HomeMy WebLinkAbout20033028.tiff WELD COUNTY FIRE CHIEFS
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•%,, ;1 do UNION COLONY SIRE/RESCUE AUTHORITY
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GREELEY, COLORADO 80631
October 14, 2003
Weld County Board of Commissioners -"
Centennial Building
915 Tenth Street
Greeley, Colorado 80631
Dear Commissioners, : .'
Please find attached a position paper developed by the Weld County Fire Chiefs' Association at
a meeting on August 14, 2003. It was subsequently circulated for comment and has the
unanimous support of the Association's membership. The paper addresses the matter of the 800
Megahertz radio system and related matters of emergency communications. In summary, we, as
an association and its members, have agreed to support the change in the radio systems.
However, we need some help from you and others in addressing the process of change in our
radio systems and in the operations of the Dispatch center.
Subsequent to the development of the position paper, we have all been working very hard to
assemble a grant application for Round 4 of the Homeland Security Grants. Our intentions are to
submit a proposal to fund all of the portable and mobile radios required to make the change.
While we might not be successful in receiving the entire amount, we are hopeful that a
substantial grant will be awarded.
We very much appreciate your consideration and support of the matters discussed in the position
paper. If I can be of assistance or answer any questions, please feel free to contact me by phone
at (970) 587-6419 or by pager at (970) 350-3098.
Sincerely,
Kelvin Knaub
Fire Chief, Milliken Fire Protection District
President, Weld County Fire Chiefs' Association
CC: Mr. Leonard Wiest, Greeley City Manager
Chief Paul Branham, Greeley Police Department
Captain Jack Statler, Greeley Police Department
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/l. - ,--„e?9,_ t 2003-3028
WELD COUNTY FIRE CHIEFS
do UNION COLONY FIRE/RESCUE AUTHORITY
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919 7m STREET
4412* GREELEY, COLORADO 80651
POSITION PAPER
REGARDING
CONVERSION OF
FIRE/EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE RADIOS
IN WELD COUNTY TO THE
800 MHz SYSTEM
The Weld County Fire Chiefs' Association (WCFCA) concurs with the efforts of Weld County
government to improve and modernize public safety radio communications systems in the
County. Further, it is agreed that the County Fire/Emergency Medical Service providers will
move as expeditiously as possible to convert their respective organizations to the digitally
trunked 800 MHz system installed by Weld County and compatible with the State of Colorado
system.
However, in agreeing to do so, the WCFCA has an expectation that the County and other
involved organizations and parties will address the following issues sincerely and effectively.
The WCFCA pledges its efforts to be a part of this process as well.
ISSUE: THE SYSTEM MUST BE RELIABLE AND EFFECTIVE.
The new radio system and all of its components must be reliable both in terms of coverage
and availability. Coverage maps available at this time indicate that a large portion of the
County is well covered for mobile service and a bit less for portable radio service. However,
it would seem very important to us that all of our member agencies would have quality
coverage greater than the current system.
The reliability of the system has been explained to the WCFCA and it looks quite good.
Since 800 band radio signals carry far less distance than 150 band signals, it is imperative
that reliability be high, as point-to-point alternatives are not good.
RECOMMENDATION: The new system should target 95%+ coverage for mobile radios in
Weld County.
RECOMMENDATION: The new system should perform equal to or greater than national
standards for"busy" or no signal incidents.
ISSUE: PAGING MUST BE ADDRESSED.
Paging services are essential to the operation of both the career and volunteer fire/EMS
services in the County. Since the 800MHz trunking system is not capable of paging, it is
imperative that a high quality, real time voice paging system be maintained. It has been
stated that the current UHF and VHF systems will be maintained until such time as a
proprietary paging system or other effective alternative can be implemented. However, we
have recently been informed that there are no funds available from the County to replace (not
upgrade) failing components of the UHF and VHF systems. Local fire services have had to
pay thousands of dollars just to make the system work properly when we were of the opinion
that Weld County was committed to funding the"backbone" of public safety
communications.
RECOMMENDATION: Maintain the current UHF and VHF paging systems until a reliable,
real time voice (and alpha if possible)paging system can be installed and the conversion
process is completed.
ISSUE: THE TRUCKED DIGITAL SYSTEM ADDS LEVELS FOR POTENTIAL
FAILURE.
With the new system, additional equipment/software levels are being added. They present
additional items to fail. With additional levels of system complexity, it is imperative that a
pure, simplex talk around channel for fire and EMS be designated and installed in each fire/
EMS radio.
RECOMMENDATION: Designate a pure, simplex talk around channel for fire and EMS. If
space is available on radios, a system wide simplex talk around would also be desirable.
ISSUE: FUNDING OF FIRE/EMS PROVIDER MOBILE AND PORTABLE RADIOS.
Unfortunately, the funding for conversion to the 800MHz system does not exist in any of the
County's Fire Departments, Districts or Authorities. With an estimated total cost of$1.5 to
$2 Million, this is a serious problem. It is further complicated by the fact that the radio
conversion is not necessarily the only or the top priority for the limited capital funds
available to fire and EMS organizations. There is a serious desire to make the conversion in a
timely manner, but funding would seem to be a major obstacle. Initial conversations with the
U. S. Department of Justice and United States Fire Administration grant offices were not
encouraging.
RECOMMENDATION: Weld County and its Fire Departments should cooperate in seeking
out grants from any sources possible to raise the funds required for the purchase of high
quality mobile and portable radios for the fire and EMS operations. Since a single source of
grant funds is unlikely to be sufficient, this should be an on-going process, with care taken to
provide an equitable apportionment of funds and a rational implementation schedule.
RECOMMENDATION: Weld County should explore some options for funding that include,
but are not limited to:
• A short term tax increase for the purposes of funding the initial purchase of mobile
and portable radios. This approach was reportedly used in Adams County with some
success.
• A lease/purchase program, administered by the County or a selected financial
institution to provide an avenue for the long-term lease/purchase of mobile and
portable radios by fire protection agencies.
• Grants, loans or outright purchase of mobile and portable radios with funds remaining
in the allocation for 800MHz/Dispatch Center development.
• Use of funds from the 9-1-1 phone tax.
ISSUE: SYSTEM USER FEES ARE A LONG TERM CONCERN.
Member agencies are concerned about potential user fees that may be charged at the State or
regional level. There is evidence that some advisory groups have already advocated this
approach. Further, the practice is already being used in the Fort Collins system. Windsor-
Severance Fire Protection District is now being assessed $50 per radio per year for the units
that they must have to work with Poudre Fire Authority. While small amounts may not be
financially burdensome to many agencies, there remains a concern that, in the past, the
County has committed to operate the"backbone" system without individual agency
contributions other than the taxes paid by their citizens directly to the County.
RECOMMENDATION: Weld County government should commit to the local fire and EMS
organizations that they will absorb, limit or negotiate any user fees driven by the use of the
800MHz system.
ISSUE: SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN IN A LOGICAL
APPROACH.
Since the fire/EMS agencies work very closely together, it is highly desirable to implement
the new radio system in an organized manner. The County's fire/EMS operations are
essentially split into three zones of radio operation(A, B and UCFRA) at present. Although
it would be desirable for all agencies to make the change at once, the phasing of
implementation on the basis of the three zones should be a target.
RECOMMENDATION: Implement the new radio system for all fire/EMS agencies at one
time or use the existing three zones as phased implementation.
ISSUE: THE MATTER OF FORT LUPTON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT BEING
DISPATCHED BY ADAMS COUNTY CREATES DIFFICULTY FOR SOUTH COUNTY
RESPONDERS.
With Fort Lupton Fire Protection District as the only fire/EMS department in the County that
is not dispatched by Weld County Dispatch, it is extremely difficult to coordinate proper
automatic and mutual aid responses with adjacent agencies. Fire departments in the Southern
area of the County have made this a priority and need County government assistance to
achieve an amicable solution. While use of 800MHz radios may make communications
easier, it does not address the issue of timely and appropriate dispatch as it relates to
adjacency of units.
RECOMMENDATION: Bring together the appropriate parties and be prepared to address
the necessary compromises to allow the Fort Lupton Fire Protection District to be properly
dispatched through Weld County Dispatch.
ISSUE: OPERATIONAL DECISIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR FIRE AND EMS
AGENCIES REGARDING DISPATCH AND COMMUNICATIONS NEED TO BE THE
PURVIEW OF FIRE AND EMS PERSONNEL.
There is a unanimous feeling among the member agencies that the technical systems(i.e.
CAD, 800Mhz, Telephone) and their associated procedures drive the agencies rather than the
converse. The center is managed and staffed by high quality and capable people. However,
the system is burdened with calls that are not related to public safety let alone emergencies.
It is not focused on meeting national standards for emergency call response times and it is not
user governed. The rotational management scheme makes it extremely difficult for the
managers, the employees and the users to build relationships and understand rapidly
emerging technology. The advisory board/manager concept may be perceived as working
well for management, but it is not working well for the customers or end users.
RECOMMENDATION: The existing Communications Advisory Board should be
reconstituted and assigned to the overall policy and financial management of the Center.
Similar to some other Counties in Colorado and around the nation, an Operations Board
should be appointed that is representative of the management of the user agencies and is
balanced. The Operations Board should be charged with developing and approving all
operational procedures and policies for implementation by the Center. The Chair of the
Board should rotate between the two disciplines annually. Center staff should provide
support and advice to the Operations Board, which would have sub set groups for Fire/EMS
and Law Enforcement. Staff should be responsible to implement the Operations Board
policies and to handle all day-to-day management of the Center. The Operations Board
would be responsible to the Advisory Board and would make recommendations regarding
staffing, budget and capital purchases.
RECOMMENDATION: Replace the existing rotational police officer management model
with a permanent manager and assistant. Recruit permanent personnel from the ranks of the
very competent existing rotational staff or experienced personnel from inside or outside the
existing organization. The manager should have substantial experience in operating a joint
discipline/joint jurisdictional dispatch and records center.
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