Agenda Item Name:
Title
Trunk Radio System Update
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Presenter:
Harold Theus, Chief 352-384-3101
Description:
Trunk Radio System Update
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Hear Presentation
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Prior Board Motions:
December 14, 2021
Commissioner Alford moved the following:
1. Authorize a Chair Letter describing the County intent to build a standalone radio system and inquire if the City has interest in selling the GRUCom radio system.
2. Staff to add the appropriate deadline for response by the City to the letter for the sale of radio assets for a countywide system that works with the County process.
3. Authorize a separate letter to inquire about the valuation for the entire GRUCom department for purchase by the County which would allow the provision of countywide internet service.
4. Direct staff to engage the consultant, Federal Engineering to implement Phase 3 (Project Management and Implementation Support Services) in order build out a stand-alone county P-25 radio system that is owned and operated by the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners.
5. Approve the budget amendment.
2nd Commissioner Cornell
Commissioner Cornell, County Manager Lieberman, Commissioner Prizzia, County Manager Lieberman, Assistant County Manager Crosby, Commissioner Chestnut, Commissioner Prizzia, and Commissioner Cornell presented comments.
Public Comments
Chair Wheeler recognized Anthony Johnson, Nathan Skop, and Telford Cartwright who presented comments.
The motion carried 5-0.
February 23, 2021, the BoCC heard the Presentation, Commissioner Prizzia, Assistant County Manager Crosby, Commissioner Alford, Commissioner Prizzia, and Commissioner Alford presented comments.
Commissioner Alford moved the following: SRA. 2nd Wheeler
• Authorize the Chair to execute an agreement with the City of Gainesville/GRU for the Trunk Radio System for this year only.
• Authorize staff to continue negotiations with GRU to develop a long term partnership agreement for the Trunk Radio System.
• Authorize staff to explore alternate plans for a County-wide radio system in the event the parties are unable to reach an agreement.
The motion carried 5-0.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
001.00.0065.525.99.24 - $8,419,286
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Strategic Guide:
Strategic Guide
Infrastructure
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Background:
The contract between GruCom and its radio partners which includes Alachua County for radio services expired on September 30, 2020. In the fall of 2020, radio participants from Alachua County, UF Police Department, the City of Gainesville and Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) met on five occasions to negotiate methodologies of cost allocations. On January 4, 2021, GruCom sent a demand letter to Alachua County and unilaterally directed terms and conditions of a contract and threatened to remove the County from the radio system if full annualized payment was not received within 45 days of an invoice. Later, Alachua County Staff learned that similar letters had been issued to the University of Florida, Santa Fe College and the cities of Alachua, High Springs and Newberry.