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01-10-85 Safety Comm Minutes4:00 P.M. January 10, 1985 SAFETY COMMITTEE The meeting was held in the Conference Room. Present were Chairman Schindler, Committee members Saverud and Grainger, Councilman Manning, Mayor McDowell, City Attorney Neier, Police Chief Stefanie, Assistant Chief Don Hellman, Officers Clark, Fisher and Dyer, ' Fire Chief Doty, Assistant Chief Larson, FBI agents Steve Fiddler and Jerry Biederstadt and Dan Black of the Daily Inter Lake. Chairman Schindler opened the meeting, turned it over to Chief Stefanic, who introduced the FBI men. They gave a presentation on the recent arrest of fugitives involved in the Brink's armored car robbery. Radio System Chief Stefanic reminded the committee that his department has reserved the $35,000 Revenue Sharing funds from last budget --anticipates that would be about halftheamount needed to replace radios to high band to make us compatible with the rest of the state. He asked if the commitment is firm enough to allow the department to convert to the new system. He wants specs drawn up, to see actual prices, etc. and would like to go ahead as soon as possible. He asked if the committee were willing or if they would .prefer to wait until we have the second half of the money. He reports that the Sheriff's office is still in the process of budgeting and converting; they have some equipment but replacement probably won't be completed for the next two years. Fire Chief Doty stated that he is at the point where the department needs a new radio. The present radio has to be moved here for control; temperature, loss of electricity and other problems affect radio use in its present location on the hill. He stated that he requested $11,000 in last year's budget but is unable to find it. If still available, with P.D. $70,000, we are looking at $81,000 to start with. _ Mayor McDowell stated that he would like to get .together with both departments and plan for a July time frame. He feels we should avoid registered warrants or lease plan. C. Saverud asked about lead time on a system such as this and was told that the console particularly would take about 6 weeks, the remainder of the equipment is pretty much stock equipment. Chief Stefanic felt it would be deliverable 8 weeks or so from order date, plus some length of time -probably a month or two -for installations. S. Saverud felt that the commitment was made last year, it will take time for bids to go out and we should proceed right away. If necessary, warrants can be registered pretty reasonably for a few months. This would be less costly than a lease/purchase plan. We should proceed under the assumption that the other half will be included in next year's budget. Chief Stefanic stressed that he did not want to buy some equipment now and the rest later. The key factor he is looking for in this system is infallible communications throughout city limits. He wants written into theproposaland specs the-requir- ment to transmit to and receive from anyone in the city with reliability. Discussion followed of monitoring with a typical scanner, anyone can even with high band. Equipment can be purchased to scramble and descramble signal. The bid process was mentioned. Both Chief Stefanic and Chief Doty stated that they want quality equipment that will last a long time. The possibility of buying through the state was discussed, but there is a probability of mixture of items to get their bid prices. We wantr.to be really careful to get a,completely compatible system. Reinstate Sergeant's Position Chief Stefanic requests the position be reinstated in the Police Department. The committee agreed to recommend to Council that this be done. The meeting adjourned at 5:20. ms