Public Safety and Management & Fiscal Policy Committees Discuss Public Safety System Modernization

The Public Safety Committee (PS), chaired by Phil Andrews, and the Management and Fiscal Policy (MFP) Committee, chaired by Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg, met on Monday, October 18th at 11:00 am to discuss the following agenda item:
(1) Amendment to the FY11-16 Capital Improvements Program and Supplemental Appropriation to the FY11 Capital Budget - Public Safety System Modernization-$21,616,000 (Source of Funds: Short Term Financing)

The committees held a work session regarding an amendment to the Public Safety Modernization (PSSM) CIP project and a Supplemental appropriation of $21.6 million. The purpose of the supplemental appropriation and amendment is to accelerate the purchase of new replacement radios. In addition, Sprint/Nextel, which is responsible for covering the costs associated with re-banding within the 800 MHz frequencies, has offered to pay the County $3.3 million if the County will move forward with purchasing new radios rather than proceeding with the current plan that requires the company to loan radios to the County. County Staff outlined three possible options regarding how to proceed with the purchase of radios. The three options included:

1) Do not approve the requested amendment/supplemental and the $3.3 million payment form Sprint/Nextel;

2) Approve the Executive’s proposal and accept the $3.3 million payment from Sprint/Nextel; and

3) Continue the Sprint/Nextel Loaner Program for the immediate re-banding but amend the PSSM CIP project to stop the scheduled purchase of XTS5000 radios until the County has completed its implementation of the Strategic Plan for the total public safety system.

The following people presented during the work session: Tom Manger, Chief of Police; Richard Bowers, Fire Chief; Mike Knuppel, Chief Technology Officer at the Department of Technology Services and Jacqueline Carter, Office of Management and Budget.

The Committee decided to obtain further information before making a recommendation to the full Council. There will be another work session on this topic on Monday, October 25th. A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, October 26th at 1:30 pm. Action is tentatively scheduled for October 26th as well.

Please contact Laurie Mintzer Edberg, Director of Management and Fiscal Policy, at 240-777-7948 (direct dial) or laurie.edberg@montgomerycountymd.gov with any questions regarding this joint PS/MFP work session.