Agenda - 03-15-2005-9b - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 15, 2005 Action Agen a Item No. -6 SUBJECT: Conceptual Approval for Submission of Homeland Security Grant Funding Application -Communications Interoperabili~ DEPARTMENT: Emergency Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack Ball, ext 3030 Staff Report Map of Regional Partners TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hitl 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To approve the County's participation in the submission of a regional grant application for 2005 Homeland Security grant funds. BACKGROUND: Orange County has an emerging opportunity to secure additional grant funds to benefit Orange County and its regional partners with the further development of communications interoperabilitythrnugh the State's expanding VIPER system. Staff propose to pursue roughly the same type of effort the County followed in Spring 2004 with leadership from the Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG), when Wake, Orange, and Durham Gounties and their large municipalities sought grant funding of mare than $7 million. Orange County was awarded $1.451 million and the Town of Chapel Hill was awarded more than $800,000 for the design and construction of towers and related equipment for VIPER system antenna enhancements. This year, the regional partnership is broader, with affected counties noted on the attached map. Staff are seeking the BOCC's endorsement formally to participate in the development and submission of the regional grant application by the March 25, 2005 deadline. Staff will make a brief presentation regarding the needs for communication system improvements for emergency responders throughout Orange County, its municipalities, and the University. Staff will outline the major components of cost for communication system improvements, and compare the estimated casts for an Orange County standalone system with costs associated with participation in the VIPER system administered by the State Highway Patrol. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no cost to the County in applying for this grant other than incidental staff time associated with the application's preparation and review,. Should the County and its regional partners be successful in receiving some or all of the requested Homeland Security grant funds, there will be no requirement for County matching funds.