TITLE:
title
APPROVAL FOR THE HIGH FREQUENCY COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT PROGRAM APPLICATION
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DEPARTMENT: Police Department
PRESENTED BY: Jason Dempsey, Emergency Services Administrator
CONTACT INFORMATION: Jason Dempsey, Emergency Services Administrator (714) 754-5333
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Approve the City Manager, or designee, to apply for High Frequency Communications Equipment Program grant funding through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES); and
2. Upon grant approval, authorize revenue and expense appropriations in amounts not to exceed $60,000 respectively, for High Frequency Communications Equipment.
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BACKGROUND:
Cal OES administers the High Frequency Communications Equipment (HF) Program. The purpose of the HF Program is to provide funding to Alerting Authorities and Emergency Operation Centers (EOC), for equipment that will enable participation in an integrated high frequency radio network service. This equipment utilizes frequencies authorized by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) intended for communications with state, local, and federal agencies in support of emergency management.
Applicants may apply for up to $60,000 to establish or maintain an HF communications system capable of communicating with local, regional, state, or federal partners.
The City of Costa Mesa has not previously participated in this grant.
Cal OES has tentatively accepted the submission from Costa Mesa, pending receipt of formal written authority granted by the City Council.
This grant requires specific Proof of Authority from the applicant:
Proof of Authority - SRH 1.055
The Subrecipient certifies they have written authority by the governing board (e.g., County Board of Supervisors, City Council, or Governing Board) granting authority for the Subrecipient/Official Designee (see Section 3.030) to enter into a specific Grant Subaward (indicated by the Cal OES Program name and initial Grant Subaward performance period) and applicable Grant Subaward Amendments with Cal OES. The authorization includes naming of an Official Designee (e.g., Executive Director, District Attorney, Police Chief) for the agency/organization who is granted permission to sign Grant Subaward documents on behalf of the Subrecipient. Written proof of authority includes one of the following: signed Board Resolution or approved Board Meeting minutes.
ANALYSIS:
The High Frequency Communications Equipment Program will establish the Costa Mesa HF radio program. The Costa Mesa HF radio program will serve as a redundancy/ continuity/complementary measure for other City communication systems including:
• landline telephone
• cellular telephone and internet
• encrypted public safety radio
• landline internet
• satellite phone and internet
The Costa Mesa HF radio program will enable the City to communicate with local, regional, state, and federal partners via HF voice communications using HF radios installed in the EOC radio room and the combined Police/Fire dispatch center in the same public safety complex. Some of these radios will be paired with computers supporting a data capability. A goal of this program is to establish maximum interoperability with all local, regional, state, and federal partners while using HF.
In the event of a disaster or other interruption in the communications infrastructure, Costa Mesa may use the HF radio system to share information, coordinate, plan, and deploy in conjunction with the Orange County Operational Area, other jurisdictions including neighboring cities and John Wayne Airport, local infrastructure partners including water and power, as well as complement the re-establishment of other public radio systems. The Costa Mesa HF radio program will also have complete interoperability with the City’s public safety command vehicle.
HF frequencies will enable the City to communicate over longer distances than other public safety and amateur radio frequencies, without dependence on repeaters or other additional infrastructure. The procured HF radio capability is used as a supplemental continuity measure in the event cellular and internet systems are non-functional, such as in the aftermath of a major earthquake or cyber-attack. The value of this HF radio capability is compounded if the same disaster causes a loss of functionality in the public safety radio system used by agencies such as Costa Mesa Police and Costa Mesa Fire and Rescue. For instance, in the aftermath of an incident, the City may begin to coordinate information, mutual aid, and purchases from organizations in neighboring counties or states.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council may decide not to grant this authority and finalize its application; however, this is not recommended as Costa Mesa currently lacks this capability, and, thus, would not have the increased resiliency in the aftermath of a disaster that impacts communications infrastructure.
FISCAL REVIEW:
There is no fiscal impact to applying for the High Frequency Communications Equipment Program Grant through the State’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES).
Upon grant approval revenue and expense appropriations in amounts not to exceed $60,000 respectively, for High Frequency Communications Equipment.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed this report and approved it as to form.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES:
This item supports the following City Council Goal:
• Strengthen the public’s safety and improve the quality of life.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends City Council:
1. Approve the City Manager, or designee, to apply for High Frequency Communications Equipment Program grant funding through California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES); and
2. Upon grant approval, authorize revenue and expense appropriations in amounts not to exceed $60,000 respectively, for High Frequency Communications Equipment.