Agenda - 03-24-2003 - 10b - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 24, 2003 Action Agenda Item No. ~ (~ _ SUBJECT: Results of Phase 1 Emergency Communications Study DEPARTMENT: Emergency Management PUBLIC HEARING: (YiN) No ATTACHMENT(S): CTA Communication Study Phase 1 Report (to be provided under separate cover) INFORMATION CONTACT: Nick Waters, ext 3030 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To receive a report on the Countywide Emergency Communications needs assessment performed by CTA Consultants. BACKGROUND: Funding was included in the last several fiscal years' budgets to conduct a needs assessment of emergency communications throughout Orange County. The County's communication systems are based on old technology and have been causing increased problems in repair and maintenance. Emergency Management has been adopting changes to keep the systems operational. Many of the emergency response agencies in the County are interested in using newer technology in their vehicles, some of which is not compatible with the equipment in the Communications Center at New Hope Church Road. The County solicited proposals to perform the communication study in phases. The first phase was a needs assessment based on the existing radio and computers systems used as part of the countywide public safety communication system. All agencies involved in public safety in the County were interviewed as part of the assessment to determine the operational problems they were experiencing. The Phase 1 report includes recommendations for short-term solutions to problems and identifies long tern measures that could be taken to improve the system. Phase 1 is the report to be received tonight and has been presented and explained to representatives of all public safety agencies within the Towns and County, including the Hospital and University. The next step in pursuing emergency communications system enhancements will involve interviewing the agencies to determine the communication functions and capabilities they see as important in the future. A Phase 2 study would combine the results of the interviews and compare the desired functions with the available technology to design a system that would be able to meet the public safety demand for at least 10 years. Phase 2 has two separate parts - first, the system design, and second, the system purchase and implementation. Phase 2 has