To

Mayor and Council

Subject

Homeland Security Grant for City Radio System

Initiator

Engineering

Recommendation

Approval is requested to submit an application and if approved accept a \n \n Homeland Security Grant from the Georgia Department of Homeland Security to add \n \n two new P-25 digital radio channels to the Columbus Regional Radio System in \n \n the amount of $3,343,000 and authorize to amend the Mulit-Governmental Fund by \n \n the award of the grant..

Approval

Approved

Background

Columbus/Muscogee County is part of the GEMA Region 4 for which grant

application are made available each year for capital purchases to assist local

governments in responding to disasters and terrorist threats. GEMA has

designated "Radio Interoperability" as one of the highest priorities for funds

to be expended for Homeland Security purposes. Columbus has worked for years

with both Harris County & LaGrange/Troup County as our partners in operating

our Radio System as a Regional 800 MHz Radio System.

Analysis

This grant provides an opportunity to upgrade our Radio System to what is known

as the P-25 digital only platform by adding two radio channels to our Radio

System. We are in the process of upgrading our existing 19 radio channels to

operate Analog or Digital to allow us to continue to use our existing analog

only radios. The P-25 digital only platform is part of the City's migration

plan that will occur over the next 10 years. This grant simply saves the

Columbus, Harris and LaGrange/Troup $3,343,000 of this cost benefitting all

users of our Regional Radio System. Both Harris County and LaGrange/Troup

County have submitted Letters of Support for Grant application.

Financial Considerations

There are no matching fund requirements for this grant.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement

Legal Considerations

Grant application require Council approval.

Recommendations/ Actions

Approve said Grant application for Homeland Security funds.





A RESOLUTION

NO. _____

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION AND IF APPROVED ACCEPT A

GRANT FROM GEORGIA HOMELAND SECURITY/GEMA TO PURCHASE TWO ADDITIONAL P-25

COMPLIANT RADIO CHANNELS AND ASSOCIATE CONTROL EQUIPMENT IN AN AMOUNT OF

$3,343,000.

WHEREAS, the Columbus 800 MHz Radio Communication System operates as a

Regional Radio Systems with our local government partners of Harris County and

Troup County for the purpose assisting both public safety and general

government services to our communities; and,

WHEREAS, partnering together to use a Regional Radio System insures radio

communications interoperability between local governments especially when

responding to natural/man-made disasters and terrorist threats; and,

WHEREAS, applying for the Homeland Security Grant saves all partners monies and

provides us a migration platform to a fully P-25 digital only Radio System in

the future.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

That the City Manager is hereby authorized to submit an application and

if approved accept a grant from Georgia Homeland Security/GEMA to purchase two

additional P-25 compliant Radio Channels and associate control equipment in an

amount of $3,343,000 and authorize to amend the Mulit-Governmental Fund by the

award of the grant.

___________

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held

the _________day of _____________, and adopted at said meeting by the

affirmative vote of _____________members of said Council.



Councilor Allen voting __________.

Councilor Anthony voting __________.

Councilor Baker voting __________.

Councilor Barnes voting __________.

Councilor Davis voting __________.

Councilor Henderson voting __________.

Councilor Hunter voting __________.

Councilor McDaniel voting __________.

Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.

Councilor Woodson voting __________.



___________________________________ _____________________________

Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Jim Wetherington, Mayor

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