LTC 011-2012 Citywide Radio System $ s '' F
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OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
N o. LTC # 011 -2012 LETTER TO COMMI S�O
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TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City mmission ,
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager;,y
DATE: January 12, 2012;
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SUBJECT.: Citywide Radio System
The purpose of this LTC is to update the Mayor and Commissioners. about the - City's
Radio System.
The City successfully implemented the upgrade of the Public Safety Radio system to a
new Motorola 800 MHz ASTRO Trunked Simulcast Smart Zone Radio System in 2005.
At that time, Motorola removed the old radio. system, re- configured the existing
microwave system (which serves as the backhaul for the Smart Zone radio system) and
entered into a contract with the City to maintain the entire system for 10 years following
implementation.
The new radio system addressed the coverage issues with the previous system, and
provided opportunities for interoperability among various local safety agencies.
Further, the new radio system provides simultaneous transmission of radio signals from
three (3) sites, a significant improvement over the single transmission site of the prior
system, which resulted in improved building penetration throughout the City's seven
miles coverage area.
Additionally, the new radio system provided the ability to work in both analog and digital
modes simultaneously. The Fire Department and all other City radio system .users have
continuously operated in analog mode since the new system was implemented.
During the period from March to August 2007 the City experienced approximately five
intermittent, isolated failures of the digital mode of the radio system. The City escalated
the digital mode failure issue to Motorola's Corporate Level VP, who responded' by
sending their technicians as well as an independent team of engineers to test and
evaluate the radio system digit m
al ode failures, which included months of re- optimizing
the microwave system_ Following the testing, Motorola concluded that the microwave
system caused the radio system digital mode failure. It was Motorola's recommendation,
that the City replace the entire microwave system.
The City issued and awarded an RFP for the replacement of the microwave system and
implementation is underway with an estimated completion date in the first quarter. of
2012. Upon successful implementation, the Police Department will have the choice of
returning to the digital mode of operation.
Since August 2007, Police officers . have been operating continuously in the analog
mode, like Fire and City users have been operating since implementation in 2005. The
City has not experienced any failure of the radio system white operating in the analog.
mode.
Although the - issues with the microwave system caused difficulty to the users, there were
no "dead spots" caused by it. When there are issues with the radio system, the Police
Department ' has three forums where the issues can be shared and resolved:
• The first forum is directly with Motorola. An October 2011 report of radio
tickets for Police Department complaints. of radio transmission dead spots
detailed 12 issues since October 2008. Of the. 12 issues reported, 11
could not be 'duplicated by Motorola while working with the Police
Department, and the remaining issue was caused by a competing radio
repeater owned by Sprint which Sprint immediately corrected. Since
October 2011, approximately 5 tickets have been entered for potential
dead spots. Motorola has investigated the incidents and has either been
unable to duplicate or has indicated that the radio system is ,performing as
designed.
• The second forum is the monthly status meeting with Motorola. The IT
Department holds these with the Police and Fire Departments, as well as
their respective union representatives. All meeting members are copied
on the meeting minutes which are signed by the representatives present
at the meeting. A review of all the minutes from the Motorola meetings
for the past year does not reveal any reference to dead spots.
• The last forum is the IT Department monthly departmental meetings with
the Police Department. During these meetings, the status of all types of
technical projects is reviewed. All meeting members are copied on the
meeting minutes which are signed by the units present at the meeting. A
review of all the minutes from these meetings for the past year does not
reveal any reference to dead spots.
The Motorola report and both sets of meeting minutes are available should you wish to
review.
JMG: PDW: AS
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