HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - July 17, 1991 (133)\J IW OF L D
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
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AGENDA TITLE: Purchase of Radios for the Finance Bepartment Field Services
Enp1oyees
MEETING DATE: July 17, 1991
PREPARED BY: Assistant City Manager
RECOMMENDED ACTION The City Council authorize the purchase of a portable
radio system for the Meter Readers and Accounts
Collectors and find Motorola as being the sole source
supplier.
BACKGROUND ll i1U AJM- Meter Readers and Account Collectors perform work in
the field which occasionally puts them in unsafe
situations. Employees have complained of dog attacks,
agitated members of the public, and threats by the
public involving guns. The Meter Readers and Account
Collectors have requested a radio system to allow them direct and imnediate
communication with the Police Department and the Finance Department office. The
request is based on the following issues:
1. Account Collectors and Meter Readers execute tasks which may
occasionally irritate members of the public.
2. History has demonstrated that the field workers are put into
circumstances which are unsafe. A radio system would provide them with
communications to the Police Department and the Finance Departiient.
3. All other City departments which have field workers are equipped with
radio communications for their employees (Public Works, Electric
Utilities, Parks and Recreation, Police, and Fire).
4. A survey of NCPA cities was conducted (Exhibit A) with results showing
only the City of Palo Alto and the City of Lodi as not providing the
radio equipment for Meter Readers and Account Collectors. Palo Alto
does provide pagers for employees.
5. Meter Readers and Account Collectors often request information from the
Finance Department administration office regarding pending accounts.
To obtain the information, an employee presently must drive hack to the
office or use a pay telephone. The current practice takes up valuable
time which could otherwise be spent in the field.
APPROVED:
THOMAS A. PE �N�
City Manager
i
cc -1
Purchase of Radios for the Finance Department Field Services Employees
July 17, 1991
Page TAo
6. Meter Readers and Account Collectors often witness accidents, water
abusers, and other situations which are important to immediately report
to the appropriate City departments. Radios will allow this
communication to occur.
Portable radios, chargers, and a remote desk set will cost approximately
$10,000. This will provide hand-held radios for two Account Collectors and four
Meter Readers. Maintenance costs for the radio system will be approximately
$834.00. Motorola will be the vendor which will allow the Finance Department
radio system to be compatible with the other departments' radios.
FUNDING: Utility Outlay Reserve
Respectfully submitted,
aje�rry�vL. Glenn
Assistant City Manager
Prepared by Janet S. Keeter
Administrative Assistant to the City Manager
JLG: JK: br
Attachment
CCCOM254/TXTA.07A
June 26, 1991
MEMORANDUM
TO: Tom PetersonT,-7/dirm—in'istrative
Manager
FROM: Janet S. Keete Assistant
SUBJECT: FINANCE DEPARTMENT RADIOS
As per Councilmember Phil Penino's request, the NCPA cities have been surveyed to
determine the degree of radio usage by Meter Readers and Account Collectors.
Following are the results:
Cities Providing
Radios
Alameda
Biggs
Gridley
Healdsburg
Lompoc
Plumas-Sierra
Redding
Roseville
Santa Clara
Truckee -Donner
Turlock
Ukiah
Cities Not Providing
Radios
Palo Aito
Lodi
Cities Usina Alternative
Means Of Cnmmi irirafinn
Palo Alto (Pagers)
Most surveyed cities provide a combination of hand-held portable radios and mobile
radios when 1 ktw Readers and Account Collectors are in the field. Palo Alto, which
does not use radios, is able to communicate with their Meter Readers and Account
Collectors by issuing pagers. Obviously the major drawback to utilizing pagers is the
limitation of one-way communication. The staff in the field are not able to
communicate safety concerns to either their department or the Police Department until
they find an available telephone, however, the office staff can page the field workers
when it is necessary to relay message.
Tom Peterson
June 26,1991
Page 2
Preliminary figures show that a radio system consisting of hand-held poratable radios,
a charger, and a desk set can be purchased for the Finance Department for
approximately $10,000. The system wilt include radios for both Meter Readers and
Account Collectors. The radios will be compatible with other departments which wilt
promulgate the overall goal of total radio communication between departments in the
event of an emergency.
Should you need additional information prior to the Council meeting, please let me
know.
RESOLUTION NO. 91-139
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A RE90L1_TIION OF THE LCDI CITY COUNM
AUI1UF1?PC THE PURCHASE OF PORTABLE RADIO SYSTEM
FOR METER READERS AND ACCOUNTS COLLECTORS AND
DESK3qA1M SOLE SOURCE SUPPLIER
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lodi City Council hereby authorizes the
purchase and maintenance of a portable radio system for the City's
Meter Readers and Accounts Collectors; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVM that in order to maintain compatibility
with other City department radios, Counci 1 hereby approves the purchase
and maintenance of said radio system from Motorola, Inc., as sole
supplier, in the approximate amount of $10,834.00, to be appropriated
from the Utility Outlay Reserve.
. Dated: July 17, 1991
I hereby certify that Resolution No. 91-139 was passed and
adopted by the City Council of the City of Lodi i n a regular meeting
held July 17, 1991 by the following vote:
Ayes : Council Nknixy - Penni no, Pinkerton, Sieg 1 ock,
Snider and Hinchman (Mayor)
Noes : Council M ibff - None
Absent: Council Member - None
91-139
RES91139/TXTA.02J
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Alice M. Reimche
City Clerk