4375
Department Recommendation: Staff recommend that the City Council authorize the City Manager to enter into a purchase agreement with NTM Productions for the design and installation of Verkada electronic door access control systems at various City facilities not to exceed $1,300,000 utilizing the California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS) and appropriate $262,500 in additional funding.
Summary:
Staff is seeking to improve the security and efficiency of managing employee and guest access to City facilities by modernizing the door access controls. Today, access to a City facility is controlled by a key or punch pad style door lock. Staff is recommending that the City move to a digital control system that would allow staff to assign and revoke access to a door or facility immediately.
The system being proposed would match the system being installed in the Phase 2 Civic Center project that is currently underway.
Background Discussion:
Employee access to City facilities is controlled by various keys, punch codes, and access card systems. The proposed solution would standardize access and increase employee safety by removing the keys and punch codes used today and replacing them with a simple employee ID badge that would double as a “key” to enter a facility.
Newly onboarded employees would instantly have access to only the doors and facilities needed, and separated employees would have their access immediately revoked. Guest access could be granted conditionally, with restricted time frames and day of use access. Facilities maintenance staff would no longer need to collect keys, visit a site to re-key doors, or change punch codes.
In 2025, the City engaged Global Solutions Group to conduct a cyber security and physical security audit. The physical access audit findings listed as top priorities the implementation of a visitor and contractor verification system and installation of electronic access controls. Global also identified that “tailgating” or following staff through a door was a risk. The recommended Verkada access control system would mitigate these findings by providing a visitor and vendor check-in system, electronic access controls, and cameras with the ability to detect “tailgating” and alert staff.
The new Civic Center (Public Safety, Council Chambers, and Evidence) will have the Verkada access control and camera system installed upon opening. Installing this same system in the other City facilities will standardize door access control across the City.
Each facility was evaluated by City staff for door access controls and door monitoring cameras. Access controls will only be placed where access is restricted, public lobbies and public doors will not have access controls installed.
Project costs vary by facility, by the number of doors, gates, and buildings at each site. The project costs take into account varying types of door hardware, retrofitting door and door frames, construction material (glass, brick, drywall, metal siding), and network and power supply paths. Most sites do not have conduit or existing wiring, and the costs reflect the hardware and labor required to retrofit these facilities.
Facilities included in this project:
|
Site |
Projected Cost |
|
Administration |
$83,400 |
|
Airport |
$78,070 |
|
Animal Care Center |
$68,177 |
|
Anthony Community Center |
$46,847 |
|
City Hall East |
$85,469 |
|
Corporation Yard |
$167,769 |
|
Fire Station 52 |
$30,422 |
|
Fire Station 53 |
$37,458 |
|
Fire Station 54 |
$16,646 |
|
Fire Station 55 |
$115,126 |
|
Fire Station 56 |
$37,870 |
|
Manuel F Hernandez Community Center |
$15,925 |
|
Police District 1 Substation* |
$34,165 |
|
Police District 2 Substation* |
$41,461 |
|
Transit Center |
$58,960 |
|
Visalia Emergency Communication Center* |
$67,560 |
|
Water Reclamation Facility |
$167,187 |
|
Access Control ID Cards and Printers |
$25,622 |
|
Project Contingency, 10% |
$121,867 |
|
Total |
$1,300,000 |
*The door access controls at these sites are over 10 years old and will be upgraded to the Verkada system.
**SAtaff hase factored a contingency budget as retrofitting doors in older City buildings for electronic access control may require improvements beyond the installation of card readers and associated equipment. Existing doors, frames, locking hardware, electrical service, and wiring pathways vary by location. Some conditions may not be fully identified until installation begins.
The proposed solution includes controllers, card readers, cameras, door position indicators, electrified hardware, and installation labor compliant with prevailing wage and DIR requirements. The system architecture ensures compliance with high-level security standards and offers security features such as multifactor authentication and enterprise encryption for robust cybersecurity. The project aims to provide the following.
1. Strengthening Security
• Prevents unauthorized access by managing credentials, door schedules, and real-time alerts for forced, held doors, or unauthorized access.
• Provides a clear audit trail of who accessed which door.
2. Centralized Management
• Enables City IT and facility maintenance staff to manage all doors and users from a single dashboard reducing complexity across multiple sites.
• Supports remote configuration and monitoring, allowing quick or automated response to incidents.
3. Integration with Video Security
• Link door events to camera footage for context, making it easier to verify activity and provide context appropriate alerts.
4. Scalability and Operational Efficiency
• Designed for multi-site municipal operations.
• Eliminates re-keying and punch code changes that require onsite visits from the facilities maintenance staff.
NTM Productions is a local firm, based out of Visalia, that is experienced in designing and installing the Verkada door access control system and Verkada products. In addition to installing the Verkada system in the new Civic Center, they have also installed the Verkada system for the City of Tulare, Tulare City School District, and Visalia Unified School District. NTM will be able to provide quick local support if it is needed and is familiar with the City facilities.
Fiscal Impact including annual maintenance and operating costs:
This project is currently budgeted in the amount of $1,037,500 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds (CIP 3880/CP0767). An appropriation of $262,500 will be required from the money left over from previous ARPA projects that were complete and had a remaining balance. Annual maintenance and licensing will be funded by each department’s operational budget that will be charged to various funds. Following established purchasing policy, the City will utilize California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS) Contract # 3-26-01-1007. CMAS is a cooperative purchasing program that allows the City to use competitive bid pricing already established for the State of California and local governments.
Prior Council Action: N/A
Alternatives:
Council may choose to delay the project and seek alternative methods to secure entry into City facilities or recommend the continued usage of keys and punch pads.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize the City Manager to enter into a purchase agreement with NTM Productions for the design and installation of Verkada electronic door access control systems at various City facilities not to exceed $1,300,000,and appropriate $262,500 from remaining ARPA funds.
Deadline for Action: 11/02/2026
Attachments:
CMAS Contract.pdf
City of Visalia - Access Control Project.pdf
Ownership Disclosure and Levine Act Statement.pdf
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Check all that apply.
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☐ Economic Vitality |
☒  Organizational Excellence |
☐ Fiscal Strength |
☒  Infrastructure & Growth |
☐  Quality of Life |