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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/17/2004 - STAFF REPORTS (10) E'er, DATE: March 17, 2004 TO: City Council FROM: Chief of Police and Director of Procurement & Contracting APPROVE PURCHASE OF RADIO AND AVIONICS EQUIPMENT FOR CITY-OWNED FIXED WING AIRCRAFT RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council approve the purchase and installation of a new avionics and radio equipment from Airtronics of Reno, NV in the amount of $38,792.04 for the city-owned fixed-wing aircraft utilized by the Palm Springs Police Aero Squadron. SUMMARY: This is a recommendation for the Police Department to upgrade the Aero Squadron airplane to allow accurate navigation and clear communication between pilots, tactical flight officers (observers), officers on the ground, and other public safety agencies when performing critical flight operations. The radio system has the added benefit of a built-in GPS system for more accurate navigation. The sources of funding for this upgrade are grants received for this purpose and donations from the Aero Squadron. BACKGROUND: The Palm Springs Police Aero Squadron has been in existence for approximately 50 years. Since the beginning, the group has been comprised of volunteer pilots, aircraft owners, and observers that provided our only locally-controlled air operations in the City of Palm Springs. Missions were dependent, however, upon the availability of pilots and their personally owned aircraft. The Aero Squadron acquired its first airplane in 1985. In 1992, the Squadron replaced its first plane with a 1974 Cessna 182 Skylane. This plane is a high-wing aircraft, well suited for law enforcement operations. Since acquiring the Cessna, the Aero Squadron has been called upon to assist with numerous law enforcement missions including search and rescue for lost hikers, missing children, missing at-risk adults, surveillance, transportation of personnel and prisoners, pursuits, aerial photos for search warrants and major crime scenes, etc. Lately, the Aero Squadron has been requested more frequently by our narcotics task forces to provide aerial coverage for surveillance, search, and arrest warrant execution. In many cases, the Police Department personnel are relying upon the crew in the airplane not only to help prevent the suspects from escaping, but to provide critical officer safety intelligence from their aerial platform. Existing circa-1974 equipment in the aircraft can no longer provide communications and navigation function adequate for the Aero Squadron's mission. The proposed upgrade would allow more precise navigation in addition to allowing the entire flight crew to communicate via their aircraft headsets with Air Traffic Control, 7iq Police and rescue units on the ground. Additionally, the communications equipment is programmable and would allow the aircrew to communicate with other public safety agencies such as the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and the California Highway Patrol. Airtronics was the only firm that could be identified by staff as having the expertise and experience necessary to install the type of equipment proposed. The communication component of the upgrade is complicated due to the need to talk to the Police Department on the City's trunked 800-MHz radio system, air traffic control on aircraft frequencies and other public agencies on their respective systems (or on specially designated frequencies utilized to coordinate efforts. A number of avionics shops in Southern California were contacted; all indicated that the scope of the upgrade was outside their capabilities. Aero Squadron members contacted their counterparts in Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties, all of whom directed them to Airtronics. Motorola, the manufacturer of the city's radio system, was contacted to inquire about sources. Their representative, while confirming the complexity of the upgrade, indicated that he knew of no providers capable of performing the upgrade and suggested contacting Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The Director of Procurement & Contracting believes that sufficient efforts to identify sources were made to protect the public interest and, together with the Police Chief, recommends approval of this upgrade from Airtronics. No general fund monies are being utilized for this acquisition. The Aero Squadron donated a portion of the funds required ($5000) from funds collected as dues and from fundraising activities. Funds have been designated and are available as follows: $28,792.04 3201-52053 Police Grants - 03-04 State SLESF $ 5,000.00 3012-43921 Forfeited Assets - Federal PSNTF $ 5,000.00 3014-52031 Safety Augmentation - Police Aero Squadron GARY ,1 K RON Harold,E. Good Chief d P i fr e Director of Procurement & Contracting APPROVED: City Manager ?e2sop Attachments: 1 Minute Order REVIEWED BY DEPT. OF FINANCE MINUTE ORDER APPROVING THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF A NEW AVIONICS AND RADIO EQUIPMENT FROM AIRTRONICS OF RENO, NV IN THE AMOUNT OF $38,792.04 FOR THE CITY- OWNED FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT UTILIZED BY THE PALM SPRINGS POLICE AERO SQUADRON I HEREBY CERTIFY that this Minute Order, approving the purchase and installation of a new avionics and radio equipment from Airtronics of Reno, NV in the amount of $38,792.04 for the city-owned fixed-wing aircraft utilized by the Palm Springs Police Aero Squadron, was adopted by the City Council of the City of Palm Springs, California, in a meeting thereof held on the 17th of March, 2004. Patricia A. Sanders City Clerk