CITY OF TALLAHASSEE
CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED ON: 05/13/09
SUBJECT/TITLE: Approval for In-Kind Match for Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant.
TARGET ISSUE: N/A

STATEMENT OF ISSUE

In October 2007, the Radio Communications Division (RCD) applied for a Public Safety Communications Interoperability (PSIC) Grant on behalf of the North Florida Regional Domestic Security Task Force (NFDSTF), Region 2. The State of Florida offered to help meet the scope of work within the Grant requirements by offering the Region 2 Public Safety users interoperability over the State Law Enforcements Radio System (SLERS). The State proposed enhancing 5 radio transmitter sites that would directly benefit Public Safety users in the Region 2 area. The Grant award is now split between the NFDSTF Region 2 and the State of Florida. The amount that will be given to NFDSTF Region 2 and administered by the Sheriff’s Department is $1,879,180.00. A 25% in-kind match is required by the grant. The in-kind value needs to equal or exceed $469,795.00. The Grant will be matched using a piece of the new 800 MHz P25 Digital Upgrade Project. This part is called the Master Site Zone Controller and it currently has a value exceeding $1,000,000.00. The Public Safety Communications Board has approved the use of the Master Site Zone Controller. Staff seeks authorization to accept the grant funding and authorize the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the State of Florida which outlines the agreed upon use of the grant funds.

RECOMMENDED ACTION

Option 1 – Staff seeks in-kind matching authorization in the amount of $469,795.00 for the PSIC Grant. This amount will be exceeded by using the newly installed 800 MHz P25 Digital Upgrade Project Master Site Zone Controller, which has a current value exceeding $1,000,000.00. Staff, also seeks authorization for the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the State of Florida outlining the agreed upon use of the grant funds.

FISCAL IMPACT

No fiscal impact will be realized.

Don DeLoach, Chief Information Systems Officer

Anita Favors Thompson, City Manager

For information, please contact: Don DeLoach 891-8402

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL/ISSUE ANALYSIS
HISTORY/FACTS & ISSUES

Since September 11, 2001 interoperable communication has become a primary concern for public safety radio users. President Bush mandated that all future Department of Homeland Security Grants needed to be joint agency or multi-jurisdictional in scope. The PSIC Grant provides the region 2, Domestic Security Task Force Interoperability during disasters by providing a 5 channel trunking radio system on wheels to any location in the region (or in the world) and ability to talk directly to the Tallahassee dispatch consoles.

Extensive effort was applied in order to obtain cooperation with regional partners to contribute with the sustainment costs in operating this grant, with unsuccessful results. In lieu of partnering with regional members, we have allowed the State of Florida to use some of the grant proceeds to enhance parts of the Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS). This enhancement will benefit our regional partners and allow for interoperability on the SLERS system, in some areas of our region.

Region 2’s allocation of the grant award is $1,879,180.00 and the State of Florida will be using $1,970,820.00. Region 2 is only responsible for the in-kind match attributed to the $1,879,180.00 amount needed for the two trailers. The Grant will be matched using a piece of the new 800 MHz P25 Digital Upgrade Project, called the Master Site Zone Controller and it currently has a value exceeding $1,000,000.00

The Master Site Zone Controller is the brains of the 800 MHz Public Safety Digital Upgrade Project. It allows for all the towers to “trunk” the resources that are in our system, much like a telephone switch allows many calls to communicate over just a few phone lines. It is also the singular piece of equipment that enables the PSIC trailers to talk back to the Tallahassee Dispatch center VIA satellite communications, no matter where the trailers are located. This was the rationale in choosing it as the in-kind match.

CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

NA

OPTIONS

1. Staff seeks in-kind matching authorization in the amount of $469,795.00 for the PSIC Grant. This amount will be exceeded by using the newly installed 800 MHz P25 Digital Upgrade Project Master Site Zone Controller, which has a current value exceeding $1,000,000.00. Staff, also seeks authorization for the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the State of Florida outlining the agreed upon use of the grant funds.

Pros:
a. Region 2 of the Domestic Security Task Force will receive the grant award valued at $1,879,180.00 enabling the purchase of two interoperable mobile trunked radio trailers.
b. Ability to deploy reliable public safety radio communications throughout region 2, should a disaster strike, and be able to communicate with Tallahassee dispatch facilities.

Cons:
a. Not allowing this in-kind match would forfeit the ability to exercise the awarded grant and subsequent proceeds.

2. Provide Alternative direction to staff.

ATTACHMENTS/REFERENCES