Agenda Item Wording:
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Fire Department Grant Acceptance and Appropriation Request - Authorize staff to accept the 2023 State Homeland Security Grant Program grant award and appropriate $64,940 for the purchase of seven Motorola portable radios.
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Deadline for Action: 3/18/2024
Submitting Department: Fire Department
Contact Name and Phone Number: Dan Griswold, x4220; Crissy Balderama, x4513
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends the City Council authorize staff to accept the 2023 State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) and appropriate $64,940 for the purchase of seven Motorola APX 8000HXE portable radios. No match funding is required.
Background Discussion:
In December 2022, the Visalia Fire Department requested State Homeland Security grant funding for seven Motorola portable radios to improve emergency communications and cybersecurity capabilities, align with the National Preparedness Goals, and enhance communications for a more resilient Tulare & Kings County Regional Hazardous Materials Team. In February 2024, the Fire Department was awarded the requested funding for the radio project. The awarded radios will replace current Kenwood portable radios that are over 16 years old. The current radios do not support new FCC encryption laws for cybersecurity and parts/service are no longer available from the manufacturer. The Hazardous Materials Team radios must be certified to Division 1 HazLoc standards to maintain OES Type 1 team compliance. Meeting Division 1 HazLoc standards for radio equipment means the radios are designed with the highest level of intrinsic safety for use in hazardous environments where there are high concentrations of flammable gas, vapor, liquid, or dust. The Motorola APX 8000HXE meets the HazLoc standards.
The Visalia Fire Department is the lead agency responsible for operating the Tulare & Kings County Regional Hazardous Materials Team. The HazMat team is comprised of 12 total agencies and se...
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