REQUEST FOR COUNCIL DIRECTION ON PLACEMENT OF A RADIO TOWER ON DRAKES PEAK

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Elfrieda Jones
5 years ago
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1 Agenda Item No. 9A March 28, 2017 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: Honorable Mayor and City Council Attention: Jeremy Craig, Interim City Manager Dawn Leonardini, Administrative Services Director, Kris Concepcion, Fire Chief, and John Carli, Chief of Police (Staff Contact: Chief John Carli, (707) ) REQUEST FOR COUNCIL DIRECTION ON PLACEMENT OF A RADIO TOWER ON DRAKES PEAK DISCUSSION: In April 2016, CSI Telecommunications was selected as the consultant firm for the City of Vacaville to help implement the public safety radio system replacement. The current Motorola radio system that is shared between the Cities of Vacaville and Fairfield will reach the manufacturer s end-of-life replacement and maintenance cycle in December To prepare for its replacement, the project was divided into 3 phases to include a needs assessment, procurement and system implementation. The needs assessment included the evaluation of the existing system and radio sites, user visits, site visits, conceptual design, and a coverage prediction study. Staff met regularly over the last year and reviewed the findings of the needs assessment in preparation for requests for proposals (RFP). Coverage, redundancy and interoperability were identified as the most significant factors when preparing this request for proposal. A 2005 staff report titled Fire Station 73 Transmitter Relocation documented the status of the radio system and future plans for city growth and radio coverage. The report identified alternative radio sites based on radio coverage, redundancy and interoperability. The recommendation for the future was to develop Drakes Peak in Vacaville and Cement Hill in Fairfield, which would replace Butcher Hill and Fire Station 73 radio sites. In 2006, Vacaville and Fairfield entered into a cost sharing agreement with Solano County to develop Cement Hill. The report concluded that future development of Drakes Peak would further enhance interoperability for Vacaville and Solano County and allow for migrating the radio site on Butcher Hill to Cement Hill. (See Attachment 1.) Drakes Peak, also known as Drakes Point or Old Rocky, was originally proposed as New Drakes in 1991 as part of a 2-site solution for Vacaville s public safety radio system, along with the Butcher Hill radio site. At the time, the land was not owned by the city so an alternate site was developed at Fire Station 73. Drakes Peak has always been considered superior to Fire Station 73 as a radio site. The infill radio coverage from Station 73 radio tower has been problematic since it was put into service in In 2008, the City of Fairfield replaced its UHF radio system by joining Vacaville and implementing its own 800 MHz radio sites at Cement Hill and Nelson. Cement Hill, which is now fully operational, is a primary site for Fairfield and supports Vacaville s radio equipment as well. This joint radio system, comprised of 4 sites, provides both cities greater range in coverage, and enables full interoperable communication between Fairfield, Vacaville and Suisun City, covering over half of the entire terrain in Solano County. This single-shared network greatly supports interoperability between all departments and cities, as well as providing the technology that currently affords interoperability with Solano County.

Recently, staff analyzed the current radio system coverage maps as part of the radio replacement project to determine if any recommended changes were required.

2 Recently, staff analyzed the current radio system coverage maps as part of the radio replacement project to determine if any recommended changes were required. Butcher Hill is elevated along the ridgeline near Butcher Road and provides optimal coverage for about 85-90% of Vacaville. The site was determined to be working effectively with only minor challenges relating to site access and power. The City leases this space from American Tower, currently costing $24,000 per year. The secondary radio site located at Fire Station 73 on Eubanks Court is less than ideal. Situated at 60 above the ground, the radio tower provides optimal coverage for only 20-25% of Vacaville. Development in the surrounding area creates interference in the Browns Valley area and has further limited the radio coverage in north Vacaville. Newer neighborhoods, such as Cheyenne, have inadequate reception and will require either a change in the design or an alternative site to ensure proper radio coverage in the future. CSI Telecommunications provided additional analysis in order to determine the benefit of increasing the tower height to 100 to improve coverage with less than ideal results. Figure 1. Coverage Prediction Map of new Project25 system with Butcher Hill and Fire Station 73 Figure 1. Description: 95% Reliability to a Portable radio in a police vest or in fire turn-out pocket Clear area: Outside and Inside most buildings Green area: Outside

3 Figure 2. Coverage Prediction Map of new Project25 system with Drakes Peak Figure 2. Description: 95% Reliability to a Portable radio in a police vest or in fire turn-out pocket Clear area: Outside and Inside most buildings Green area: Outside Staff researched alternative sites to address the shortcomings of the current configuration, radio tower locations and reliability issues that require redundancy. Mount Vaca and Mix Canyon ridgelines were evaluated and determined to be inadequate alternative tower locations, specifically due to topographical challenges that limit radio coverage in Vacaville. Drakes Peak, also known as Old Rocky, was determined to be an ideal site location, providing improved radio coverage, redundancy and interoperability for the future. This peak is situated on the southern end of the Vine Street ridgeline and is owned by the City of Vacaville. CSI Telecommunications consultants and city staff made multiple site visits to Drakes Peak, evaluated its significance as proposed in 1991, and confirmed the conclusions presented by staff in the 2005 Fire Station 73 Transmitter Relocation Report. Developing a radio site on Drakes Peak would cover the entire city with the exception of Lagoon Valley, which is now covered by Cement Hill. This means that a single site in Drakes would replace the current 2 sites, and provide radio coverage in areas that currently are problematic in the Browns Valley/Cheyenne residential developments.

4 Land Use considerations were discussed, and it was determined that the placement of a radio tower for the sole use of providing radio coverage for the City of Vacaville was the best course of action. The most significant challenge in 1991 was that the land was not owned by the City of Vacaville, hindering its ability to develop the radio site. Since that time, it has become city-owned and is considered open space for hiking. By not partnering with commercial ventures, the impact would be limited to city use, thus keeping the site small and less visible than many of the other tower sites already visible on mountain peaks around the Vacaville ridgelines. This course, however, requires the City to incur all costs in developing the access and site. The proximity to the airport was also considered. The relatively undeveloped peak has a 38 wooden pole with a powered beacon to warn pilots who use the Nut Tree Airport. Staff determined the use of Drakes Peak could be accomplished by replacing the pole with a 50 monopole antenna, about 12 taller than the current pole. This was confirmed by the consultant. Furthermore, the FCC has granted future radio licenses to Vacaville for the use on Drakes Peak if staff is directed to develop this site. The view of the peak was considered as well. This location is highly visible and attracts hikers and rock climbers. Staff researched the existing access trail and identified an initial plan that would utilize an improved crushed granite path up the eastern slope. The path would utilize a pre-existing path that extends up a significant portion of the hill. An improved path also has a potential benefit of making this open space more accessible for hiking up to the peak, which provides great views from its rocky vista. A camouflaged radio tower and shelter façade could significantly reduce any visual impact, and can be placed as not to interfere with access by visitors who want to enjoy the scenery or walk the existing trails. The position and location of the required 12 x12 shelter would minimize its visual impact, with landscaping that would minimize its visibility. Staff determined that the cost to develop a site and provide a drivable access would be approximately $830,000. The Shelter, tower and backup power are estimated at $220,000. This cost will be required regardless since the shelter, tower and generator at Fire Station 73 would need to be replaced if this alternate site is not approved. This does not include future radio equipment, which will be replaced as part of the radio system project and would occur at any proposed sites. CSI Telecommunications assisted in the analysis and determined the Drakes Peak site would be the preferred site to replace the site at Fire Station 73 and could either eliminate Butcher Hill since it has equal coverage, or keep Butcher Hill to provide equal redundancy coverage for the City of Vacaville (85-90% from each site. Any alternatives in the design and configuration of the replacement radio system need to be included in the radio replacement RFP, even if the option is determined not suitable at a later date. Therefore, staff is presenting 3 options for consideration and input from the Council: Option 1 Develop Drakes Peak and eliminate Butcher Hill and Fire Station 73 Option 2 Develop Drakes Peak and keep Butcher Hill for redundancy Option 3 Keep Butcher Hill and Fire Station 73 FISCAL IMPACT: No General Fund Impact at this time. The capital Improvement project to replace the radio system will be funded using the General Fund, which will be brought before the Council in the future for approval. Funding is currently being set aside each year in preparation for replacing the radio equipment. Costs associated with the potential development of a new radio site would also come from the General Fund. RECOMMENDATION: Receive the presentation and provide input and direction to staff. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 1: 2005 Fire Station 73 Transmitter Relocation Report

SECTION 35 ANTENNAS AND TOWERS

SECTION 35 ANTENNAS AND TOWERS Section: 515-35-1 Purpose and Intent 515-35-2 General Standards 515-35-3 Certification, Inspection and Maintenance 515-35-4 Tower Design 515-35-5 Co-Location Requirement