Minutes 10/14/1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1997 Council next considered authorizing the Police Department to apply for a Criminal Records System Improvement Grant through the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Progran~ to provide Mobile Data Terminals in twenty police vehicles. Police Chief David Edwards was present to discuss the proposed grant, and the merits of the technology and equipment to be acquired. He stated that the mobile data terminals would integrate with the current computer system and various data bases in use, that transmissions of information by this method would be secure, and silent to those listening to police bands, and that voice traffic through the E 911 Center would be greatly reduced. He then stated that the local match amount for the proposed grant of $123,289 would be $61 ~645, for a total expenditure of $184,934. Following several questions by Council to confirm the stated advantages of the system, and the overall improvements in efficiency and safety, Vice- Mayor Crabtree noted that the advent of this equipment might also help to contain staffing requirements of the E 911 Center. Mayor Adams then asked if County Sheriff Cassell was considering acquisition of this type of equipment. Chief Edwards responded that Sheriff Cassell was not considering it at this time, but might do so in the future. Mayor Adams then asked where the local matching funds would be found, to which Finance Director Wade Bartlett replied that savings in Workers Compensation insurance premiums would provide $53,000 of the needed funds. Mr. Reynolds confirmed that if the grant application was successful the balance of local funds needed would be found. The Mayor then observed that although the Council had eliminated funding in this year' s budget for employee safety awards, the kind of safety performance that resulted in a $53,000 savings in Workers Comp premiums should be rewarded, and that he would like to see this budget item returned for Council's reconsideration. Councilmember Dallas then opined that if this technology was so beneficial, it would seem that Sheriff Cassell would have considered it too. ChiefEdwards stated that, although he could not speak for Shefiff Cassell, he thought the Sheriff might be unable to participate in this fight now due to his involvement in other projects, and the time constraints he is already under. ChiefEdwards also observed that the cost for the County to participate in this effort at this time might be prohibitively high, since their requirements would be much greater than the City' s. The Mayor then stated that this grant application seemed like a good approach to the