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Title:
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FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE REQUREMENT - Acceptance of $516,044 in Grant Funds from the State Homeland Security Grant Program for Equipment and Upgrade to the Public Safety Radio System and Approval of a Budget Amendment Appropriating Said Funds.
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City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: 11/13/09 Item Number: A-4
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE REQUREMENT - Acceptance
of $516,044 in Grant Funds from the State Homeland Security Grant Program for
Equipment and Upgrade to the Public Safety Radio System and Approval of a
Budget Amendment Appropriating Said Funds.
Contact Person/Dept.: Carmen Zarate Phone Number: (310) 253-6133
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date: _______________
Public Notification:
Department Approval:
Don Pedersen (11/05/09)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (11/11/09)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (11/9/09)
City Manager Approval:
Mark Scott (11/11/09)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council (1) accept and appropriate $516,044 in
grant funds awarded by the 2008 State Homeland Security Grant Program to be
used for the purchase of equipment by the Police and Fire Departments and to
upgrade the public safety radio system; and (2) approve a budget amendment
appropriating said funds.
A 4/5ths affirmative vote is required to amend the budget.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Culver City has been awarded grant funding from the United States
Department of Homeland Security through the Office of Domestic Preparedness.
The grant is administered through the County of Los Angeles. This grant will
provide for the complete Interagency Communications Interoperability System
(ICIS) upgrade to the City’s public safety radio system.
Through participation in ICIS, the Police and Fire Departments will be part of a
secure and mutual communication system in Los Angeles County that meets
federal requirements and ensures a coordinated response to a major incident or
small localized incidents requiring assistance from other jurisdictions.
The ability to easily communicate with other agencies in time of an attack or
natural disaster is imperative. The new radio system will meet an overarching
Homeland Security Grant Program priority. It will strengthen preparedness
planning by having regional communication capabilities that enhance emergency City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
management in coordination of response, mobilization, protection, recovery and
evacuation.
DISCUSSION:
The City has been awarded grant funding from the 2008 State Homeland Security
Grant Program as part of a federal effort to assist local agencies in obtaining
equipment needed to effectively respond to a major incident or disaster.
As part of an effort to achieve a truly regional shared radio system and
involvement, the City has joined a Joint Powers Authorities (JPA), the Interagency
Communications Interoperability System (ICIS) of Southern California. This will
allow the City to have uninterrupted communications with surrounding jurisdictions
and provide and receive mutual aid and assistance without communication issues.
All agencies in the area will be able to use common mutual aid frequencies in the
event of a major incident, eliminating the communication issues that have occurred
during major incidents throughout the nation.
As part of the City’s participation in ICIS, the City is required to upgrade radios to
become Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Narrowband and P-25
technology compliant. The majority of the City’s current radios (Motorola MCS
2000 UHF radios) do not meet the FCC technology requirements. The purchase of
Motorola XTL 1500, 2500, 5000 and XTS 5000 UHF radios will meet the
requirements and allow front line emergency units from Culver City to become part
of a county and region wide mutual aid response. The new radios will ensure that
all police emergency response vehicles and officers are equipped with FCC
narrowband and P-25 compliant radios.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
There is no requirement for matching funds. The grant provides for all costs in
acquiring the approved equipment, including the cost of tax and shipping.
Maintenance costs are anticipated and are addressed in the City’s Motorola
service contract and should be minimal. If authorized, funding will be appropriated
into account 41442800 – Homeland Security Grant – Police.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
MOTION:
That the City Council:
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
1. Authorize the City Manager to accept $516,044 in grant funds for equipment
and training costs awarded by the 2008 State Homeland Security Grant
Program; and
2. Approve a Budget Amendment appropriating said funds to account
41442800 – Homeland Security Grants - Police for this program.
(A 4/5ths affirmative vote is required to approve the budget amendment.)