HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report - 1999-03-01 March 1, 1999
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
via Keith R. Till, City Manager
FROM: Michael F. Sellers, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION FOR CONTINUING PARTICIPATION WITH THE CITY
OF BREA IN A COPS MORE GRANT FOR MOBILE DATA COMPUTERS
FOR POLICE VEHICLES
SUMMARY OF REQUEST
Council to authorize participation in the COPS MORE program by accepting $225,391 in
grants and committing $75,130, payable over three years, for purchases of Mobile Data
Computers for police vehicles.
BACKGROUND
The Police Department is eligible to participate with the City of Brea in a federal grant to
receive funding for Mobile Data Computers in police vehicles under the COPS MORE
grant program. These grant funds are now available.
The Police Department, working with the City of Brea, sought and has been awarded a
grant of $225,391. The funds awarded represent 75% of a $300,521 Mobile Data
Computer system. The balance of $75,130, which represents our matching costs, will be
spread over the five-year commitment to the grant program.
A Mobile Data Computer system (MDC) utilizes a portable computer within a police
vehicle, which is then connected to the police department's computer system via a
dedicated two-way radio system. The MDC enables a police officer to access
computerized record data directly from their police unit without having to call dispatch for
the information. It will allow the officer to obtain registration and status of a vehicle, plus
wants, warrants and criminal history on an individual. The ability to directly access this
information will enhance the officer's ability to make field decisions in a more timely
manner and thereby increase their efficiency.
Additionally, the MDC will enhance the dispatching of calls for service by allowing a
dispatcher to minimize conventional radio traffic while providing secure, detailed
information to the responding Officers.
The MDC will also function as a fully capable report writing workstation. Officers will be
able to stay in the field and complete reports without going out of service from their
assigned beat. Officers at other Orange County police departments using a MDC system
have also increased their activity in the area of stolen vehicle recoveries and identification
of persons wanted for criminal offenses.
Agenda Item E
Staff Report— Mayor and City Council - 2 - March 1, 1999
Benefits of utilizing the City of Brea MDC system:
• This is an area of technology which was identified as a cost containment item for West-
Comm two years ago. The expenditure was deferred until we could identify potential
grant sources such as this one.
• Brea has a long-established mobile data system that has provided service to the Cities
of Brea and Yorba Linda for over 11 years, and to four other police departments for the
past four years.
• Brea is an established and reliable regional mobile data system provider, currently
serving six cities in Orange and Los Angeles counties, and complimenting the West-
Comm police partnership.
• Brea provides extensive coverage area outside of Seal Beach.
• This is a private data network, dedicated solely to public safety. (During the Oklahoma
bombing incident, the only telecommunication system network that did not overload
was the law enforcement MDC system because it was limited to only public safety
access.)
• This program provides unlimited usage.
• It is estimated the City of Seal Beach will save a minimum of $230,000 by participating
in the Brea MDC COPS MORE grant versus taking on this type of project on our own or
through West-Comm. Additionally, because we are already participating in a
consolidated dispatch center, we will save an additional $16,600.
Cost Analysis:
The City of Seal Beach's matching costs for joining in the COPS MORE grant with the City
of Brea will be approximately $75,130.00 which will be spread out over five years. This
does not include a $11,214.00 initial grant fee required of all participants. The matching
grant costs includes:
• Seal Beach's portion of system expansion ($111,635 x 25%) $27,909.00
• Seal Beach's start-up costs ($95,286 x 25%) $23,821.00
• Maintenance/Operation (12 units x 60 months x $130/mo. x 25%) $23,400.00
Total $75,130.00
Staff Report — Mayor and City Council - 3 - March 1, 1999
Status of Grant:
On December 14, 1998 the COPS MORE City of Brea multi-agency police partnership
MDC GRANT project was approved and funded in the amount of $6,664,748. This was
the largest COPS MORE grant awarded in California. The total grant funding which will be
received by the City of Seal Beach is $225,391, and requires a matching cost by our city of
$75,130 plus $11,214 for grant writing/application fees.
FISCAL IMPACT
While we do not need to pay our share of the matching costs for three years, we do have
to identify the funding source. We have tentatively identified the vehicle code violation
revenue fund for this purpose and will finalize this at the appropriate future budget
workshop. Additionally, the grant writing/application fee costs have been discussed with
the Director of Administrative Services, Ms. Liz Stoddard, who has suggested that we
complete a budget amendment transferring the necessary fees of $11,214 from the
Vehicle Code Violation Account, #001-32004 which has sufficient funds to cover this
expense.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council authorizes the police department to participate with the City of Brea,
multi-agency, police partnership Mobile Data Computer system COPS MORE grant
project.
Michael F. Sellers, Chief of Police
Keith R. Till, City Ma ager Agenda item