HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 10/15/2013 - SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 133, 2013, APPROPRAgenda Item 11
Item # 11 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY October 15, 2013
City Council
STAFF
Wayne Sterler, Utilities Health Safety & Security Manager
SUBJECT
Second Reading of Ordinance No. 133, 2013, Appropriating Prior Year Reserves in the Light & Power,
Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Funds for the 800 MHz Radio Communication System Capital
Project.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This Ordinance, unanimously adopted on First Reading on October 1, 2013, appropriates funding for the
purchase and installation of an 800 MHz radio system for the Utilities Department. This system is similar
to that used by police, fire and emergency medical personnel, and other Front Range utilities and will also
allow for better communications between agencies during emergencies.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on Second Reading.
ATTACHMENTS
1. First Reading Agenda Item Summary, October 1, 2013
2. Ordinance No. 133, 2013
COPY
COPY
COPY
ATTACHMENT 1
DATE: October 1, 2013
STAFF: Wayne Sterler
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL 11
SUBJECT
First Reading of Ordinance No. 133, 2013, Appropriating Prior Year Reserves in the Light & Power, Water, Wastewater
and Stormwater Funds for the 800 MHz Radio Communication System Capital Project.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to appropriate funding for the purchase and installation of an 800 MHz radio system for
the Utilities Department. Conversion of the former wide-band system to a narrow-band system was completed at the
beginning of 2013. The narrow-band system is not meeting the Utilities' safety and communications needs for field
personnel and infrastructure protection.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
On January 1, 2013, the Federal Communications Commission mandated that all of Utilities’ radio frequencies be
“narrow-banded”. The Utilities’ radio system was previously a wide band system and was converted as mandated.
Staff immediately saw a loss of quality and reliability of radio communications. There are 282 radios in use by Utilities
personnel. Volume levels were effectively cut in half, and transmission and reception became sporadic and unreliable,
significant static was introduced, and volume levels varied from radio to radio. Radio communications are vital for
employee safety and system reliability. Use of the radio system whenever activity is taking place on the utility system
insures all employees are aware of the activity occurring and the status of the system. The narrow-band system has
created a situation where clear communication is lost, which means employees working on the system are not aware
of all relevant situations potentially affecting them.
A temporary solution has been provided by a vendor, and communication quality has been partially restored. This is
not an acceptable long-term solution, however. In consultation with communications advisors, staff has determined
the best long-term solution for meeting safety, reliability, quality, and maintenance requirements is to purchase an 800
MHz radio system. This system is similar to that used by police, fire and emergency medical personnel, and other
Front Range utilities and will also allow for better communications between agencies during emergencies.
Funding for the system is not available from the current Utilities’ budgets. With City Council approval of the needed
appropriation, staff can begin the transition to the 800 MHz radio system immediately.
FINANCIAL / ECONOMIC IMPACTS
The total cost of the 800 MHz system to serve all Utilities personnel and locations is $1,460,665. This will be allocated
to the four funds based on radios required. The split in costs between the four funds is as follows:
$648,325 Light and Power $512,610 Water
$240,920 Wastewater $ 58,810 Stormwater
Reserves are available for the appropriation in all funds.
In addition, there are annual fees associated with each radio on the system. The fees are $50 per radio, per year.
Current appropriations will be utilized to pay the fees in 2014.
ORDINANCE NO. 133, 2013
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROPRIATING PRIOR YEAR RESERVES IN THE LIGHT & POWER, WATER,
WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER FUNDS FOR THE 800 MHZ RADIO
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM CAPITAL PROJECT
WHEREAS, in January 2013, the Federal Communications Commission mandated that all
of the Fort Collins Utilities ‘ Department radio frequencies be “narrow-banded”; and
WHEREAS, the Utilities radio system was previously a wide-band system and was
converted as mandated; and
WHEREAS, following the conversion, the radio system volume levels were effectively cut
in half, transmission and reception became sporadic and unreliable, significant static was
introduced, and individual radio volume levels varied from unit to unit; and
WHEREAS, a temporary solution has been provided by a vendor, and communication
quality has been partially restored, but an acceptable, long-term solution is still needed; and
WHEREAS, in consultation with communications advisors, Utilities has determined that
the best long term solution for meeting safety, reliability, quality, and maintenance requirements is
to purchase an 800 MHz radio system, similar to that used by police, fire and emergency medical
personnel and other Front Range utilities; and
WHEREAS, there are 282 radios in use by Utilities personnel and the total cost of the 800
MHz system to serve all utilities personnel and locations is $1,460,665, which amount will be
allocated to the four Utilities funds based on radios required for each Utilities division; and
WHEREAS, there will be annual fees associated with each radio on the system of $50 per
radio per year; and
WHEREAS, current appropriations will be utilized to pay the fees in 2014; and
WHEREAS, Article V, Section 9 of the City Charter permits the City Council to
appropriate by ordinance at any time during the fiscal year such funds for expenditure as may be
available from reserves accumulated in prior years, notwithstanding that such reserves were not
previously appropriated; and
WHEREAS, City staff recommends appropriating $648,325 from prior year reserves in the
Light & Power Fund, $58,810 in the Stormwater Fund, $240,920 in the Wastewater Fund, and
$512,610 in the Water Fund for a total amount of $1,460,665 to be used for the purchase and
installation of an 800 MHz radio system for the Utilities Department to benefit the citizens of the
City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That there is hereby appropriated for expenditure from prior year reserves in
the Light & Power Fund the sum of SIX HUNDRED FORTY-EIGHT THOUSAND THREE
HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($648,325) to be used for or the purchase and
installation of an 800 MHz radio system to benefit the citizens of the City.
Section 2. That there is hereby appropriated for expenditure from prior year reserves in
the Stormwater Fund the sum of FIFTY-EIGHT THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED TEN
DOLLARS ($58,810) to be used for or the purchase and installation of an 800 MHz radio system
to benefit the citizens of the City.
Section 3. That there is hereby appropriated for expenditure from prior year reserves in
the Wastewater Fund the sum of TWO HUNDRED FORTY THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED
TWENTY DOLLARS ($240,920) to be used for or the purchase and installation of an 800 MHz
radio system to benefit the citizens of the City.
Section 4. That there is hereby appropriated for expenditure from prior year reserves in
the Water Fund the sum of FIVE HUNDRED TWELVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED TEN
DOLLARS ($512,610) to be used for or the purchase and installation of an 800 MHz radio system
to benefit the citizens of the City.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 1st day of
October, A.D. 2013, and to be presented for final passage on the 15th day of October, A.D. 2013.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading on the 15th day of October, A.D. 2013.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
City Clerk