TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Minh Tran, County Executive Officer/Director of Emergency Services
REPORT BY: Brieanna Jones, Staff Services Analyst II
SUBJECT: Capital Asset Purchase- 6 Motorola APX8000 Radios
RECOMMENDATION
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County Executive Officer/Director of Emergency Services requests the establishment of a capital asset in the amount of $60,000 with the purchase of six (6) Motorola APX8000 radios using the 2020 Emergency Management Performance grant funding.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Board previously approved acceptance of the federally funded FY20 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) for the period of July 1, 2020- June 30, 2022. This item allows use of those funds for the purchase of a 6 Motorola APX8000 to be utilized by the City of American Canyon Fire. These portable radios will be used by the City of American Canyon Fire to increase their interoperability with Solano County resources such as Vallejo Fire Department after changing their radio platform.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
No |
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Where is it budgeted? |
Emergency Services Grants Budget-1024005 |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
The purchase of 6 Motorola APX8000 radios will assist American Canyon Fire Protection District with interoperability with surrounding counties that American Canyon Fire Protection District has mutual aid contracts with. This is important for wildland fire response as well as other emergency response. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
None |
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Consequences if not approved: |
If not approved, then we will de-obligate the grant money and return to Cal OES. American Canyon radio equipment will no longer be operable with adjacent Solano County. |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Collaborative and Engaged Community |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The Board previously approved acceptance of the federally funded FY20 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) for the period of July 1, 2020- June 30, 2022.
The Office of Emergency Services found an immediate need for an interoperability radio project from the City of Napa which dispatches for American Canyon Fire District. The City of Vallejo which is within Solano County recently changed radio systems and therefore created an interoperability concern to the City of American Canyon’s mutual aid with Vallejo. The Office of Emergency Services proposes utilizing remaining EMPG funds to support this project.
American Canyon Fire Protection District is uniquely located in the southern portion of Napa County and is immediately adjacent to Solano County. American Fire Protection District has for decades maintained both automatic and mutual aid agreements with Solano County Fire agencies. These existing agreements are for responses for all risk emergencies, including responses to Wildland fires. Recently, Vallejo Fire switched to a P25 compliant radio system which has caused an inoperability roadblock for American Canyon Fire units to be able to communicate with Vallejo Fire Department units while on scene of emergency incidents. Further complicating interoperability communications, there is uncertainty on the future of interoperability radio communications with Solano County fire agencies communication systems. To ensure both immediate and future interoperability compatibility with Solano County Fire agencies, American Canyon Fire Protection District has identified the need to purchase 27 Motorola APX 8000 handheld radios and accessories, this will provide stable interoperability radios for our Firefighters.
Immediately, as part of the overall interoperability program, American Canyon Fire Protection District is requesting 6 Motorola APX 8000 handheld radios and accessories to be covered by remaining funds in Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG). In addition to ensuring reliable interoperability with Solano County Fire Agencies, these dual band radios will be in alignment with the radio encryption initiative.