REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Authorization to Proceed with the Silicon Valley Regional Communication System (SVRCS) Memorandum of Understanding
Report
BACKGROUND
In October 2012 (RTC 12-232), Council authorized the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to proceed with a new citywide radio system deployment in partnership with the Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority (SVRIA). Sunnyvale's participation in SVRIA was approved by Council in March 2010 (RTC 10-054). SVRIA managed the infrastructure purchase, using grant funds to complete the first three stages of the system build-out from October 2012 to present. DPS utilized budgeted funds and awarded grants to purchase the subscriber equipment necessary to operate on the new infrastructure. The cities of Sunnyvale and Santa Clara transitioned to the new infrastructure in December 2014.
Since the initial planning for the system started several years ago, there have been many options discussed on how to complete the infrastructure build-out of the Silicon Valley Regional Communications System (SVRCS) with diminishing grant funds. Options for bonds, ballot measures, financing and direct payment have been presented to the elected officials that comprise the SVRIA Board of Directors (SVRIA Board). The costs for the alternative methods were shared with the SVRIA participants and it was determined that a direct agency payment model is the most acceptable. On April 13, 2015, the SVRIA Board approved the final version of the system build-out Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), including the infrastructure shared costs and the annual SVRIA maintenance.
The MOU was developed in collaboration with all of the participating agencies legal departments and provides flexibility for future expansion of participation to equitably share costs. The MOU also provides protection from members leaving the system causing significant cost increases to the remaining participants.
The cost sharing methodology w...
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