HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07222008 - C.51 Y
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TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ��`-- 1�` �'` -
FROM: Tom Whittington, Director Costa
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Office of Information Technology
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County
DATE: July 22, 2008 COU
SUBJECT: Authorization to continue build out of East Bay Regional Communications System -
West County Cell Sites
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
I. AUTHORIZE the Department of Information Technology(DoIT) to continue assisting with the build out
of the West County Cell sites of the East Bay Regional Communications System (EBRCS).
2. AUTHORIZE County staff to complete California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review for the
communications improvements at the West County Cell Sites.
3. AUTHORIZE the Real Estate Services Division.of the General Services Department to develop
necessary lease and/or licensing agreements with the West County Cell Sites owners for site
improvements and use as part of the EBRCS.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
On August 14, 2007 the Board approved $300,000 of County Funds to combine with grant funds to improve the
West County Cell Sites. These county dollars will compliment $834,000,in 2007 federal funds allocated to
Contra Costa County for interoperability improvements.
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BACKGROUND /
The West County Cell sites consists of 4 sites known as Nichol Knob, Turquoise, El Cerrito Police Department
and Pearl Reservoir. In continued pursuit of improved radio site infrastructure, the Board of Supervisors
approved expenditures of up.to $300,000 in County funds to cover costs not funded by grant funds to continue
the build out of the West County Cell sites. Since this authorization, the County signed onto the Joint Exercise
of Powers Agreement for the East Bay Regional Communications System Authority("Agreement") making it a
member agency of the EBRCSA. Pursuant to the Agreement, the West County Cell Sites are within the
jurisdiction of the EBRCSA. The.Agreement authorizes the EBRCSA to construct and facilitate
communications improvements at the sites within its jurisdiction and requires it to provide indemnity and
conduct CEQA review.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: 2 YES SIGNATURE: p
2- ECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR❑ RECOMMENDATION OF BLD COMMITTEE
E;,tPPROVE ❑ OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF 130 D ON
APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS: I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND
CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND
YUNANIMOUS(ABSENT ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
AYES: NOES: TF T ,DATE SHOWN.
ABSENT: A13STAIN: ATTESTED ,a 'n�OL
Contact: Tom Whittington(31204) Ut/OK CLERK OF TME BOARD OF
SU RVIS06RS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
cc: Department of Information Technology
Office of the Sheriff
County Counsel B putt'
B.Riveira,CAO
Not withstanding the EBRCS JPA Agreement, the County believes that we should continue our effort to
upgrade these sites, which are necessary to host the radio equipment that we have already purchased. We have
also committed future federal funds for a new microwave system to tie the West County Cell sites together and
to communicate with the EBRCS master site controller. Contra Costa County has managed these site
improvements in the past, and has the knowledge and expertise to continue the work within federal funding time
frames.
Given the regional benefit of these county improvements, the EBRCSA has informally recognized these
investments as a credit against radio subscription fees paid by other JPA members. Should local costs for site
upgrades exceed the committed budget, we will work with the JPA to have them fund future upgrades as per the
agreement.
The following steps are necessary in order to complete communication improvements at the West County Cell
sites: development and approval of access agreements with site owners, California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) review approving the planned improvements, and the installation of the site improvements. Pursuant
to the Agreement, the EBRCSA has jurisdiction over the improvements to be made at these sites and is
responsible for their funding and administration. As the County proceeds further with the improvements at
West County Cell sites, the County will incur costs noted'and liability that would be borne by the EBRCSA
pursuant to the Agreement. We believe this to be acceptable given the availability of time sensitive funding and
County's expertise in this area.