Agenda Item #13.8
For Council Meeting of: July 8, 2025
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT WESTROPE, FIRE CHIEF AND DAN HENNESSEY, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS SUBJECT: STANDARDIZATION OF STATION ALERTING SYSTEMS FOR FIRE STATION CONSTRUCTION AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Fire Department that Council, by resolution: 1) approve a standardization for station alerting systems manufactured by US Digital Designs by Honeywell, for fire station construction; 2) authorize the City Engineer to issue a contract change order with Wright Contracting LLC for the Fire Station 5 Resiliency and Relocation project to purchase and install Honeywell; and 3) authorize a waiver of competitive bidding for purchase and installation of Honeywell.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Fire Department is requesting a product standardization for station alerting systems manufactured by US Digital Designs by Honeywell for fire station construction. This action is necessary to allow Fire Station contracts to specifically name station alerting system manufacturers for current and future capital improvement projects.
BACKGROUND
A station alerting system provides direct and instant notification from the dispatch center to the fire station for first responders within fire stations. Currently Comtech systems are installed in all stations. Comtech went out of business suddenly in 2024, and there are no longer any distributors of the systems, nor any support or service as the systems are proprietary. During this time, the Design-Build competitive procurement process for Fire Station 5 Resiliency and Relocation project was completed and a contract was awarded to Wright Contracting LLC with the Comtech equipment included in the specifications.
Multiple factors are involved in the specifications of a new alerting system, including the ability to interface with the current dispatch center technology, and the ability to use the same manufacturer across the stations upon the end of the useful life of the alerting systems. Multiple regional agencies have begun the process of switching to Honeywell, when faced with replacement of Comtech equipment.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
None.
ANALYSIS
Staff from the Fire Department and other regional agencies have worked with our current REDCOM dispatch technicians to determine the best fit for replacement of the current Comtech systems.
By using Honeywell during the current construction projects and when upgrades to existing stations are necessary, The City will not have to replace the entire alerting system, just data receiving equipment. By using Honeywell along with other regional districts and departments the cost share of replacement of dispatch equipment can also be minimized and standardized.
The Comtech systems are no longer available, the department requires approval by Council to approve a change order for the contract with Wright Contractors LLC, and procure the standardized Honeywell alerting system.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this action does not have a fiscal impact on the General Fund. Funds for this project were appropriated in the FY 24/25 Capital Improvement Program budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, the proposed action is not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it does not have a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. In the alternative, the proposed action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the project may have a significant effect on the environment.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not Applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not Applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
PRESENTER
Scott Westrope, Fire Chief
STANDARDIZATION OF STATION ALERTING SYSTEMS FOR FIRE STATION CONSTRUCTION PAGE 3 OF 3