HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04091985 - F.2 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
a FROM: Finance Committee
Contra Costa
DATE: April 4, 1985 cOlarity
SUBJECT: Review of Communications System
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) de BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Concur with an overall review of the communication system in the
county under the auspices of the Disaster Council with the
understanding that a written progress report will be submitted by
June 30, 1985.
2. Authorize preparation of an application to the Office of Traffic
Safety for a matching grant to upgrade the Med-Com system with
the understanding local share commitments will be reviewed in
conjunction with preparation of the budget for the 1985-1986
fiscal year.
BACKGROUND
On February 19, 1985 the Board, on request of Chairwoman N. C. Fanden,
referred to the Finance Commtitee for review the issue of the
communications system in the county. At the time Supervisor Fanden
expressed concern for improved communications to provide a 10 channel
Med-Com communications system for ambulance-to-hospital
communications, noting that the existing system has only one channel.
Problems occur, therefore, when more than one incident occurs at the
same time.
The Finance Committee was informed at its meeting April 1 that staff
has had several exploratory meetings about the scope and nature of the
communications problem in the county, and about possible resources and
funding for remedial action. The Finance Committee was advised of the
following facts relating to communications in the county:
• Emergency communication agencies, such as police, fire, sheriff
and ambulances, operate on various different frequencies, such as
L0, VHF, UHF, TV.
• A number of user groups have a committee studying communications ..
system revisions.
X
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATIONVder EE
APPROVE OHER
GC7",/`
SIGNATURE(S) S. W. McPeak
ACTION OF BOARD ON ARril 9. 1985 A ROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT I ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
County Administrator OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: Sheriff-Coroner ATTESTED , /98J
Emergency Medical Service PHIL BATCHELOR. CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
Public Works Director SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Emergency Services
All Cities
M382/7-02 BY DEPUTY
-2-
• Communications technology has been evolving very rapidly since
the end of World War II , one reason thlat agencies operate on
different frequencies. I
• Radio channels are allocated by the Federal Communications
Commission, are in demand and are very difficult to obtain.
• Communications among agencies is increasingly requiring the
installation of multiple radios in emergency vehicles, and would
likely be a severe problem in a serious emergency or disaster.
• A 50-50 matching grant of $1. 9 million may be available for
improvements to the Med-Com communications system.
• Consulting assistance, or additional staff resources, may be
required for development of remedial measures.
I
The committee was also advised that a discussion about communications
was held by the Disaster Council at its meeting on March 27, 1985, and
that the Council indicated a willingness to activate its Emergency
Communications Committee agreed on at its December meeting. The
purpose of this committee is to "evaluate existing emergency
communications in Contra Costa County and determine the most
appropriate long-range plan for correcting any deficiencies." The
committee is also to recommend a proposed countywide emergency
communication master plan that the Council can recommend to the Board
of Supervisors and each city in the county. I
Funding of a major systems revision will impact all participating
agencies but substantial expenditures are now in fact being made by
agencies for communications equipment. `
(, I. communications System Review
I 2. Disaster Council .review
3. 'Of.fice .af Traffice Safety application
4. Med-Com system upgrade'grant