Ordinance 11-35 Appropriating Funds to Acquire New Narrow Band Radios for Public Works

CITY OF HOMER
HOMER, ALASKA
City Manager/Public Works Director
ORDINANCE 11-35

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, AMENDING THE FY 2011 OPERATING BUDGET BY APPROPRIATING $24,510.24 FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPRECIATION RESERVES FOR THE ACQUISITION OF NEW “NARROW BAND” RADIOS FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IN ORDER TO MEET FCC REQUIREMENTS AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

WHEREAS, The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has mandated that all two way radios be operated on “narrow band” frequencies by January 1, 2013 and that radios not narrow band capable must be taken out of service at that time; and

WHEREAS, The Kenai Peninsula Borough, Office of Emergency Management, has been undertaking a borough-wide project to upgrade all two way radios at public safety departments in order to meet the FCC mandate; and

WHEREAS, Public safety departments within the Borough, including the Homer Police Department and the Homer Volunteer Fire Department, are scheduled to make the transition to new narrow band radios on September 1, 2011, well in advance of the deadline; and

WHEREAS, If the Public Works Department does not convert in approximately the same time frame, it will be unable to communicate with HVFD and HPD except by cell phone; a situation that is less than ideal in emergency situations; and

WHEREAS, One of the hard lessons learned during Hurricane Katrina and other emergencies is that it is of paramount importance that all emergency responders be able to communicate with each other on the same radio frequencies and be able to do so when power lines, phone lines, and cell phone communications are disrupted.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF HOMER ORDAINS:

Section 1. The FY 2011 Operating Budget is hereby amended by appropriating $24,510.24 from the Public Works Depreciation Reserves for the acquisition of new “narrow band” radios for the Public Works Department in order to meet FCC requirements and improve public safety and emergency response as follows:

Expenditure:

Account No. Description Amount
156.395 PW Narrow Band Radios $24,510.24

Section 2. This is a budget amendment ordinance, is not permanent in nature, and shall not be codified.

ENACTED by the Homer City Council this ______ day of ________, 2011.

CITY OF HOMER
_____________________________
JAMES C. HORNADAY, MAYOR

ATTEST:

______________________________
JO JOHNSON, CMC, CITY CLERK

YES:
NO:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:

First Reading:
Public Hearing:
Second Reading:
Effective Date:

Reviewed and approved as to form:

________________________ ____________________________
Walt E. Wrede, City Manager Thomas F. Klinkner, City Attorney
Date: __________________ Date: __________________