City Council Meeting Date: October 1, 2024
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Title
Request for Northfield Area Fire and Rescue Services (NAFRS) Budget Amendment of $31,041 for the purchase of portable and mobile radios and a mobile data computer (MDC).
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council amend the 2024 NAFRS budget to purchase portable and mobile radios and a mobile data computer (MDC).
Summary Report:
Rice County law enforcement agencies have now approved a date that their LE MAIN radio channel will move to encrypted operation. Currently, and since NFD/NAFRS has had radios, fire responders have been able to monitor the law enforcement radio channel by scanning. This provides real-time intel from arriving law enforcement officers and deputies.
The encryption move also mandated by BCA/FBI due to sensitive records information, will eliminate NAFRS Chief Staff from directly hearing that size-up information. Without purchasing encrypted radios for chiefs, Dispatch would need to hear, and update Fire with the field observations by law enforcement.
This budget amendment will allow the requisite portable and mobile radios to be purchased to maintain chief staff’s ability to monitor and communicate with law enforcement in Rice County.
Additionally, this amendment proposed funding the mobile data computer (MDC) for the new Assistant Chief Silverado.
The Rural Fire Protection District approved the budget amendment at the September meeting and the NAFRS Board approved the amendment at their September 19, 2024 meeting.
The resolution (attachment 1) and a letter from NAFRS Fire Chief Tom Nelson is attached (attachment 2).
Alternative Options:
Not recommended.
Financial Impacts:
The $31,041 for NAFRS for the City share of the purchase of the new portable and mobile radios and a mobile data computer will increase expenses in 101-4220-43300 in the General Fund’s #4220 Fire department for 2024. This was not budgeted so it could create the use of reserves for the end of the year unless we are under budget or within contingencies.
The 2025 preliminary budget includes funding for this amount and will replenish the anticipated use of general fund reserves in 2024.
Tentative Timelines:
The radios will be ordered this year and anticipated to be received and installed in 2025. The City contribution would be paid to NAFRS following Council approval.