SR 05:067 - Laserfiche WebLink

In addition to the cell phones, a total of 48 police vehicles will be equipped with car kits that allow for hands free calling and phone charging. Finally, officers will be assigned belt clips to carry phones. A cost summary related to implementing the program is as follows: Cost for Implementing Nextel Phone Services Purchase and Installation of Car Kits $15,000 Belt Clips 2,100 Phones and Taxes 4,000 Base Station 1,000 TOTAL $22,100 In addition to the initial equipment purchases, which staff is recommending be covered by the COPS grant funding approved by the Council at its February 15, 2005 meeting, the recommended program involves ongoing monthly usage fees for the time it is in place. Currently, 29 police employees are assigned cell phones at an estimated cost of $47/ monthly plus 39 employees receive paging service at $10/month/user for a total cost of $1,763/month less taxes, fees and long distance/roaming which has historically been minimal. The Nextel service is estimated at approximately $2,100/month. However, based on previous experience, actual monthly costs may increase as the new technology becomes fully integrated with departmental activities. Staff will continue to monitor the usage and related costs to assure it is consistent with need and appropriate service plans. It should also be noted that with the WSCA plan, all services are provided on a "month to month" basis so the City is not obligated to a long-term contract. Existing Cell Services In addition to the changes to Police department, staff is planning to upgrade all existing cell phones to the Cingular GSM network. Currently, all City cell phones work in conjunction with the TDMA network that was in place at the time the phones were purchased in early 2001 from AT&T. With Cingular's purchase of AT&T this past fall, it has changed its phone network and the old TDMA network is being phased out. As a result, users are experiencing significant coverage issues. Notwithstanding this issue, most existing phones are four years old and the combination of heavy usage and a field environment has resulted in considerable service issues. As a result, staff will be replacing all 61 existing phones. While the move to Nextel in the Police department will result in phone number changes for officers with existing cell phone service, the upgrading of the Cingular phones will not affect phone numbers. The estimated cost of replacing the cell phones will be determined after meeting with Cingular representatives to identify the most appropriate phone. The current budget includes $10,000 funding to upgrade these phones and other phone services and as a result, no additional funding is needed. SR 05:067 Page 3