I. RECOMMENDATION:
The police department is seeking approval to purchase a cell phone based radio app to assist with operations that are out of radio range, but within cell phone range.
II. BACKGROUND:
In prior years, the police department had used a Wave program to assist with operations that took place out of our radio range. The Wave program allowed officers to maintain radio contact when conducting work anywhere they had cell phone coverage. That program ended when the computer that held the program crashed. The cost to replace the computer and re-purchase the program was around $23,000. While the program worked great, the cost to replace the system was not feasible at the time.
III. DISCUSSION:
With improvements in technology over the years, the cost to run a similar program to the Wave program has become more cost effective. The department's radio tech company, 661 Communications, has found a suitable replacement to the Wave program with Radio Pro. It is also a cellular-based app like the Wave program but at a fraction of the cost. This program, once installed, goes through the police departments current radio system and is recorded just the same so there is no need to upgrade or purchase new radio equipment with the purchase of this program. The program is already encrypted and is within the new FBI / DOJ Encryption requirements.
To purchase the Radio Pro program for 20 users and to have it installed would cost approximately $11,777.07. This will be a one time fee. There is no annual cost to this program.
Again, this will allow officers to safely stay in radio contact when working operations that area out of our radio transmission area and put the department in compliance with Cal DOJ and FBI.
For the phone radio, we would either have to purchase cell phones for sworn personnel or provide them with a monetary stipend for them to use their personal cell phones.
IV. ALTERNATIVES:
The council can consider upgrading the departments police radio infrastructure which would consist of a new repeater, new radio equipment in dispatch as well as having to update patrol vehicles and hand held radio's with new software.
The price to upgrade the dispatch radio system is $398,900.0 for a purchase or $136,900.00 a year for 3 years. The cost to reprogram the car radios are approximately $10,000.00. By making these changes would put in compliance with Cal DOJ and there encryption requirements that went into affect January 1, 2021.
V. FISCAL IMPACT:
Option #1: This option would Impact the general fund the cost of the phone and monthly fee or a stipend which ever the Council decides. If the council decides on this option, I will come back with the cost of the phones and monthly charges.
The actual program would be purchased through the COPS Grant.
Option #2: This option would impact the City's general fund by a one time purchase of $398,900.00 or 3 year payment of $136,900.00 with the first payment due one year after the signing of the contract which would put the city into June of the 21/22 fiscal year. |