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Receive an update on consolidated dispatch services.
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BACKGROUND:
As the council is aware, the cities of Farmers Branch, Carrollton, Addison and Coppell have been working together to find ways to share and combine services in order to eliminate duplication, reduce costs and improve services for citizens. One of the major projects that has been undertaken is the study of the possibility of combining public safety dispatch centers. The project commenced on December 20th, 2011 when the City Council passed Resolution 2011-008 which authorized an inter-local cooperation agreement with the other cities to perform a feasibility study concerning the establishing a joint public safety dispatch center. The study has taken many turns due to the complicated nature of the project, but has recently concluded that a combined public safety dispatch center could meet the goals listed above.
Congruent with the consolidated dispatch project, the four cities have been moving forward with a project to update the shared 800 MTz public safety radio system. The four cities have shared radio equipment for several years and it has been determined that a radio equipment upgrade is needed. On December 4, 2012 the City Council issued $3,650,000 in certificates of deposits to pay for the equipment to upgrade our equipment.
Over the last 2 years there has been a great deal of analysis on both dispatch consolidation and the radio system. Along with the way several meetings have occurred between Public Safety Administrators, Finance Directors, IT personnel and City Managers. At this time the radio system project is moving to the final stages and well on its way to completion. The radio system has been analyzed, designed and put out for bids. A vendor has been selected (Harris) and this summer the final design of the system will be determined and approved for installation.
The Radio system project and the consolidation study are linked as the radio equipment is use...
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