REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
February 5, 2015
FROM: JERRY P. DYER, Chief of Police
Fresno Police Department
KERRI L. DONIS, Fire Chief
Fresno Fire Department
BY: TOM ROWE, Lieutenant
Fresno Police Department
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into a multi-year lease agreement with American Tower Corporation for a public safety radio tower position in the Southeast area of Fresno
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that Council authorize City Manager, or his designee, to enter into a multi-year lease agreement with American Tower Corporation ("ATC"), substantially in the form attached, to secure a position on a radio tower located in the Southeast section of the City of Fresno. Lease payments will be shared evenly by the Police and Fire Departments for a term up to 15 years.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Police and Fire departments utilize a public safety radio network as a means to conduct their daily operations. Presently, the transmitter providing coverage to the Southeast section of the City is located in the downtown area (Veterans Memorial Auditorium and the Fresno County Plaza Building). With the Federal Communication Commission ("FCC") narrow-banding requirements of 2012 both agencies have experienced a significant reduction of radio performance and coverage in the Southeast section of the City. This diminished radio coverage has caused safety concerns for members of each agency as officers and firefighters have experienced difficulty communicating with their dispatch centers and assisting personnel. As a result of the diminished coverage area and performance, it has become necessary to secure a tower location within the Southeast area.
BACKGROUND
Due to the FCC requirements to narrowband public safety radios, the Fresno Police and Fire Departments observed a significant drop in performance of our radios in terms of transmission and reception abilities, particularly within th...
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