HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7554 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No X554
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October 1, 1991
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To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
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°rtX . subiect:IN'TERDEPARTlVIENTAL COMMMCATION SYSTEM UPDATE
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In addition to the above efforts, the City's representative in Washington identified
potential federal funding sources for the system. Mayor Granger and members of the
staff visited Washington and met with several Texas Congressional representatives and
staff of the Bureau of Justice in an effort to secure funding. The Bureau of Justice
Informed the Mayor and staff that the proposed communication system was not eligible
for funding.
CURRENT STATUS
Financing options for the interdepartmental communication system are scheduled to be
discussed during the City Council Workshop on October 1, 1991.
The estimated cost of the system is $11,991,240. Exhibit 3 provides a breakdown on the
various departmental costs of the system. The major users, based on the number of
radios in service, will be the Police Department(54.7%). Fire Department(13.3%). Water
Department (9.1%) and Transportation/Public Works (9.4%).
In addition, staff is recommending that approximately$1,300,000 be budgeted for the
construction of a central dispatch center. Exhibit 4 is a schematic of the proposed
facility. The dotted stations represent those consoles that were requested but deleted
from the final plan. Space is made available to allow for future expansion.
The total cost to be financed is approximately $13,291,240. Additional costs of
$380,775 to pay for the FCC license, call taker and dispatch computer terminals, radio
maintenance test equipment and a new phone system for the central dispatch center
will be paid with savings from the Communications Fund.
In response to City Council request, the Motorola contract has been enclosed as Exhibit
5. A summary of the contract provisions has been provided to facilitate review. The
price quoted by Motorola is good until October 8, 1991. However, if the City Council
approves acquisition of the systems through the financing mechanism recommended
by the Finance Director, the firm will be requested to extend the above date until
funding is in place.
Staff involved with the development of the system and representatives from user
departments will be available at the October 1, 1991 workshop to answer any additional
questions the Council may have. In the interim additional information will be provided
upon request.
David Ivory
City Manager
ISSUER BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS ---
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No 7554
October 1, 1991
U 40 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Subject; INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM UPDATE
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During the City Council meeting on June 18, 1991, the City Council approved a
resolution indicating its intention to fund the acquisition of a 40 channel 800 MHz
interdepartmental communication system. This action was necessary in order for the
City to submit a plan.to Region 40 on June 26, 1991 for its approval. The Council was
also informed that Motorola was the apparent low bidder. Staff' was instructed to
provide a copy of the Motorola contract at the time funding options were presented for
consideration.
BACKGROUND
On September 20, 1988, the City Council authorized the Communications Division to
submit a request to Region 40 for the last forty(40) 800 MHz channels available in the
region in order to replace the current outdated two-way radio communication system.
In August of 1989 authorization was given to hire a consultant to design the system
configuration. Originally a funding plan had to be presented to Region 40 on June 26,
1990. However, by June of 1990 the City recognized that it would not be possible to
meet the deadline and Region 40 was asked for a one year extension. The extension was
Avll granted on the condition that a funding plan be presented no later than June 26, 1991
or the City would be in jeopardy of losing the availability of the 40 channels.
On February 19, 1991, Informal Report No. 7512 was presented to the City Council
providing background information on the need for a new system, the problems
experienced with the current system, how the new system would function, what parts
of the current system could be used in the new system and other general information.
A copy of the Informal Report has been attached as Exhibit 1. The financial data
Included in the report is no longer valid in that it was based on a system cost of about
$14.8 million. The cost has since been reduced to about $13.3 million. The financing
assumption has also changed.
During the meeting on February 19. staff was instructed to request an additional
extension from Region 40 and to explore the possibility of marketing the system to other
jurisdictions in Tarrant County. Region 40 rejected the City's request for an extension
in April and reaffirmed the need to present a funding plan by June 26, 1991 or run the
risk of losing the 40 channels. A majority of the jurisdictions in the County have been
contacted to determine their interest in participating in the system. Exhibit 2 provides
a summary of the responses. To date. only the Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority
has committed to joining the system. Although Tarrant County has indicated a strong
interest, no formal commitment has been received. The system is scheduled to come
on line in June of 1993. All of the jurisdictions have been informed that if they are to
participate, an interlocal agreement must be executed no later than October 1, 1992.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS ----