ORANGE : City to Join Public Safety Radio System
The city has agreed to contribute $2.7 million toward a new countywide communications system to be used by police, fire and public works officials.
All 31 cities in the county are being asked to ratify a joint powers agreement to fund the $82-million system.
The breakdown for municipal contributions is based on the number of radios required and projected population by the year 2000, Orange Fire Chief David L. Rudat said.
The new 800-megahertz system will have 81 channels and allow 100 city and county law, fire and public works officials to communicate, according to the City Managers Assn.
“The Police Department has been working with an archaic radio system for many, many years,” said Rudat, who presented the issue to the City Council last week.
The city will be expected to make a payment of $408,000 for the 1995-96 fiscal year and then finance the balance over 10 years.
Finance officials suggested covering the cost of the project with funds from Proposition 172, the half-cent sales tax approved by voters in 1993 to provide funds for public safety agencies. Some city funds will also be allocated during upcoming budget hearings, Rudat said.
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