Title
Trunking Radio System Upgrades and Fee Reductions
It is mutually beneficial for Alachua County, the University of Florida, the City of Gainesville General Government, and GRU to amend their agreements for Public Safety Trunking Radio System services such that reliable service will continue through 2020.
Explanation
GRU owns and operates a Public Safety Trunking Radio System (TRS) used by the various public safety agencies within Alachua County. GRU currently has agreements with those agencies to provide TRS services through September of 2015.
The public safety agencies that use the TRS are interested in extending the life of the existing equipment and infrastructure, and in making the TRS Project 25 (P25) compliant. To accomplish this goal, GRU will replace the core processing equipment, communication consoles, and various transmitters and electronics associated with the TRS; in exchange, the Public Safety agencies will extend their agreements to receive TRS service at agreed-upon lower rates through September of 2020.
Once the TRS is P25 compliant, agencies from outside of Alachua County with P25-capable radios will be able to communicate with other public safety agencies within Alachua County in cases of mutual aid. In addition, the current public safety entities within Alachua County will be able to purchase P25-capable radios that are expected to be less expensive than the proprietary radios in use today.
The agreements for Public Safety Trunking Radio System services will be substantially in the form of the attached Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement for Public Safety Trunking Radio Services.
Recommendation
The City Commission (1) authorize the Mayor or his designee to negotiate and execute an Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement between Gainesville Regional Utilities ("GRU") and Alachua County ("County"), and between GRU and the University of Florida ("UF") for Public Safety Trunking Radio Services; and (2) authorize the General Manager or his designee to negotiate and execute a Memorandum of Understanding between GRU and the City of Gainesville General Government for Public Safety Trunking Radio Services, each of which shall be substantially in the form of the attached "Second Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement for Public Safety Trunking Radio Services" and subject to approval by the City Attorney as to form and legality.
Fiscal Note
Funds to upgrade the Trunking Radio System were included in the approved GRUCom budget for fiscal year 2012. The Amendment will result in a reduced cost for access charges for each participating agency. The extended term of the Agreement allows the cost of the upgrade to be recovered by GRU.
Drafter
Prepared by Ed Regan, P.E., Assistant General Manager for Strategic Planning
Submitted by Robert E. Hunzinger, General Manager