Columbus, Georgia

Agenda Item # 5



Columbus Consolidated Government



Council Meeting



05/06/2003



Agenda Report # 57



TO: Mayor and Council



SUBJECT: 2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program



INITIATED BY: Columbus Fire Department





Recommendation: Authorize the City Manager to submit and if approved accept a

grant of $99,600 from the 2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.



Background: Funds have been allocated to the 2003 Assistance to Firefighters

Grant Program to improve the ability of agencies responding to emergencies to

communicate with each other. The Columbus Fire Department is applying for a

grant of $99,600 to address this issue. When the Columbus Fire and Emergency

Medical Services, and other emergency response agencies respond to an

emergency they experience tremendous difficulty in communicating with each

other. This compromises the safety of our firefighters, EMS personnel and the

citizens to varying degrees due to our inability to communicate with all of the

agencies that respond with us to emergencies.



Analysis: This problem can be resolved by utilizing a ACU-1000 System which has

the ability to provide communication interoperability between HF, VHF, Low

Band, VHF High Band, UHF, 800 MHz and 900 MHz Talk-Groups and Encrypted

Networks. The cost for the ACU-1000 is $80,000. In addition to the ACU-1000

the department is also requesting funding for 7 handheld radios at a cost of

$2,800 each to back up the ACU-1000 unit and to insure communications for those

agencies that will not be compatible with the requested system. The total cost

for the radios will be $19,600.



Financial Considerations: The grant is for $99,600 and requires a 30% match

($29,880). If the grant is funded the matching funds will be provided from

General Fund Contingency.



Legal Considerations: The Columbus Consolidated Government is eligible to

receive these funds.



Recommendation/Action: Authorize the City Manager to submit, and if approved,

accept a grant of $99,600 from the 2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant

Program.















A RESOLUTION



NO. _____



A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPLY FOR AND IF APPROVED ACCEPT A

GRANT OF $99,600 FROM THE FY 2003 ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT PROGRAM.

THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO PURCHASE (7) PORTABLE RADIOS AND A ACU-1000

COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM FOR THE COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT.



WHEREAS, funds are available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency

through the FY2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to purchase

equipment for the Fire Department; and,



WHEREAS, our community will benefit from our ability to communicate with all

agencies responding to emergencies through the utilization of the ACU-100

Communications System which allows communication between HF, VHF Low Band VHF

High Band and UHF, 800 MHZ and 900 MHz; and,



WHEREAS, the grant is a 70/30 proposal with a Federal Share of $69,720 and a

local share of $29,880 for a total of $99,600; and,



WHEREAS, this grant proposal requires a 30% matching funds ($29,880) which will

be funded from the Contingency Funds.



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 of $99,600 from the FY 2003 Assistance to Firefighters

Grant Program. These funds will be used to purchase (7) Portable Radios and a

ACC-1000 Communications System for the Columbus Fire Department and amend the

multi-governmental fund by a like amount.



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 Davis voting __________.

Councilor Henderson voting __________.

Councilor Hunter voting __________.

Councilor McDaniel voting __________.

Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.

Councilor Rodgers voting __________.

Councilor Suber voting __________.

Councilor Woodson voting __________.





___________________________________ _____________________________

Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Robert S. Poydasheff, Mayor