Legislation Details

File #: HIST-12979    Version: 1 Subject:
Type: Historical Status: Action Item
In control: City Council Meeting Agenda
On agenda: 12/7/2009 Final action: 12/7/2009
Title: Acceptance and Appropriation of $233,825 in Grant Funds from the State Homeland Security Grant Program for Equipment and Upgrade to the Public Safety Radio System.
Attachments: 1. Acceptance and Appropriation of $233,825 in Grant - A-2__09-12-07_FD__CITY COUNCIL__Consent to Approve_FD COPS Technology Grant2009 - FINAL.doc
City of Culver City, California Agenda Item Report Meeting Date: 12/07/2009 Item Number: A-2 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: FOUR FIFTHS VOTE REQUIREMENT - Acceptance and Appropriation of $233,825 in Grant Funds from the State Homeland Security Grant Program for Equipment and Upgrade to the Public Safety Radio System. Contact Person/Dept.: William T. Heins Phone Number: (310) 253-6840 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: Meetings and Agendas – City Council (12/02/09) Department Approval: Jeffrey I. Eastman (11/24/09) City Attorney Approval: Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (11/30/09) Chief Financial Officer Approval: Mark Scott (by M. Noller) (12/01/09) City Manager Approval: Mark Scott (12/02/09) RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council accept and appropriate $233,825 in grant funds awarded by the 2008 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Grant Program to be used for the purchase of equipment by the Culver City Police and Fire Departments and to upgrade the public safety radio system. 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 Community Oriented Policing Services. The grant is administered through the US Department of Justice. This grant will provide for the complete Interagency Communications Interoperability System (ICIS) upgrade to the City’s radio system. Through participation in ICIS, the Culver City 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 and will meet an overarching Community Oriented Policing Services Grant Program priority in that it strengthens 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 of Culver City has been awarded grant funding from the 2008 Community Oriented Policing Services 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. The ICIS system 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 our involvement, we are required to upgrade our radios to become Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Narrowband and P-25 technology compliant. The majority of our 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 costs in acquiring the approved equipment, including the cost of tax and shipping. The remaining portion will be covered by the State Homeland Security Grant in the amount of $516,044, which was accepted and approved for appropriation at the November 16, 2009 City Council meeting, and the State Homeland Security Grant funds in the amount of $44,177 being presented for acceptance and approval this evening by the Police Department. If accepted and approved, the funds in the amount of $233,825 will be deposited into Business Unit 41445500 – Homeland Security Grant – Fire. Maintenance costs, which should be minimal, are anticipated and are addressed in our Motorola service contract. The radios will be purchased with a two year warranty and covered 100% during that time. After the two year warranty expires, the repairs will City of Culver City, California Agenda Item Report be covered by the Motorola service contract which is maintained by the Fire Department. When maintenance is due, funds will be budgeted in the appropriate fiscal year to cover the maintenance. ATTACHMENTS: None. MOTION: That the City Council: 1. Accept and appropriate $233,825 in grant funds for equipment costs awarded by the 2008 Community Oriented Policing Services Grant Program; and 2. Authorize a Budget Amendment to establish grant Revenue Appropriation Account for this program; and 3. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents, and, 4. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City. (A 4/5ths affirmative vote is required to approve the budget amendment.)