DANE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS TECHNICAL COMMITTEE Meeting of July 16, 2010 The Technical Committee met on July 16, 2010 at 9:00 A.M. in City-County Building Room 315 (now room 351), Madison, Wisconsin. Members Present: Capt. Ritter, Deputy Chief Blackdeer for Chief Anhalt, Chief Pickering, Tom Dull, Rich Beadles, Marv Klang, Keith Lippert, Div. Chief Price, John Dejung, Dave Janda, Steve Wunsch, Fred Iausly Members Excused: None Members Absent: Others Present: None Chief Ripp, Chief Lamers, Chief Amesqua, Tim Pierce, Dave Nachreiner, Chief Lamers, Tom Adler, Capt. Kakuske, Melvin Mercado, Josh Wescott, Rich McVicar 1. Janda called the meeting to order at 9:02 A.M. 2. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda. None. 3. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding CAD Project. Pickering left, Ripp substituting. Dejung shared a draft letter to county public safety officials regarding the CAD replacement, and requested feedback by the Center Board meeting next week. 4. Approval of Minutes of Jun 18, 2010 Meeting. Ripp moved, Lippert seconded, approval. Motion passed, 12-0. Pickering returned. 5. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Detailed Design Review for Interoperable Voice Radio Communications System. Capt. Noel Kakuske of Middleton representing City of Middleton registered as available for information. Page 1 of 5
Members discussed a handout regarding the earlier-proposed hybrid 800 MHz-VHF system. Members discussed a handout regarding the countywide 800 MHz and VHF overlay concept proposed in the Madison Common Council resolution handout. Members discussed a handout regarding an estimate of costs to meet the narrowbanding requirement and make some improvements. Members discussed handouts intended to help assess the alternatives. Members scored elements of alternatives and reviewed overall results. Wunsch moved, Lippert seconded the following: Whereas, The Public Safety Communications Technology Committee (referred to as the technical committee ) is authorized by Dane County Ordinance 15.34 as an advisory committee to the Dane County Public Safety Communications Center Board (referred to as the center board). Whereas, Dane County Ordinance 15.34 states that with respect to telecommunications matter, the center board shall constitute a policyproposing body and shall make recommendations on systemmanagement policies for city and county communications systems, system replacements, expansions or modifications, additional frequencies and disposition of surplus equipment. It is the general duty of the center board to make recommendations to the common council and the county board on communications matters requiring legislative or budget approval. Whereas, the technical committee is directed by the center board to review technical issues and projects pertaining to public safety communications and forward recommendations to the center board. Whereas, the technical committee has studied and reviewed a variety of proposals and alternatives for necessary upgrade of the public safety radio system, including: Hybrid VHF/800 MHz simulcast trunking system with conventional VHF components. 800 MHz simulcast trunking system with conventional VHF overlay. VHF conventional system to replace existing equipment, with modifications to slightly improve capacity. Page 2 of 5
Whereas, the review of the Hybrid VHF/800 MHz simulcast trunking system was based on the availability of detailed technical information; the review of the 800 MHz simulcast trunking system and VHF conventional options was based on a high level conceptual design, lacking sufficient technical detail to make a definitive recommendation. Whereas, after review of these alternatives, the technical committee has ranked these alternatives in the following order: 1. Hybrid VHF/800 MHz simulcast trunking system with conventional VHF components 2. 800 MHz simulcast trunking system with conventional VHF overlay 3. VHF conventional system to replace existing equipment, with modifications to slightly improve capacity The technical committee recognizes that no radio system design will meet all needs for all system users, but the hybrid VHF-800 MHz simulcast trunking system design with conventional VHF components would provide the greatest radio capability possible in terms of system coverage, capacity, and features. The technical committee, therefore, recommends to the center board that this design option be pursued, including the possibility of a scaled-down version and/or a phased implementation. Furthermore, the technical committee recognizes that there are technical, financial and governance constraints to the recommended option. The committee also recognizes that there is little time available in order stay on schedule to meet the FCC narrow-banding mandate. The technical committee recommends that a process be established to resolve these issues. However, resolution of financial and governance issues should not delay implementation of the radio system. Furthermore, if it is determined that the recommended option is not feasible for technical reasons within the timeline available, the technical committee recommends that a technical design review of the alternative options be conducted for discussion, and approval. The technical design of these options will then be forwarded to the Center Board for concurrence and approval. Motion passed, 12-0. Pickering moved, Beadles seconded, the following: Whereas, The Public Safety Communications Technology Committee (referred to as the technical committee ) is authorized by Dane County Ordinance 15.34 as an advisory committee to the Dane Page 3 of 5
County Public Safety Communications Center Board (referred to as the center board). Whereas, Dane County Ordinance 15.34 states that with respect to telecommunications matter, the center board shall constitute a policyproposing body and shall make recommendations on systemmanagement policies for city and county communications systems, system replacements, expansions or modifications, additional frequencies and disposition of surplus equipment. It is the general duty of the center board to make recommendations to the common council and the county board on communications matters requiring legislative or budget approval. Whereas, the technical committee is directed by the center board to review technical issues and projects pertaining to public safety communications and forward recommendations to the center board. Whereas, the City of Madison Common Council adopted a resolution on July 6, 2010 under legislative file number 19129 which indicates the City of Madison s interest in partnering with Dane County and other local units of government to develop, build and operate a countywide radio communications system. Whereas, the technical committee has reviewed the City of Madison s proposal as well as a variety of other alternatives for necessary upgrades of the public safety radio system. The technical committee hereby recommends that the Center Board take action opposing the City of Madison s proposed 800 MHz simulcast trunking system with conventional VHF overlay, and put all efforts into assisting our County and local officials in resolving outstanding governance and financial issues associated with the Hybrid VHF/800 MHz simulcast trunking system with conventional VHF components. After discussion, the committee concluded that it did not have enough information to support or oppose the proposed 800 MHz option. The evaluation was based on high-level concepts, lacking sufficient detail to make a definitive recommendation. The committee reiterated that if the recommended Hybrid solution is determined not to be feasible, a detailed technical assessment of both alternative options (800 MHz and Narrowband) should be performed. Until then, there is not enough information on the details of either proposal for the committee to recommend an alternative to the preferred solution. Pickering withdrew the motion with Beadles concurrence. Page 4 of 5
6. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Dane County Tactical Interoperable Communications Plan (TICP) Planning Webinar and Workshop. Regional Interoperability Coordinator Tim Pierce briefed the committee on an upcoming workshop in Fitchburg 7. Roundtable Report on Technology Projects and Activities. a. Pickering reported that the City of Fitchburg has added a suitcase interoperability repeater containing VHF, UHF and 800 MHz interoperability channels. The suitcase has an interface panel allowing patches to be made through the device. A second device is located in Car 20. Over-the-air control stations will be added allowing the devices to connect with other infrastructures. b. No other reports. 8. Other Business as Allowed by Law. None. 9. Set Next Meeting Date, Time and Location. The next regular committee meeting will occur on Friday, August 20, 2010 at 9:00 A.M., in City-County Building Room 351. This room was recently re-numbered, and is the same room in which the committee has met. 10. Adjournment. Iausly moved, Pickering seconded, adjournment. Motion passed, 12-0. Meeting adjourned at 12:52 P.M. Page 5 of 5