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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Commander Steve Stemment, APD
Assistant Chief Mark Matkovich, AFD
Jeff Anderson, Deputy CIO
DATE: September 13, 2021
SUBJECT:
Resolution to approve the purchase of licenses and equipment to increase interoperability of Public Safety radios form L3Harris, Melbourne, FL in the amount of $108,124.63 plus a $3,000 contingency.
PURPOSE:
This resolution is requesting updates to 38 radios and the APD's Mobile Command Post to provide P25 communications capability to communicate with and dispatch officers from other agencies most effectively and ratify the initial purchase required in April.
BACKGROUND:
Since 2010, the City has maintained an L3Harris Public Safety and Municipal Radio System that supports Public Safety and other departments. This L3Harris System previously provided communications via a proprietary standard known as OpenSky. The need for Public Safety staff to communicate via radio with other communities continues to grow ever larger. The recent upgrade to this system -- completed via approval in resolution R19-209 -- put the City in a much better position to provide interoperability with other agencies via the open P25 standard.
Since many of the surrounding areas utilize radio systems based upon the newer P25 radio communications standard, city Public Safety staff need to be able to communicate via P25 when leaving Aurora and allow first responders from other agencies to communicate via P25 when within the Aurora boundary.
An initial purchase of P25 radio licenses was completed in April, 2021 for a cost of $24,565. Due to the success of this initial deployment, APD is requesting these 38 additional radio licenses at a cost of $48,794.58.
The remaining costs of this resolution will provide hardware updates to the APD Mobile Command Post, which will allow this vehicle to provide increased dispatching and communications capabilities, including P25 communications, during large inter-agency involved incidents.
DISCUSSION:
The purchase of these licenses and equipment, although not budgeted for 2021, will be made using existing ETSB funds, a budget transfer will be submitted to account 211-1380-419.38-03.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Without this interoperability, communication and dispatch capabilities with other agencies will be severely limited, with significant impact to the effectiveness of the City first responders.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Approve the purchase of licenses and equipment to increase interoperability of Public Safety radios form L3Harris, Melbourne, FL in the amount of $108,124.63 with a $3,000 contingency.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution to approve the purchase of licenses and equipment to increase interoperability of Public Safety radios form L3Harris, Melbourne, FL in the amount of $108,124.63 with a $3,000 contingency.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, Since 2010, the City has maintained an L3Harris Public Safety and Municipal Radio System that supports Public Safety and other departments; and
WHEREAS, interoperability with other public safety agencies has become increasingly important; and
WHEREAS, these licenses and equipment will increase interoperability with other agencies; and
WHEREAS, Funding is available in the ETSB Fund, but a budget transfer will be submitted to account 211-1380-419.38-03.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: to approve the purchase of licenses and equipment to increase interoperability of Public Safety radios form L3Harris, Melbourne, FL in the amount of $108,124.63 with a $3,000 contingency