F. Discussion Items

[1. Discuss and provide direction for the proposed infrastructure and software updates to the Garland, Mesquite, Rowlett, Sachse (GMRS) radio system.]

ITEM ONE DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION FOR THE PROPOSED INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOFTWARE UPDATES TO THE GARLAND MESQUITE ROWLETT SACHSE GMRS RADIO SYSTEM.

MISS NASH. MAYOR AND COUNCIL THIS AGENDA ITEM BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS REALLY FOR DISCUSSION ONLY.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CHIEF SYLVESTER AND ASSISTANT CHIEF BAXTER TO BE ABLE TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR MOTOROLA EQUIPMENT REFRESH AND SOME STEPS THAT WE WILL NEED TO BE TAKING IN THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.

AND SO THEY'LL BE PROVIDING THAT PRESENTATION AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION.

HELLO, CHIEF. HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. GOOD TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT.

SO TONIGHT, AS GINA MENTIONED, WE'RE GOING TO BRING SOMETHING FORWARD TO YOU JUST TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT AS WE ARE ENTERING THE BUDGET CYCLE.

[00:25:01]

AND CERTAINLY THIS POTENTIALLY COULD HAVE IMPACT IN TWO BUDGET CYCLES FROM NOW.

BUT WE WANT TO GET IT ON YOUR RADAR NOW. SO I WANT TO START WITH A LITTLE HISTORY OF THE GMRS RADIO SYSTEM WHERE ALL THAT BEGAN AND WHERE WE'RE AT NOW WITH THIS PARTICULAR SYSTEM.

AS SOME OF YOU MAY RECALL, ALL OF YOU WERE NOT ON COUNCIL AT THE TIME THAT WE ENTERED INTO THIS PARTICIPATING AGREEMENT, BUT WE ARE A PARTICIPATING ENTITY IN THE GARLAND MESQUITE ROWLETT SACHSE RADIO SYSTEM.

ORIGINALLY WE WERE WE WERE PROJECTED TO BE A, AN OWNER PER SE, BUT WE ELECTED TO SAVE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF MONEY BY IT SIMPLY BEING A PARTICIPATING ENTITY VERSUS AS A SUBSCRIBER RATHER THAN A PLANK OWNER IN THAT CONTEXT. OTHER ENTITIES THAT ARE PART OF THIS SYSTEM NOW FORNEY, HIGHLAND PARK, SEAGOVILLE, SUNNYVALE, TERRELL, UNIVERSITY PARK IN THAT THEY SUBSCRIBE TO THE SYSTEM.

THEY'RE ON THE SYSTEM. BUT A NOTE BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR INTO THIS DISCUSSION I'M SURE THERE WILL BE AN INTEROPERABILITY QUESTION SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD.

THESE ARE ENTITIES THAT ARE ON THIS SYSTEM, BUT WE HAVE THE CAPACITY WITHIN OUR EXISTING RADIOS THAT WE CONNECT WITH VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CITY WITHIN THE METROPLEX ALL THE WAY OVER INTO TARRANT COUNTY.

SO WE HAVE THAT CAPABILITY NOW. OUR SPECIFIC RADIOS HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CHANNEL CAPABILITIES AS WELL AS A MUTUAL AID AND INTEROPERABLE CHANNEL THAT WE CAN PROGRAM AND TALK TO MANY DIFFERENT AGENCIES SURROUNDING US.

SO EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE THE PARTICIPATING AGENCIES IN THIS SYSTEM, WE ARE CERTAINLY NOT LIMITED TO JUST TALKING TO THOSE PARTICULAR ENTITIES.

AS WE HAVE SINCE WE BECAME A SUBSCRIBER TO THIS SYSTEM, WE PAY A PROPORTIONATE SYSTEM WIDE MAINTENANCE FEE TO MOTOROLA.

PROPORTIONATE IS PERTAINING TO THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE OPERATE.

WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR GARLAND'S EQUIPMENT OR ROWLETT'S MESQUITE'S ANYBODY ELSE'S.

SO WE PAY SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THESE LARGER ENTITIES THAT HAVE MUCH HIGHER USAGE RATES.

ESSENTIALLY, WE'RE PAYING FOR MAINTENANCE RELATIVE TO OUR DISPATCH CONSOLE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORTING SOFTWARE AND SWITCHES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS GOING TO NEED TO BE REPLACED IN THE FUTURE.

OUR EXISTING MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH MOTOROLA ENDS IN 2028.

WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

AND JUST AS A REMINDER, IN 2023, WE DID A COMPLETE REFRESH OF OUR HANDHELD RADIOS AS WELL AS THE IN-CAR RADIOS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. NOT JUST POLICE, BUT POLICE, FIRE, AND VARIOUS OTHERS THAT HAVE RADIOS WITHIN THEIR INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT.

I SHOULD HAVE ASKED CHIEF BAXTER, COME UP HERE AND RUN THIS THING. OKAY, SO WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? OUR DISPATCH CONSOLES, OUR PRIMARY INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE IS ENDING SUPPORT LIFE IN 2028. RIGHT NOW, MOTOROLA IS ESTIMATING THAT THAT REPLACEMENT COST WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $490,000, WHICH INCLUDES FIRST YEAR OF MAINTENANCE ON THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

NOW, AS AN EXAMPLE, $490,000. NOT CHEAP. EXPENSIVE.

CERTAINLY WE UNDERSTAND THAT AS AN EXAMPLE A COUPLE OTHER LARGER CITIES ARE EXPECTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO ALLOCATE FOR, TO UPGRADE AND MODERNIZE THE SYSTEM.

AND WE ANTICIPATE THIS IS OUR PRICE NOW. WE'VE BEEN IN NEGOTIATIONS AND TALKS WITH MOTOROLA FOR WELL OVER A YEAR ABOUT THIS.

WE ANTICIPATE SOME ADDITIONAL DISCOUNTS AND INCENTIVES AS WE GET CLOSER TO EXECUTING A SPECIFIC CONTRACT.

BUT I WANTED TO BRING THIS TO YOU. NOW, THIS IS PRETTY CLOSE.

THIS IS GENERALLY WHAT WE CAN EXPECT WITHIN SOME MODICUM OF ACCURACY GOING FORWARD.

IF WE DO NOT ENTER INTO A CONTRACT AND WE SIMPLY DO YEAR TO YEAR MAINTENANCE COSTS, WE CAN EXPECT 15% INCREASE ANNUALLY.

SO THEY'RE INCENTIVIZING US TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT, WHICH ALL THESE OTHER CITIES ARE DOING AS WELL.

THEY PRESENTED US AN OPTION TO RECEIVE OUR EQUIPMENT, SOFTWARE, REPLACE EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED RELATIVE TO THE CONSOLES AND RECEIVE THAT IN FISCAL YEAR 26, 27 AND DEFER THAT PAYMENT UNTIL FISCAL YEAR 27-28.

[00:30:05]

SO IT ALLOWS US TWO FISCAL YEARS TO ALLOCATE THESE FUNDS THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS.

OUR MAINTENANCE COST. SO THIS IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO THINGS THAT ARE COLLECTIVE, BUT THEIR INDIVIDUAL COST.

THE EQUIPMENT COSTS AND THEN THE MAINTENANCE GOING FORWARD FOR THAT EQUIPMENT.

WHAT WE'RE PAYING NOW IS $29,262 THAT HAS BEEN AT A VERY REASONABLE PRICE.

I WILL TELL YOU FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE INITIAL CONTRACT THAT CAME WITH THE SYSTEM WHEN WE BECAME A SUBSCRIBER TO THAT SYSTEM THAT'S GOING TO GO UP. AS WITH THINGS THAT NORMALLY DO, THEY GAVE A SWEETHEART DEAL FOR THE FIRST TERM, THE FIRST CONTRACT, AND THIS IS A SUBSEQUENT CONTRACT AND THEIR MAINTENANCE COSTS GO UP.

SO OURS ARE GOING TO GO UP, BUT ONLY PROPORTIONATELY RELATIVE TO OUR EQUIPMENT.

WE'RE NOT PAYING MAINTENANCE COSTS FOR GARLAND, MESQUITE, ANYBODY ELSE.

AND AS I'VE STATED PREVIOUSLY, THE MAINTENANCE COSTS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE FIRST YEAR WHEN WE UPDATE THE CONTRACT AND OBTAIN THE NEW EQUIPMENT.

THE SECOND YEAR, IF WE ADOPT A CONTRACT IN OCTOBER OF 2026, THE SECOND YEAR MAINTENANCE WILL BE $51,000 AND CHANGE AND AGAIN SUBJECT TO WHAT I EXPECT TO BE SOME MINOR FLUCTUATION DOWNWARD OF THAT PRICE.

AND WE ANTICIPATE MAINTENANCE COSTS INCREASE FROM 2 TO 5% IN YEARS, THREE TO YEAR SIX OF WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED THUS FAR.

SO OUR OPTIONS AND THE FIRST OPTION IS WHAT WE RECOMMEND.

EXECUTE A NEW CONTRACT IN OCTOBER 2026. WE GET THE NEW CONTRACT OR GET THE NEW EQUIPMENT IN THE SOFTWARE WITHIN THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

DEFER THAT FIRST YEAR'S PAYMENT TO THE SECOND YEAR PAYMENT, SUCH THAT WE'RE SETTING ASIDE APPROXIMATELY $245,000 IN FISCAL YEAR 26-27, AND WE ALLOCATE THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS, THE REMAINING $245,000 IN FISCAL YEAR 2027 2028, SUCH THAT WE PAY THE ENTIRE PRICE FOR EQUIPMENT AND THE CONTRACT MAINTENANCE FOR THAT FIRST YEAR.

AT THE BEGINNING OF FISCAL YEAR 27, 2028, WE HAVE ANOTHER OPTION, ONE WHICH I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT RECOMMEND.

WE DON'T HAVE TO PURCHASE. WE'RE NOT REQUIRED AT THIS POINT TO PURCHASE THESE NEW CONSOLES.

HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT BE SUPPORTED AFTER 2028.

THERE'S ALSO AN INCREASED COST TO PURCHASE THESE CONSOLES LATER.

WE CAN ANTICIPATE 10 TO 15% ANNUALLY INCREASED COST FROM WHAT IT WILL BE NOW.

MORE IMPORTANTLY TO ME, IS THE RISK OF FAILURE SHOULD THESE CONSOLES FAIL? WE HAVE THREE IN OUR DISPATCH CENTER. IF ONE FAILS, YES, WE CAN STILL OPERATE.

IF TWO FAIL, WE'RE IN SIGNIFICANT ISSUES THERE.

IF THEY ALL FAIL, WE DON'T OPERATE. IT'S NOT ONLY SIMPLY FAILURE, IT'S THE TIME REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A REPLACEMENT CONSOLE.

THESE ARE NOT OFF THE SHELF, READY TO GO ITEMS SITTING IN INVENTORY SOMEWHERE.

IN ADDITION, IF WE'RE ONLY PAYING FOR MAINTENANCE ON THESE LEGACY CONSOLES, THIS IS THE PRICE THAT THEY'RE PROJECTED TO CHARGE US FOR MAINTENANCE ONLY. SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN WHAT THE MAINTENANCE COST WOULD BE.

SHOULD WE GO AHEAD AND REPLACE OUR AGING NON-SUPPORTED EQUIPMENT IN THIS NEXT TWO YEARS? SO THERE IS ANOTHER OPTION. I DIDN'T NECESSARILY BRING IT TO YOU, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING.

YOU CAN PAY THIS OUT OVER TIME TO WHERE YOU'RE PAYING THE $490,000 OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND, GIVEN THE FACT THAT IT REQUIRES A SIGNIFICANT LAYOUT OF FUNDS ANNUALLY THAT'S PROJECTED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS THAT SHOULD IT BE SAVED FOR IN TWO YEARS, YOU'RE NOT HAVING THAT MANDATORY EXPENSE OF SIX FIGURES EVERY BUDGET YEAR FOR SEVERAL YEARS FROM NOW. SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.

AGAIN, I WILL TELL YOU THAT THESE ARE PROJECTED RIGHT NOW.

I ANTICIPATE THERE WILL BE SOME SLIGHT MODIFICATION OF THAT DOWNWARD.

WE ARE GOING TO SOLIDIFY THAT UP AS WE GO FORWARD.

BASED UPON YOUR COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO HOW YOU WANT TO PROCEED TONIGHT.

SO I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. I HAVE MY TECHNICAL EXPERT HERE.

[00:35:01]

CHIEF BAXTER WHO HAS BEEN KNEE DEEP IN THE RADIO SYSTEM SINCE HIS ARRIVAL HERE EIGHT YEARS AGO AND CERTAINLY IS HAS A LITTLE MORE OF THE TECHNICAL DETAIL THAN I DO.

AND OF COURSE, MISS NASH IS FULLY ENGAGED WITH THIS, AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS.

SO HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS, MISS NASH. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

WHAT I WANT TO COMMENT ON, AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, IS TONIGHT THIS IS A DISCUSSION BECAUSE IT IS A MAJOR EXPENDITURE AND POLICY CONSIDERATION THAT I WANTED YOU ALL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK AS MANY QUESTIONS AS YOU WANTED ABOUT THIS.

SO THE FIRST TIME YOU SAW IT WASN'T DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.

BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THIS EXPENDITURE IS IT'S A LARGE AMOUNT.

WE CERTAINLY HAVE THE FUNDING CAPABILITIES AND OPTIONS.

WE'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSION WITH FINANCE ABOUT HOW WE WOULD PAY FOR IT.

YOU KNOW, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THIS OUT OF FUND BALANCE.

AND I THINK THAT'S AN APPROPRIATE USE OF THAT, BUT JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, AGAIN, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO ASK ALL THE QUESTIONS YOU NEED TO ASK. AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THIS INCLUDED AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS ONCE WE GET THE DIRECTION FROM YOU ALL.

THANK YOU, MS. NASH. MR. PRESTENBERG. WELL, I GOT I WENT FIRST.

THAT'S AWESOME. USUALLY I'M THE FAMILY FEUD BUTTON I'M ALWAYS LAST.

YOU NEED TO GET ON JEOPARDY. YOU'D DO REALLY WELL. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS MORE JUST FOR UNDERSTANDING THE CONTRACT THAT WAS DISCUSSED, I GUESS IN 2022, 2023. YOU HAD MENTIONED IT WAS AN EIGHT YEAR CONTRACT.

BEFORE THEY WERE NOT SUPPORTED. THIS ONE LOOKS LIKE IT'S ABOUT A FIVE ISH YEAR.

IS THAT KIND OF THE NORM THAT THINGS ARE STARTING TO LOWER IN THE SPAN OF LIFE ON THESE? I DON'T HAVE A POINT OF REFERENCE RELATIVE TO WHAT OTHER RADIO INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT COMPANIES DO, SUCH AS HARRIS OR WHAT HAVE YOU. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING NOW, IF IT IS COUNCIL'S PREFERENCE TO CONSIDER A LONGER TERM CONTRACT. WE CAN CERTAINLY DISCUSS THAT WITH THEM.

WE WANTED TO PRESENT SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT SO FAR OUT THAT THEIR PROJECTIONS OF WHAT THINGS WOULD COST WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY UNREALISTIC.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY REALISTIC, AND I WANTED TO BE CONFINED SO THAT I'M NOT PRESENTING SOMETHING THAT I COME BACK AND SAY, YEAH, IT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THAT. I WANTED TO KEEP IT REASONABLE, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY DISCUSS WITH THEM EXTENDING IT FURTHER OUT.

ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOUR DEVICES ARE THEY'RE END OF LIFE.

5 OR 6 YEARS IS ABOUT AVERAGE LIFE FOR THEM, OR ARE THEY? ACTUALLY, THESE CONSOLES HAVE BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 2016.

OKAY, SO THEY'VE LASTED TEN YEARS THE LAST 12 BEFORE THEY'RE NO LONGER SUPPORTED.

I WOULD EXPECT SIMILAR PROJECTIONS FOR TERM. OKAY.

WITH REPLACEMENT CONSOLES. OKAY. WELL, I'D BE INTERESTED IN A LONGER MAINTENANCE CONTRACT.

RIGHT. IF WE CAN LOCK INTO SOMETHING NOW, THAT MIGHT SAVE US IN THE FUTURE, RIGHT? ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE LASTING THAT LONG. AGREED.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT SOME THINGS ARE AS TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPS, CERTAINLY AS, YOU KNOW COST CHANGE NEW EQUIPMENT COMES ONLINE THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DISCUSS, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY WILL COME BACK AND SAY, YEAH, WE'LL OFFER YOU A TEN YEAR CONTRACT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. RIGHT? YEAH. BUT FOR TONIGHT, I WANTED TO GET IT ON YOUR RADAR.

THIS IS A GENERALIZED COST, AND I WANTED TO BRING SOMETHING THAT WAS FAIRLY ACCURATE TO YOU.

OKAY. SECOND, ARE YO TALKING, I KNOW YOU'RE THE POLICE, BUT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT JUST POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT? DO YOU ALL HAVE TWO SEPARATE CONTRACTS OR. NO.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE PORTION AND MAINTENANCE COVERS PUBLIC SAFETY AND EVERY OTHER RADIO SYSTEM IN USE BY THE CITY.

WE'RE JUST HOUSING THAT BUDGET FUND. OKAY. AND WHEN WE HAVE MAINTENANCE ISSUES THAT COMES THROUGH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

OKAY. ARE OUR PARTNER CITIES, I GUESS, ARE THEY AT LEAST THE FOR THE GMRS ARE ALL Y'ALL NEGOTIATING AT THE SAME TIME TO TRY TO BETTER? YES AND NO. YES, IN THE CONTEXT THAT ALL OF THE ORIGINATING CITIES THAT HAVE CERTAIN PIECES OF EQUIPMENT ARE IN NEED OF BEING REPLACED. I CAN'T TELL YOU ABOUT SUNNYVALE, WHO CAME ON TWO YEARS AGO.

THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT IN THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION.

BUT I DO KNOW THAT MAINTENANCE COSTS OVERALL WILL BE INCREASING FOR ALL PARTICIPATING CITIES.

OKAY. WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE NEED AN EQUIPMENT REFRESH.

GOT IT. WELL, I'LL SAY SIGNING UP THROUGH CONTRACTS THAT I'VE DEALT WITH JUST FROM A CORPORATE SIDE.

THE MAINTENANCE THING IS USUALLY NEGOTIABLE. SO, YOU KNOW, THE HARDWARE IS USUALLY KIND OF FIRM SO.

AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS IS NEGOTIATED RIGHT NOW.

OKAY. IT WAS. SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER? I WON'T GIVE YOU A FIRM PERCENTAGE, BUT IT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED TALKING TO US.

[00:40:07]

AWESOME. LAST QUESTION I HAD, GINA, IS I KNOW WE HAVE LIKE A VEHICLE REPLACEMENT FUND.

DO WE HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT FROM A TECHNOLOGY FUND OR WHATNOT? SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT CURRENTLY FOR THIS BECAUSE THIS WAS KIND OF OUR FIRST GO ROUND WITH MOTOROLA AND KIND OF TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT, BUT WE'VE ALREADY MET WITH FINANCE TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN START SETTING MORE ASIDE, BECAUSE WE HAVE BETTER CERTAINTY NOW ABOUT HOW MUCH THESE THINGS WILL COST FOR THE REFRESH. OBVIOUSLY IT WAS MORE EXPENSIVE THIS TIME, AND CERTAINLY MAINTENANCE IS HIGHER THAN LAST TIME.

I THINK THEY REALIZED THAT THAT MAINTENANCE COST WAS TOO LOW FOR THE AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE AS REQUIRED ON THIS TYPE OF EQUIPMENT.

SO BUT YES, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE ARE GOING TO BE PUTTING MONEY ASIDE IN THE FUTURE INTO OUR REPLACEMENT FUND.

AWESOME. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANKS, CHIEF. MISS BUHLER, THANK YOU, CHIEF.

THANK YOU GINA, THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE QUESTION ABOUT THE WEATHER.

IT'S COMING FROM BALANCED FUND OR THE VERVE FUND.

THAT WAS MY NUMBER ONE QUESTION ALSO IS MOTOROLA OUR ONLY OPTION? YES. OKAY. AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY, MOTOROLA BUILT THE SYSTEM.

WHEN THIS SYSTEM WAS STOOD UP IN 2016, IT WAS AFTER YEARS OF NEGOTIATION BY THESE MAJOR CITIES OF WHICH WE WERE A PART AT THE TIME.

AND IN LATE 2015, IT WAS DECIDED TO BECOME A SUBSCRIBER RATHER THAN A, QUOTE, OWNER OF THE SYSTEM BY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, REDUCING OUR OUTLAY FOR THAT.

SO A GREAT I ALWAYS WHEN INTERIM CHIEF TODD RENSHAW WAS INTERIM CHIEF, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE WORKED OUT WITH GINA AND THAT SAVED THE TAXPAYERS A LOT OF MONEY. THAT'S GREAT. AND IT'S BEEN TRULY BENEFICIAL FOR US.

AND WE HAVE NOT LOST ANYTHING BY NOT BEING A TRUE OWNER OF THE SYSTEM, BUT RATHER A SUBSCRIBER.

TO LOOK AT ANOTHER SYSTEM, WE WOULD HAVE TO EXIT FROM GMRS. AND FOR US TO STAND UP OUR OWN SYSTEM WOULD BE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

GOING TO PLANO OPERATES A SYSTEM OF WHICH VARIOUS OTHER ENTITIES ARE PART OF.

THE COST WOULD NOT BE DISSIMILAR AT ALL AND WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE AT ITS INITIAL OUTLAY.

PERFECT. THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION IS WHAT ARE OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES LIKE WYLIE AND MURPHY? ARE THEY OWNERS? ARE THEY SUBSCRIBERS. THEY'RE SUBSCRIBERS? WYLIE AND MURPHY ARE SPECIFICALLY ON THE PLANO SYSTEM.

OKAY. BUT WE CAN TALK TO THEM. SO THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A COST SAVINGS BY BECOMING AN OWNER.

IT WOULD MAKE OUR COST GO UP. ABSOLUTELY NOT.

YES. AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO IT WOULD BE A COST SURCHARGE.

[INAUDIBLE] MAYOR PRO TEM FRANKS. YEAH, CHIEF IF YOU MENTION THIS BEFORE I GOT HERE, I APOLOGIZE, BUT KIND OF IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU JUST SAID. WE'RE GOING TO A DIFFERENT SYSTEM, MEANING DIFFERENT CITY SYSTEM.

WOULD THAT BE BENEFICIAL? BUT I THINK YOU ALREADY ANSWERED IT. NO, I DON'T BELIEVE SO. OKAY. THANKS. THANK YOU.

MR. LINDSEY. YES, SIR. THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I ACTUALLY HAVE NO QUESTIONS WHATSOEVER ON HERE.

I ABSOLUTELY HATE IT. IT'S MOTOROLA. IT'S P25 SYSTEM.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A STANDARD. ALL THE PLAYERS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO BE INVOLVED IN IT, BUT IT JUST REALLY HAS NEVER EVOLVED THAT WAY.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, MOTOROLA REALLY IS OUR ONLY OPTION.

IT'S OUR ONLY OPTION TO BE ON THIS PARTICULAR SYSTEM.

THERE'S NO OTHER SYSTEM THAT WE SHOULD BE ON, BUT THIS SYSTEM ON HERE, I MEAN, WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS. WE'RE NOT CUTTING CORNERS.

WE'RE NOT SACRIFICING PUBLIC SAFETY. IT'S KIND OF LIKE HEALTHCARE.

THIS IS THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS. I'M GLAD YOU'RE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT LEG YOU STAND ON WHENEVER IT'S MOTOROLA OR THAT'S IT, BUT I JUST HOPE THERE WASN'T ANY KIND OF COMPROMISES, YOU KNOW, TO CONSOLE FEATURES AND STUFF LIKE THAT THAT WOULD AFFECT OUR DISPATCH. NO, SIR, NOT AT ALL. WE'RE RETAINING THE SAME CAPABILITY, THE SAME FEATURES AND BETTER TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE TO SUPPORT THAT.

AWESOME. YEAH. AND AGAIN, OUR CONSOLE IS 12 YEARS OLD.

I THINK IF WE CAN GET ANOTHER 12 YEARS OF LIFE OUT HERE THE STANDARD THAT'S BASED RIGHT NOW IS FROM 2006.

AND I WAS KIND OF TELLING JANA THIS THE OTHER DAY IS THE BANDWIDTH, THE REASON WHY I HATE IT, IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PROVIDING OUR OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS THE BEST POSSIBLE TECHNOLOGY, THOUGH, BUT THE AMOUNT OF BANDWIDTH THAT IS ALLOCATED WHENEVER THEY MAKE ONE OF THEIR MOST PRECIOUS COMMUNICATIONS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE KEYING UP AND, YOU KNOW, THIS COULD BE A LIFE OR DEATH THING.

THE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S OUT THERE, THAT'S BY THE APCO STANDARD, THE TIA STANDARDS, ALL THE, YOU KNOW, PROJECT 25 STANDARDS, EVERYTHING ELSE. IT'S A LOUSY 2,450 BITS PER SECOND.

AND, YOU KNOW, NOT TO GET TOO TECHNICAL ON PEOPLE, BUT WHEN YOU HAD DIAL UP MODEM, YOU HAD 56,000 BITS PER SECOND.

[00:45:03]

SO SOMEHOW THEY SHOVE THIS PRECIOUS VOICE ALL THE WAY DOWN INTO THIS LITTLE ITTY BITTY CONTAINER, AND THAT'S ALL THEY GET. MEANWHILE, WE'RE OVER HERE, WE'RE MAKING FACETIME CALLS AND DOING ALL THIS OTHER STUFF.

AND THE PEOPLE WHO MATTER MOST WHO ARE MAKING THE MOST CRITICAL, YOU KNOW, CONVERSATIONS, THEY GET THE LEAST AMOUNT OF BANDWIDTH. SO THAT'S WHY I HATE IT BECAUSE THE STANDARD IS FROM 2006, MY PREDICTION IS BY 12 YEARS FROM NOW, BY THE TIME WE'RE REPLACING THIS, WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE REPLACING THE WHOLE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

AND HOPEFULLY BY THEN WE'LL HAVE MODERN STANDARDS THAT ALL THE OTHER AGENCIES ARE ALSO ADOPTING.

SO THAT'S JUST KIND OF MY THOUGHT ON IT. WE'VE GOT TO DO OPTION A LET'S, YOU KNOW, RIP THE BAND-AID OFF, GET IT DONE WITH GET OUR PEOPLE WHAT THEY NEED.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND EVERYTHING ON THIS.

THANK YOU COUNCIL. I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU FEEL.

CAN YOU. [LAUGHTER] CHIEF IS IT FAIR TO SAY AGAIN, BASED ON THE NEGOTIATIONS YOU TALKED ABOUT, THAT THERE'S STRENGTH IN HAVING MORE THAN ONE ENTITY NEGOTIATING WITH MOTOROLA.

IS THAT FAIR TO SAY? YES, SIR. WE'RE ALL AFTER THE SAME GOAL.

WE ALL HAVE PORTIONS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE COMPONENTS THAT MAKE THE SYSTEM THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED.

AND SO THEY DO REALIZE THAT THEY DO WANT OUR BUSINESS.

AND I THINK THERE IS CONSIDERATION RELATIVE TO THAT.

WE ARE A SIGNIFICANT PLAYER IN THE MOTOROLA FAMILY IN THE METROPLEX IN TERMS OF THE SIZE OF OUR SYSTEM.

AND SO I THINK THEY ABSOLUTELY, VERY MUCH WANT OUR BUSINESS.

AND CERTAINLY THEY HAVE BEEN RESPONSIVE TO QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGES FROM ME.

AND OF COURSE, ASSISTANT CHIEF BAXTER AS WELL AS CONSULTATIONS THAT WE ARE HAVING WITH OTHER ENTITIES WITHIN THE SYSTEM THAT HAVE FAR MORE INFRASTRUCTURE TO REPLACE, THAT HAVE MUCH MORE TECHNICAL AND DETAILED EXAMINATION AND DIALOG WITH MOTOROLA SO THAT WE CAN BACKSTOP WHAT WE'RE BEING TOLD AS WELL.

THANK YOU CHIEF. OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF? MR. MILLSAP. SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO GET A NEW SYSTEM.

WELL, IT'S NOT A NEW SYSTEM, IT'S JUST UPGRADING SOME EQUIPMENT. NOT A NEW SYSTEM, BUT AN UPGRADED SYSTEM. YES, SIR. JUST LOOKING AT IT, AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU'VE ALREADY STATED THAT WE ALL NEGOTIATE. ALL CITIES NEGOTIATE ON THEIR OWN.

IT LOOKS LIKE FROM WHAT YOU SHOWED ON MAYBE SLIDE TWO.

WE'RE AT ABOUT $29,000 A YEAR IN MAINTENANCE COST RIGHT NOW? YES SIR. I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE SLIDE SHOWED. AND THAT GIVES US, WE'RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 33, 34,000 PEOPLE. THAT'S ABOUT $0.90 A PERSON, WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE.

THE NEW COST IS GOING TO GO TO UPWARDS OF 50.

WELL, IF OUR POPULATION INCREASES A LITTLE BIT, THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO IF WE GO TO 40, THAT'S GOING TO PUT US ABOUT A DOLLAR AND A DIME.

HOW DOES THIS COMPARE TO OTHER CITIES? OR DO YOU KNOW YET THAT MY MAIN THING IS IT'S NOT WHAT IT'S COSTING US.

HOW ARE WE? ARE WE GETTING AS GOOD A DEAL AS OTHER PEOPLE? THAT'S THE MAIN THING. WE DON'T WANT TO BE THE CHEAPEST, BUT WE SURE DON'T WANT TO PAY THE PREMIUM.

SO I AM CERTAINLY NOT PRIVY TO FINAL CONTRACT FIGURES THAT ARE DISCUSSED BETWEEN CERTAIN ENTITIES AND MOTOROLA.

HOWEVER, RELATIVE TO OUR PARTICIPATING ENTITIES, I HAVE SEEN SOME PROJECTIONS AND WE ARE ABSOLUTELY PROPORTIONATE TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE. WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR OTHER ENTITIES, INFRASTRUCTURE OR MAINTENANCE.

WELL, THAT'S THE MAIN THING. THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS AS LONG AS WE'RE PROPORTIONATE TO WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE PAYING, THEN WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO. YES, SIR.

I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE. IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? THANK YOU CHIEF.

THANK YOU CHIEF. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANKS FOR DOING ALL THE HARD WORK, CHIEF BAXTER. WE APPRECIATE IT. [LAUGHTER] NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM G EXECUTIVE

[G. Executive Session]

SESSION ITEM ONE. THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.074 PERSONNEL MATTERS REGARDING THE ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE. ITEM TWO THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.087 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DELIBERATIONS.

DELIBERATE THE OFFER OF A FINANCIAL OR OTHER INCENTIVE RELATING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROJECT YELLOW JACKET.

THE TIME MS. GRANGER? 7:19. WE ARE ADJOURNED INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 7:19 P.M..

ALL RIGHT. WE ARE. EXCUSE ME. WE'RE BACK IN OPEN SESSION.

[H. Action Resulting from Executive Session]

THE TIME MS. GRANGER? 7:56 P.M. 7:56 P.M.. WE'RE BACK IN OPEN SESSION.

NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM H. ACTION RESULTING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.

ITEM ONE, TAKE ANY ACTION AS A RESULT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING THE ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE.

NO ACTION NECESSARY. ITEM TWO TAKE ANY ACTION AS A RESULT OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING PROJECT YELLOW JACKET.

WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER CARD AND I APOLOGIZE, FRED BURLBAUGH, DID I GET THAT RIGHT?

[00:50:01]

I HOPE I GOT THAT RIGHT. IT'S MY HANDWRITING.

I'M NOT GREAT AT NAMES EITHER. SO IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE.

FRED BURLBAUGH SACHSE, TEXAS. SO I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE COUNCIL.

GOOD EVENING. AND THAT IS ARE WE GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT PROJECT YELLOW JACKET IS? SO I WANT TO GO ON RECORD THAT SINCE Y'ALL HAVE MET ABOUT IT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND I RESEARCHED IT AND I COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING ON IT.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL FIND OUT TONIGHT, BUT I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT IF YOU VOTED ON IT. SO THAT'S MY RECORD.

MY QUESTION FOR THE RECORD IS WHAT IS PROJECT YELLOW JACKET? AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT ONCE THE AGREEMENT IS EXECUTED, IT WILL BECOME PUBLIC RECORD.

AND THEN SO ONCE IT IS PUBLIC RECORD, THEN YOU CAN INQUIRE WITH MISS GRANGER AND SUBMIT A REQUEST TO SEE WHAT THE CONTRACT IS AT THAT POINT.

WHAT KIND OF CONTRACT DO YOU SAY? CONTRACT? IT'S AS YOU SAID, IT'S AN INCENTIVE AGREEMENT.

BUT THAT'S THE CONTRACT. THANK YOU. YEP. OKAY.

THAT'S ALL THE CARDS I HAD ON THIS ITEM. ENTERTAINING DISCUSSION OR MOTIONS FROM COUNCIL.

MISS BUHLER. IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SACHSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN INCENTIVE AGREEMENT FOR PROJECT YELLOW JACKET AND ANY AMENDMENTS AND INSTRUMENTS RELATED THERETO.

I HAVE A MOTION BY MISS BUHLER. DO I HAVE A SECOND? MR. PRESTENBERG. SECOND. SECOND BY MR. PRESTENBERG.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE CAST YOUR BALLOT.

HE GOT LOGGED OUT. HOLD ON.

MIC]. THERE WE GO.

THERE YOU GO. NOW YOU CAN CAST YOUR BALLOT. THOSE SCREEN SAVERS CAN BE.

YEAH. OKAY. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ADJOURNMENT.

THE TIME MS. GRANGER? 7:59 P.M.. WE ADJOURNED AT 7:59 P.M..

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

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Apr 06, 2026 City Council Meeting

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