HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10191999 - D2 e
T0- BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra
Costa
FROM: PHIL BATCHELOR, County Administrator County
DATE:, October 19, 1999
SUBJECT: COUNTYS TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM'S RELIABILITY
SPECIF C REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND jUS'E MCATR0?I
1. CONSIDER report from C.S.I. Telecommunications, Inc. on the current status of the County's
telecommunications system including seismic safety and maintenance issues.
2. CONSIDER the following recommendations of the County Administrator to address the issues
identified in the C.S.I. report.
• DIRECT the County Administrator to immediately prepare a pian to address the "high w
priority action items" identified in the report and to identify funding sources to implement
this pial.
• DIRECT the County'Administrator to prepare a long-range implementation and financing
plan to address other action items identified in priority order in the report.
FISCAL IMPACT.-
C.S.I.
MPA `.-
C.S.I. Telecommunications, Inc. has giver a preliminary figure of approximately $1.2 million to
address the seismic safety and maintenance issues identified in the report. Addressing hese
recommendations can be done in a priority order and can be implemented over a period of time.
However, it is recommended that the highest priority items be addressed immediately, at ars
estimated oust of 375,00 .
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND:
At the request of the County Administrator's Office, C.S.I. Telecommunications,Inc. has reviewed
the County"s telecommunications system to evaluate the Condition of the County's
CO* IINUED O,N, AT,ACHM.}'�T: .: `YES SIGNI ATURE: r
`* RECOMMENDATION or COUNTYADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION.-1F BOARD COMMITTEE
57
ACTION of BOARD ON x � " c x' � �� � APPROVE AS RECOMMENDED cc "'
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AND CORRECT"COPY of AN ACTION TAKEN
€?�ANI CDLIS(ABSENT D AND ENTERED ON TIME MINUTES of` HE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON TIME DATE
AYES: NOES, SHOWN,
ABSENT: ABSTMN: .11ry 4
ATTESTED f, ,
CONTACT:GEORGE ROWER(925)335-105:5 PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK O THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY
ADMINISTRATOR
CC.- COUNTYADMINISTRATOR.
GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Telecommunication Systems Evaluation October 19, 1999
Page 2
telecommunications infrastructure and to make recommendations for system improvements,
if needed. The report has identified problems with respect to the various County
communications sites and includes recommendations, in priority ',order, to make
telecommunications system upgrades that would improve the seismic safety and performance
of telephone switching and communications nications equipment.
The priorities identified in this report can be accomplished within three levels: e13 those
seismic and other ;problems that needto be addressed on an emergency basis, (2)those items
that could impact the efficiency of the County's communications and need to be done within
the next year, and (3) those items necessary for pear efficiency of the overall infrastructure
and to insure that the County's telecommunications system, including telephone and E-mail,
remain fully operational during times of emergency.
C. S. I. I elecommunications
Contra Cost. Count
Review of Telecommunications Infrastructure
September 30, 1999
Introduction
At the request of the County Administrator's office, this firm reviewed the
telecommunications infrastructure in Contra Costa County with the goal of identifying
potential problems with regards to reliability,safety,and effectiveness.
This report summarizes the findings and proposes solutions to the problems that were
identified.
Three communications sites have structural problems that require immediate attention.
Bald Peak needs a new communications building and tower, which is already berg
addressed as part of,the County's microwave project with Pacific Bell Mobile Services.
Comings Peak already has the neva tower installed and only heeds to have the antenna
systems replaced. Vigor Peak needs a new tourer and there is some question on the
building's seismic stability. ,A. more detailed analysis of the Kregor Peak
communications building is underway and no casts can be identified at this time.
Dong terra communications systems improvements and proper test equipment are
recommended.
The County's telephone equipment was reviewed and seismic mounting was found to be
inadequate.
Finally, equipment upgrades will be necessary to replace voice mail systems that will no
longer be supported by the manufacturer and to increase telephone capacity to
accommodate anticipated growth.
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High Priorily Action Items
Bald Peak $ 45,000
Cummings Peals 45,000
Kregor Peak(Tourer only) 153,000
Communications Site Seismic Mounting 50,000
Communication Site Safety Equipment 1,500
Telecommunications Equipment Seismic Mounting 74,400
Subtotal S 373,900
hiorityr Action Items
Harris Tandem Switch $ 49,000
Octel'voice.Mail 315,000
Telecommunications Test Equipment 102,000
Subtotal
$ 466,000
Acton Items
Communications Site Improvements $ 90,000
Battery Replacement 75,000
Air Conditioning 125,000
Standard Intetfacing 50,000
Subtotal 350,000
Grand Total 91891,"0
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High Priority Action Reins
During the survey, several major problem areas were identified at critical County
communications sites. These include inadequate or overloaded structures that, after
review by a Registered Structural Professional Engineer licensed in the state of
California, have been determined to be unstable. These communications sites are links
in the County's microwave system that hosts radio equipment used by all County and
local agencies, including Sheriff, police and fire. The loss of any of these sites will
greatly impair the effectiveness of the County's public safety agencies.
Bald Peak
A review of the communications building and two communications tower at Bald Peak
indicated that the structures should be replaced immediately. The communications
building has major cracks completely through the walls due to differential settling of the
subsurface ground. It appears that no reinforcing steel was used in the construction of the
building. The structural engineer concluded that the building does not meet current
seismic standards and may not survive a major earthquake.
Both towers at Bald Peak are overloaded and exceed standard ANSI- IA--222 - P.
The structural report says both towers are overstressed for the basic wind spud of 100
mph with no ice. The leg of one of the towers had previously split and had been Meld
welded. Moreover, the northwest and northeast tower legs are bowedslightly in the
bottom section.
Both the building and towers will be replaced as part of the new microwave project and
the asst of the building and new single tower will be shared with Pacific Bell Mobile
Services. However, the County needs to provide new antennas, coax and site combining
for the new tower,costing $45,000.
Cummings Peak
The existing tower at Cummings Peak is showing signs of rest on the tog 60+feet of tower
and on the guy wires. Since replacement tower is already in place, our recommendation
is to move all of the antenna systems to the new tower and move the old tower.
The County needs to provide new antennas, coax and site combining for the new tower,
costing $45,000.
e oor Peak
The structural engineer found that the tower legs, bracing, gay wires and probably
foundation at Kregor Peak are overloaded and the tower must be replaced. The
communications building may also have serious structural problems and a thorough
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review of the building (which is actually three different buildings sharing common walls)
is in process. Until the review is complete, this firm cannot report on the exact condition
of the building or what corrective actions must be undertaken or at what cost. All that
can be said at this time is that one of the three parts of the building is suspect.
It is recommended that a new tower be constructed to meet current EIA standards and to
accommodate known antennas and reasonable future growth, at an estimated cost of
$108,000, In addition, the County will need to provide new antennas, coax, and site
combining for the new tower,costing $45,000.
Communications Site Seismic htlouiiting
The equipment at the County's communications sites is not property mounted to Zone 4
seismic standards and could fail in the event of an earthquake. It is recommended that all
of the communications sites be retrofitted at an estimated cost of$50,000.
Communications Sites Safety EguiMent
All of the County's major communications sates are located on mountaintops and isolated
from populated areas. They are lacking basic safety items such as first aid kits and fire
extinguishers. In addition, they all have lead acid batteries that have the potential to
cause injury. It is recommended that all sites be equipped with basic safety items at a
total cost of$1,500.
Telecommunications Equipment Seismic)Iountng
A review of telephone equipment, including Private Branch Exchange(M) equipment
and voice mail equipment, revealed that none was seismically mounted to the
manufacturer's recommendations. In the event of an earthquake, the equipment could
shift around or topple which may cause it to fail and prevent essential County telephone
communications. It is recommended that all of the County's telephone equipment
mountings be retrofitted to manufacturer's recommendations at a total cost of $79,400.
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Priori Action Items
These items are recommended to keep the County's telecommunications infrastruc=e
operating at best efficiency.
Harris Tandem Switch
The main connection between the County's private PBX network and the public switched
network is the Harris Tandem Switch located at 30 Douglas Drive,Martinez. The current
equipment is operating at full opacity and no growth can be accommodated. It has been
determined that to meet future telephone needs, additional ISS 1 circuits should be added
bete the tandem switch and the public switched network. However, the circuits
cannot be added until the tandem switch is upgraded to increase its capacity at an
estimated cost of$49,000.
Octel Voice:ail
The Octel burn voice mail system located at 30 Douglas Drive, Martinez has been
discontinued by the manufacturer for some time now and the County has been notified
that maintenance support for the system will no longer be offered by the manufacturer
after November 2000. A neva voice mail system is recommend d at an estimated cast of
$315,000.
Telecommunications Test mo meat
The County has sophisticated telecommunications systems but the County's technicians
have old, obsolete and barely functional test equipment to keep those systems operating
in a cost-effective manner. We recommend the purchase of test equipment, including
DS 1 test sets, analog test sets, communications test sets and portable oscilloscopes at an
estimated total cost of$102,000, so that the County's telecommunications technicians are
equipped to promptly and efficiently troubleshoot and maintain the systema.
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Aiction Items
While the follo%,�ring items are not as critical as the ones previously listed, they still are
important to maintaining the County's telecommunications infrastructure.'
Communications Site 4ppKovement
NNIffe three of the County's communications sites will have new towers as recommended
elsewhere in this repoM the rest of the sites still need to have their antennas and coax
replaced, and transmitter combining installed. The recommended work is estimated to
cost$90,000.
Battery_RepWanent
Batteries provide back up power at County communications sites. Currently the County
uses inexpensive wet cell lead acid batteries that must be replaced every two or three
years, and a home-made charging system. We recommended replacing the batteries and
charging systems with valve-regulated sealed lead acid batteries and a properly designed
charging and distribution system. While these batteries are more expensive, they have a
twenty-year life. The total cost of this upgrade is estimated at$75,000.
Air Conditioning
None of the sites are properly air conditioned to keep the equipment operating at a proper
temperature. In addition, the buildings are not sealed and current ventilation systems
suck m dust and dirt that ultimately rests on the equipment. For maximum system
reliability, it is recommended that all sites be sealed and properly air conditioned at an
estimated cost of$125,000.
Standard Interfacing
The County's technicians have designed and constructed much of the interconnection
hardware between various communications systems. The net result is a collection of
"very custom" electronics that are not well understood by all County technicians (some
of the work was done by technicians no longer employed by the County), and are not
well documented. This lark of familiarity can greatly increase the timenecessary to
resolve a problem. We recommend replacing all of the "very custom" electronics with
standard off-the-shelf assemblies and converting 91 transmitter control to tone control
systems at an estimated cost of$60,000.
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