HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-26-2007-4zORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 26, 2007
Action Agenda
Item No. ~ f ~
SUBJECT: Authorization for Emergency Services to Apply for 2007 COPS Technology
Grant with the City of Durham
DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Initial Grant Announcement Kent McKenzie, 968-2050
Initial Budget Spreadsheet
PURPOSE: To authorize the Division of Emergency Services to apply for Interoperable
Communications Equipment as asub-applicant from the City of Durham.
BACKGROUND: The United States Department of Justice COPS office awarded Orange
County and the City of Durham a competitive grant in the amount of $3,998,320 in 2005 to
procure interoperable communications equipment. Orange County's share equaled $1,353,160
and was originally identified to purchase interoperable radio consoles and portable radios. Due
to the nature of the grant, the City of Durham was the lead agency for the grant and Orange
County was asub-applicant. The Board approved the grant acceptance and original contract
with the City of Durham on March 2, 2006. Orange County Emergency Services is currently in
the process of procuring and installing the equipment funded under this grant.
The COPS Office recently announced the availability of funding for equipment as part of its 2007
grant package to geographic areas that fit the description of a Metropolitan Statistical Area
(MSA) to increase interoperability among emergency personnel and units in the region. The
initial guidance is attached for review.
Orange County is again eligible to apply for funding as part of the Durham MSA and proposes to
request funding for 3 projects:
• Interoperable mobile radios
• 9-1-1 center upgrades
• Signal enhancement for the Eastgate area of eastern Chapel Hill, including the Eastgate
Shopping Center.
For the first of three projects, Orange County Emergency Services would request $800,000 for
interoperable mobile radios for response vehicles in the Sheriff's Office, EMS units and Fire
Department vehicles as part of the grant. $200,000 is already in the budget for this equipment
and will serve to cover the 25% local match. If the County is awarded the grant, the County
would have $1,000,000 of equipment with no additional outlay from what is already budgeted.
The second project is the purchase and installation of a workstation featuring telephone,
Computer Aided Dispatch and a radio console to implement interoperability for County
Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Adding this workstation to the EOC allows the staff of
the Center to communicate more efficiently during major emergencies and county-wide
disasters. The system is estimated at $30,000 and requires a $7,500 local match that would
come from monies already allocated to up-fit the new EOC at the Meadowlands facility.
The final project under this grant application would aim to improve interoperable radio signal
enhancement for poor coverage area in eastern Chapel Hill in the Eastgate Area, including the
Eastgate Shopping Center. This area has historically represented an area of low signal strength
that limits communications from responder to responder and from responder to the
communications center. Limited communications jeopardizes the safety of responders and
inhibits the ability of responders to meet the needs of the population. Staff estimates the cost of
this project to be $150,000, requiring a $37,500 local match. Sufficient funds have been
requested in the capital budget for the next two years to cover the local match.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is a 25% local cash match requirement under this grant program.
There is adequate funding allotted in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 budget to adequately account for
the local match as outlined above.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board authorize the Division of
Emergency Services to apply for the 2007 COPS Technology Grant as asub-applicant of the
City of Durham.
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COPS FY 2007 Technology (Tech) Program
The COPS Office is pleased to announce the availability of funding under the COPS FY 2007
Technology (Tech) Program. Approximately $159 million is available in FY2007 to provide
funding to law enforcement agencies for the procurement of technology that focuses on data
information-sharing and/or an enhancement of voice interoperability with regional, state and
federal partners. There is a 25% local cash match requirement under this grant program.
This program is targeted to the following jurisdictions (1) States and U.S. territories, (2)
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) with a population of 150,000 or greater, and (3) an
additional 20 selected MSAs with a population less than 150,000 to ensure that each state has a
minimum of three invited MSAs (in states where at least three MSAs exist). To determine if
you are eligible to apply for the Tech 2007 grant program, please contact the COPS
Response Center at 1.800.421.6770. Applications from the targeted jurisdictions must be
received at the COPS Office by June 29, 2007
~ http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=240#TECH
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2007 COPS Technology Application
Initial Budget for Project
Created on: 6/11/2007
Created by: Clint Osborn
Project Title Request focal Match Project Total
Interoperable Mobile Radios 800,000 200000 1,000,000
EOC Interoperability Console 30,000 7500 37,500
Eastgate Signal Improvement 150,000 37500 187,500
Total Request from DOJ 980,000
Total Local Match 245000
Total Project Budget 1,225,000