Administrative
Report
H.14., File # 23-6255 Meeting Date: 6/20/2023
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: PATRICK BUTLER, INTERIM FIRE CHIEF
TITLE
APPROVE THE SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE OF FIRE STATION ALERTING SYSTEM ADDITIONS AT FIRE STATIONS ONE AND TWO FROM WESTNET, INC. UTILIZING SOURCEWELL COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENT PRICING IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $76,000
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Approval of the recommended action will allow the Fire Department to install an upgraded fire station alerting system that will reduce response times and improve employee wellness.
BACKGROUND
Currently, when a Fire Station receives a call for service, the “alarm” sounds in the fire station and the system activates bright lights and loud tones to alert firefighters of an emergency response. These alerts create external stressors for firefighters especially during night time responses while firefighters are recovering or resting. These changes may include a rise in blood pressure, a rise in pressure inside the head, and increased sweating. Normally, these physiological changes are brought about by intense sounds of sudden onset that force firefighters to quickly move from a relaxed state in the station to a heightened alarm response.
The soft-start alerting tones used by the new system minimizes the stress on firefighters by increasing the time in which the alarm volume transitions from off to full volume. The upgraded prealerting system is designed to minimize both physical and mental stress for firefighters. Reducing initial stress associated with calls will improve response times and allow firefighters to more effectively respond to emergencies within the community.
The upgraded station alerting system will include new lighting components that utilize soft red lighting that reduces optical shock. In addition, alert tones will be modulated in frequency pitch in order to reduce cardiac stress on the firefighters. New speakers will be installed throughout both fire stations to ensure audible clarity for responders listening to overhead dispatch information. Ambient noise will be monitored by the upgraded system to auto-increase pre-alert volume to ensure priority for dispatch messaging. Alert speakers on apparatus bays will be repositioned to avoid common disruptive audio-collision and echo experienced in these spaces.
COORDINATION
The Fire Department has coordinated this purchase with the Financial Services and Police Departments.
H.14., File # 23-6255 Meeting Date: 6/20/2023
FISCAL IMPACT
Purchase of the new system will cost no more than $76,000. Partial funding of $67,144 for the purchase was approved as part of the FY 2022-23 Budget, through Decision Package #49 - Fire Station Alerting System Improvements. The balance of the funding is available in the Emergency Communications budget.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
· WestNet Quote Q-08474-M6Z7
· Sourcewell WestNet Contract #042021-WNT