HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-08-10 Government Operations Committee Minutes '
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE ,
MINUTES �
August 10, 2004 ,
Councilors Present: Richard Greene, Peter D'Errico, Anne Allen, Gerry Palmer ,
StafF Present: Bob Farrar, ]eff Cammack, Don Winslow, Ron Gastia, Frank ,
Comeau, Ed Barrett
Others Present: Rod Towne, Kevin Frazier, Dawn Gagnon ,
The meeting convened at 5:00 p.m. ,
1. Discussion of Process to Evaluate, Fund and Construct Proposed Multi-
Purpose Athletic Field Complex. ,
City Manager Barrett recalled that there were a number of suggestions during
previous meeting with the initial proposal and addressed the idea to establish ■
two subcommittees. One would be assigned the task of looking at the need ■
assessment and trying to gain regional support for the effort. The second ,
subcommittee would be focusing on funding and implementation.
City Manager Barrett outlined the composition of the sub-committees. ,
If needed, a steering committee would be formed to coordinate the efforts of the
two efforts, composed of the Chairs of each committee and two members
selected by the Chairs from their respective committees. '
Regarding the work schedule, the committee of Need Assessment and Design
should be complete before the end of October. The Funding and Implementation '
committee should complete their work by the end of December.
If the proposal is accepted, then the committees would be established by Council '
Order and that would be on the next agenda, if this is approved by Government
Operations.
Councilor D'Errico expressed concern for the time factor but would like it if it can ,
be done within the allotted time frame. Ed Barrett addressed that the end of '
October date was selected because it is tied into the November election, which
would have an impact on how any project might go forward.
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' Councilor Allen asked if the groups will be put together by the four Councilors
that are there? (Councilors Greene, D'Errico, Allen and Palmer)
City Manager Barrett responded that iYs what they've been trying to do over that
' last few meetings, that is to identiry the groups that we think are important,
there have been a couple of other suggestions that we will build in to the order
that comes before you.
' It is the overall consensus of the Committee to move forward and prepare the
' list of groups and information for next Mondays Meeting.
2. Regional Mobile Command Post-Maine Emergency Management Agency
' (MEMA)
' Chief Winslow explained that The Maine Emergency Management Agency has
allocated funds from the FY04 homeland security money that was coming to the
State of Maine for the purchase of four regional command post type vehicles (40
' foot vehicles equipped with communications equipment).
MEMA decided that it was feasible to purchase four of these units and place
' them strategically around the state. At the recommendation of the committee
the following were approved to get the vehicles: York County, Androscoggin
' County, Maine State Police in Augusta, and the committee offered one to the City
of Bangor, being the biggest community in this region. There will be a formal
memorandum of understanding at some point between the City of Bangor and
' the State if this is agreeable to the city. This memorandum would articulate the
terms and conditions of being a host community. The city would be responsible
for routine maintenance of the vehicles, oil changes, etc. Any significant work
, would be maintained by the State.
Also, the City of Bangor would have the responsibility to get the vehicle to a
community that needed it. For example, if there was a forest fire in Lincoln, the
� City of Bangor would be responsible for getting the vehicle to Lincoln and turning
it over to them, then the City of Lincoln would be responsible for getting it back
to Bangor.
, The advantage to Bangor is that it gives a 40 foot command post that is suitable
� for any tactical incident that would involve a large number of different
jurisdictions needing to get together and sit down in one unit. IE: If there was an
aircraft incident then there would need to be no less then a dozen agencies
� working together. This type of vehicle could accommodate these jurisdictions on
the site of the incident. Chief Winslow mentioned that there is virtually no cost to
the City of Bangor.
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Councilor D'Errico inquired what level of emergency this vehicle would be used '
at. Chief Winslow responded that it is designed to accommodate anything that's
multi jurisdictional. However, it would be used for tactical incidents that were
more significant than a routine call. For example, if the bomb squad got called it '
would probably not be used, but if a tactical team got called out because of a
hostage situation or a barricaded individual, depending on circumstances it may '
be appropriate to use the vehicle. Chief Winslow also adds that it would be great
to use for events. It gives a nice presence and a clear command post.
Councilor Palmer asked how the two vehicles compliment each other and are not '
duplicates (referring to a recent vehicle that the city appropriated money for).
Chief Winslow replied that the vehicle that money was appropriated for a couple ,
of weeks ago will be primarily used by the special response team and the bomb
squad. It is designed to carry their equipment and get them to a particular
scene. It is not big enough to accommodate a large number of people in the ,
command post. IYs good for a small incident, but is much smaller and is not
equipped with the comm�nication equipment that the MEMA vehicle is equipped
with. Chief Winslow also added that the other vehicle was Federal money, not �
local money.
Chair Greene mentioned that Chief Cammack has an extra bay to house the �
vehicle at the Fire Department and that the Ciry is happy to have been chosen to
house this vehicle. '
Chair Greene asked if there is adequate city sta�ng to run this vehicle and if the
city is responsible for maintenance. Chief Cammack responded that the city ,
would use someone from on duty to respond to a situation and drop the vehicle
off and come back. As far as maintenance, oil changes, etc. MEMA covers major
problems with vehicle. '
Councilor Palmer asked about appearance. Chief Winslow replied that the vehicle
would be comparable to a large self-contained camper unit, recreational type �
vehicle. Palmer asked about estimated life of vehicle. Chief Winslow does not
know that answer to that question.
Chair Greene asked what is being asked of committee and Chief Winslow replies ,
that they wanted to be sure that the council was comfortable with the concept of �
the City of Bangor housing the vehicle before having further conversations with
MEMA. There will be an additional meeting with a formal memorandum of
understanding. ,
The committee approved of the housing of this vehicle in Bangor.
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1 3. Department of Justice Interoperable Technology Program- Grant
Application
' The Police Department requested approval to apply for federal funding in the
amount of $448,674.00 to improve voice and data communication capabilities.
' This program is part of the community oriented police services and
$3,000,000.00 in federal grant funds is available nationwide. If successful, the
� City would be required to provide a 25% cash match of $149,559.00. .
Chief Winslow addressed the Committee and corrected a typo from agenda,
� there is actually 80 million dollars available, The City of Bangor has opportunity
to apply for up to 3 million dollars. This grant earmarks money that will improve
systems so that we can communicate with other agencies. We have that
' capability now to some degree through a statewide frequency and a state fire
frequency, but there are several departments that we are currently unable to
communicate with. He broke the project down into several different phases.
1 Phase one would be to build an infrastructure to support communication system
and would involve putting up four additional "repeaters" that would address
some dead spots. There are areas where it is very di�cult to communicate with
, the station and a portable. Phase one would be able to be completed if the grant
was approved. This would take several years, eventually would have to replace
' all radios. The FCC is moving in the direction of making the frequencies more
restricted. They want to narrow the ban width of frequencies so that they can
make more frequencies available for users as the request for frequencies out
� number the available frequencies at this point. The radios that we currently have
aren't capable of operating on that narrower ban width, so eventually the radio
systems would have to be replace and when that infrastructure is in place
' building a network of data terminals, mobile data terminals for both police and
fire that is reliable and works. This is an opportunity to get some federal money
to do something that ultimately will have to be done over the next ten years
� anyway.
Councilor D'Errico asked if The University of Maine would see a benefit of this.
� Chief Winslow replied that he believes that any public service entity is going to
see a benefit of this. One of the stipulations of the grant is that we have to use
' the money to build a system that is going to benefit the region. The Penobscot
County has an effort underway to improve the mobile data terminal systems and
the information-sharing package and their own communication systems.
, Whatever we do here we are going to try to involve them to make sure that the
systems are compatible. As far as local places like the airport, etc. as of right
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now we lack the ability to talk to water district and other entities that have an
interest in security, this new system would allow for communication with them. '
Councilor D'Errico asked if these other entities would be possible financial
supporters. Chief Winslow responded that possibly yes they would be.
Councilor Greene would like Ed Barrett's take on the $150,000.00 and where that ,
would have to come from. Also what other departments would we be able to
communicate with that we can't communicate with now? ,
Chief Winslow replied that we can communicate with some departments at the
airport; but not all of them. TSA can communicate with officers that are at the '
airport, but cannot communicate directly with TSA from downtown. Currently we
have a completely different system to speak with the Air National Guard and
would like to incorporate them into this one radio system as well. ,
Councilor Greene asked if these systems for police and fire are going to be more
compatible than what we have now.
Chief Winslow replied that yes, in the sense that whatever we build for '
infrastructure now will support our existing radio system and meet the needs of
the future. So, if all we can do its get this money and do Phase One of this
project it is going to be very useful to us. If we can get money to accomplish ■
Phase Two which will be to replace the radios thaYs going to be an added �
benefit.
Chief Winslow mentioned that he has not spoken with City Manager Barrett to '
discuss where this money would come from.
Lt. Gastia commented on Councilor Greene's inquiry of what other disciplines we ,
would be able to communicate with; One of the components of this system
which is included in this phase of the plan are network to network gateways. �
Which means that we would be able to communicate with anybody who has any
type of communication devise no matter what that is, or what frequency they are
on. Could use a family radio and talk to the police department or use a cell ,
phone by plugging it in to communicate with the fire department radio. This
system matches the frequencies and allows multi disciplinary multi jurisdictional
to talk to one another so essentially we could talk to anybody in the county, ,
state, and across the US if we know their frequency.
Councilor Greene inquired whether the additional towers that will be erected will '
be sharing on existing towers or if they will be totally new towers.
Chief Winslow said they will be new towers or new receiver sites. Currently there ,
are two repeater sites, one for the fire department and one for the police
department the position of the sites and the fact that there is only one for each
department real�y limits the distance that we can communicate. The new receiver '
sites called a "voter" system is designed to select the best site of the four sites,
and use that to transmit back and forth.
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' Based upon this information the Committee approved of the grant application. If
later it is determined that the match could not be met, the application can be
withdrawn or rejected.
' The Committee adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
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