HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - May 19, 2004 E-03AGENDA ITEM Edp 3
CITY OF LODI
_ COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
TM
AGENDA TITLE: Approve specifications and authorize advertisement for bids for purchase and
installation of Fire Department radio base station emergency alerting systems (FD)
MEETING DATE: May 19, 2004
PREPARED BY: Michael Pretz
RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council approve the specifications and authorize
advertisement for bids for the purchase and installation of Fire
Department radio base station emergency alerting systems.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The existing system through which the emergency dispatch center
sends alerts to the department's station radios utilizes loud, high-
pitched tones which may cause occupational hearing loss.
To help reduce the tone sound levels (and potential for hearing loss) department staff has installed
volume controls on the alerting speakers in the stations. However, reducing speaker volume also affects
audible clarity.
The department's 2003-2004 Financial Plan and Budget includes funding to replace the existing system
FUNDING: Fire Department 2003-2005 Financial Plan and Budget - estimate $12,000
ichael Pretz, Fire Chie
YZ°act�U
Finanoe D arbment
FIRE S-.FA,.T1 N ALERTING j The ComTech Model 10 Fire Station Alerting System : gess page I of 2
ablicity Release
�atc: April 22, 2003
o: News/Features Editors
Elk Grove Community Services District (CSD) Fire Department
ALERTING TECHNOLOGY AIDS ELIC GROVE FIREFIGHTERS
Ik Grove, CA In a field where the main goal remains "putting the wet stuff on the
chnology is coming to the aid of fire service responders its sui-prising new ways. T
ommuDity Services District (CSD) has purchased a new Fire Station alerting syst€
i fire stations that will Delp improve the reliability of the alerting system and reduc°
for adjacent homeowners.
The system at Dire Station 71 on Elk Grove Boulevard was installed last August and
as a test case for the new system designed and installed by C,omTech Communicatic
Sacramento, ComTech developed the new system after working on Elk Grove's calci
listening to the needs expressed by firefighting personnel. CornTech's creation coni
functions of two older units into one and acids additional enhancen-ent features. Bas
system's tested success in Elk Grove, Coi Tech Dopes to launch their product natior
corning months.
"The system has worked extremely well for us here," said Elk Grove CSD Dire Dep,
Battalion C:biefXMike 7elander. "It offers better notification to the crews and shaves
seconds here and there which is good since in our business, every second counts.':
Fire stations across the: country are responsible for managing their own alerting tech
Alerting technology works in conjunction with radio and phone dispatching transmi
relayed from. the -1-1 emergency center. Alerting technology cues firefighters of at
e.z er@pricy dispatch using special lights and sounds, The new Fire Station alerting
expands on these ;standard features to include activating fire station lighting and res(
""flee automatic shutoff feature has helped us to be a better community neighbor,,, e)
Zehnder. "With the old system, the exterior fire station radio speakers would blare to
someone returned to the station to manually reset the system, now it shuts off autorr
within a few minutes of the crew's departure."
Additional upgrade features also enable the system to automatically shut down fire
appliances when firefighters are called away during meal times or during peals erica
http ;�f'c€ mtec com.zactlfirestationalertin&/press>hti I 5/7/2004
1"IRE, ST, IIION ALERTING ; The ComTech Model 10 FireStation Alerting System ; Press Page 2 of 2
periods,
Elk Grove CSD Fire Department plans to retrofit four ether fire stations with the Fiz
Alerting system within the next year, The Fire Department will also be skating its e;
with the, new Fire Station Alerting ,system with other Fire Department's across the c(
through a streaming Media feature on the Cho Tech web site at www.comtechcom i)
Contact. Kristyn Staby
Public Information Officer
Elk Grove CSD Fire Department
(91.6) 686-5420 (€office)
(916) 814-2161 (pager)
__
www.egcsd.ca.gov
com,rech Contacts Dave Johnson
( 6) 68-7800
Content t, 2004 by ComTech Communications. Design 12004 by tqqr�)glyp,b�
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':,IRE S ' TION !RLERTING I The Coma Tech Model 10 Fire Frequently !asked Question page l of 3
Our station doesn't have computer aided dispatch, Can we stall use your cyst
es, the Model 10 can integrate with any combination of 3 audio sources and CAD.
Can we use some of our existing equipment with your alerting system.?
es. Since our equipment was designed with nonproprietary hardware, it is capable
to existing light, speaker and communication systcrns. In many cases we acid low,
Oting and speakers to enhance an existing system..
Our personnel change dorm room assignments nightly. Can we ,Mill do I dly
om alerting?
Yes. The Model 10 has been designed with an optional touch screen interface whirl
dorm room assignments with a touch of a button. For stations that change room assi
periodically, the front data panel on the Model :10 can program the room assigna eni
4, Is there a pre alert notification of an incoming call?
Yes. The system will have an announcement such as, "Station 4, incoming alert" w11
station personnel to be notified of an incoming alert and also wake thorn in a manne
consistent with a "heart smart" system,
5. Is your system expandable?
Yes. The basic Model 10 is capable of whole, station alerting. If you wish to have in=
dorm room alerting and/or apparatus specific light bars, expansion modules are avai
expaiis on. module Inas 16 inputs and 12 outputs. A fully enhanced 'Model. 10 is cape
controlling over 500 functions is an alerting sequence. Also if you wish to have you
system cover more than one building, this can be accomplished by oar Demote Fxp<
Module. The Remote Expansion Module has the same ]6x 12 configuration and can
10,000 ft from the system. hub.
6. Can I use low voltage fighting with your alerting system?
Yes, Many fire stations use low voltage lighting for dorm room and hallways. This i
independent of the existing l 10 lighting system and is used to light the way from th€
to the apparatus bay, Our low voltage lights are red in color which help retain the ni:
syste7 personnel.
7® We are in a quiet residential neighborhood. b€ar°hood. How do you handle the volume 4
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FIRESTATION ALERTING 1 The Con-tTech Model 1.0 Fire ...: Frequently As ed Question Page 2 of
alerting sequence?
We design our fire station alerting and speaker systems with being a good neighbor
Since most station personnel are in the house in the evening, we mute the outside sp
neighborhood remains quiet. The volume of the speakers in the hose also lowers dt
house itself bring quieter at might.
. In our city the fire station is considered a community safe house. Have you
provisions for this?
Since marry fire stations are becoming corrtmwiity safe houses, we have integrated t
ii
of the station into the speaker system.. Similar to the radio alert, a voice alert will no
personnel that someone is at the door. This notification will go thru the stations' spe
so station persortrtel can bear it even if they are 2n a remote area of the station.
, Why do you recommend panting apparatus speci e light bars in the hoarse?
In most houses, there are places that can became quite noisy. In these instances, we
apparatus specific, tight bars to assist station personnel. For example, if there is an et
in the apparatus bay while aro alert is coming into the station, station personnel only
at a light bar to see if the call is for their particular company. Some examples of plak
bars are the apparatus bay, dorm rooms, weight rooms, tv rooms and outside basket]
10a What kind of fail safe features have you built into your system?
There are a few :features of the Madel 10 that will help to ensure the station will alw
their alert, if for any reason, the main hub should lase power, an audible alert tone v
the speaker system to notify station personnel of the problem. If the main logic cont:
fail., the alerting process will revert to whole station alerting. The system will lose it,
whistles" but the station will not lose the alert.
It. Are there any recurring monthly expenses? No. The Model 10 Fire Station A
System is a stand alone piece of equipment which does not require any additional m
expenses.
12. How does your warranty work?
The bode] 10 Fire Station Alerting System has a one year factory warranty for parts
This warranty is up radeable to 3 years orad service contracts are also available. If tE
found to be in teed of service, Coratech will ship a replacement unit to the station.
unit will thea be shipped ba&k to Co tech Communications. Preliminary trouble sh<
done with the data panel on the front of the hub or thru your local service provider.
lam Can we buy your system one station at a time or do all the stations have to i
once?
Since the Model 10 integrates into your existing communication system it can be pia
station by station basis.
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1"IRE STATION ALERTING 1 The ComTech Model 10 Fire.... Frequently .Asked Question Page 3 of 3
multiple buildings?
Yes, With the use of our Remote Expansion Module, the Model 10 is capable of haj
alerting process which requires going into multiple buildings.
15. How do we make e char es/mode cation to your systeml The data panel [oca
front of the Model 10 can handle most of the modifications that a station will need t
These changes include tuners for lights and speakers as well as dorm room assignma
wish to reconfigure your systems' capabilities, it may require a software upgrade, If
case, we will ship a modem and download the charges directly into the system hobo
16. Flay do you emphasize that you don't use proprietary hardware!
By not using proprietary hardware, we arc able to easily integrate into existing syste
provide the best products available to suit our customers' needs,
17� Is your alerting system a "one system flits all" solution or is there room for
The Model 10 Fire Station Alerting System was engineered with the most papular ft
in. ' be versatility of design does allow for system costo aizatioa. Please contact its
know what you have in mind.
I& In your system can stations be alerted remotely or does the alert have to be
from the 911 dispatch centerl
The Model 10 Fire Station Alerting System is capable of handling most types of rad
This allows a department the option of utilizing a redundant signaling patio in cases
OT on site dispatch, ` itb this feature, other departments in the district can be set uta
dispatch. centers.
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Conten" O 2004 by C o `li'eeb Communications. Design 00 2004 by 1-, p�trogi,yph. s
Reserved.
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