HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-02-09-Meeting Mintues
Public Safety Committee Meeting Commission Chamber - 2/9/2015
ATTENDANCE:
Present: Hons. Lockett, Chairman; Harris, Vice Chairman; Sias and
Smith, members.
Absent: Hon. Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor.
PUBLIC SAFETY
1. Approve a budget amendment to the 2015 budget that will allow the Fire
Department to utilize the $5000 donation from Georgia Pacific for the purchase
of firefighting nozzles.
Item
Action:
Approved
Motions
Motion
Type Motion Text Made By Seconded By Motion
Result
Approve
Motion to
approve.
Motion Passes
4-0.
Commissioner
Sammie Sias
Commissioner
Louis Harris Passes
2. Motion to approve the minutes of the Public Safety Committee held on January
26, 2015.
Item
Action:
Approved
Motions
Motion
Type Motion Text Made By Seconded By Motion
Result
Approve
Motion to
approve.
Motion Passes
4-0.
Commissioner
Sammie Sias
Commissioner
Louis Harris Passes
3. Approve procurement for integration of certain security systems to the team of
True North Consulting, Simplex Grinnell and Commins Cabling.
Item
Action:
Approved
www.augustaga.gov
Motions
Motion
Type Motion Text Made By Seconded By Motion
Result
Approve
Motion to approve.
Mr. Smith votes No.
Motion Passes 3-1.
Commissioner
Louis Harris
Commissioner
Sammie Sias Passes
4. Determine the will of the Commission in regard to a Speaker Notification and
Queueing System for the Augusta Commission.
Item
Action:
Disapproved
Motions
Motion
Type Motion Text Made By Seconded By Motion
Result
Deny
Motion to deny.
Mr. Lockett votes
No.
Motion Passes 3-1.
Commissioner
Sammie Sias
Commissioner
Louis Harris Passes
Public Safety Committee Meeting
2/9/2015 1:20 PM
Attendance 2/9/15
Department:
Caption:
Background:
Analysis:
Financial Impact:
Alternatives:
Recommendation:
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Public Safety Committee Meeting
2/9/2015 1:20 PM
Georgia Paciffic Bucket Brigade Donation
Department:Fire
Caption:Approve a budget amendment to the 2015 budget that will allow the
Fire Department to utilize the $5000 donation from Georgia Pacific
for the purchase of firefighting nozzles.
Background:The Augusta Fire Department was given a $5000 donation from
Georgia Pacific as part of their Bucket Brigade Program. The Fire
Department would like to add these funds to the 2015 operating
budget for safety supplies to purchase 10 nozzles. These nozzles will
be placed on new apparatus being delivered in 2015 and then be used
at emergency incidents.
Analysis:
Financial Impact:The $5000 will be added to the operational line item for safety
supplies in the current 2015 Fire Department Budget.
Alternatives:
Recommendation:Approve a budget amendment to the 2015 budget that will allow the
Fire Department to utilize the $5000 donation from Georgia Pacific
for the purchase of firefighting nozzles.
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
Will increase the current 2015 operational line item for safety
supplies in the Fire Department Budget as well as the revenue line
item for donations
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Finance.
Law.
Administrator.
Clerk of Commission
Public Safety Committee Meeting
2/9/2015 1:20 PM
Minutes
Department:Clerk of Commission
Caption:Motion to approve the minutes of the Public Safety Committee
held on January 26, 2015.
Background:
Analysis:
Financial Impact:
Alternatives:
Recommendation:
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Public Safety Committee Meeting
2/9/2015 1:20 PM
Security Integration
Department:Marshal's Office
Caption:Approve procurement for integration of certain security systems to
the team of True North Consulting, Simplex Grinnell and Commins
Cabling.
Background:The Richmond County Marshal's Office Central Monitoring System
Contract with Simplex Grinnell was approved by the Commission on
June 3, 2014 13-222 under the consultation of True North Consulting
12-198.
Analysis:
Financial Impact:NO NEW FUNDS REQUESTED. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN
GL 328051120-212055101 IN THE AMOUNT OF $345,230
Alternatives:NO ALTERNATIVES ARE RECOMMENDED
Recommendation:THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE RECOMMENDS CONTRACTING
WITH TRUE NORTH, SIMPLEX GRINNELL AND COMMINS.
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
GL 328051120-212055101
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Procurement.
Information Technology.
Finance.
Law.
Administrator.
Clerk of Commission
Public Safety Committee Meeting
2/9/2015 1:20 PM
Speaker Notification and Queueing System
Department:Information Technology
Caption:Determine the will of the Commission in regard to a Speaker
Notification and Queueing System for the Augusta Commission.
Background:Technology is available that permits members of a voting body to
electronically indicate their desire to speak on a matter that comes
before the body. This technology also provides the chairperson
and individual members with audio tools intended to help the
orderly flow of a meeting among the various speakers. This
technology is the system that Columbus, GA uses in their council
meetings in order to recognize the speakers from the chairperson's
station. When Augusta was exploring the potential for a
government channel in 2013, a staff member travelled to
Columbus, Georgia to see their government channel. One of the
items that they use in their operation is a “floor request system”.
The government channel was not approved by commission, so IT
did not pursue it further. In the late summer of 2014, IT provided
a familiarization demonstration of the commission chamber
technology to the new commissioners-elect as well as the mayor-
elect in order to familiarize them with the technology in use in the
commission chamber. In the course of the meeting, Mayor-elect
(now Mayor Davis) asked about IT’s familiarity with a speaker
queue system. IT had already investigated the existence of such
systems some time ago, so there was knowledge of some of the
capabilities, but no idea of technical details or price.
Analysis:It is the intent of IT, through this agenda item, to determine if it is
the will of the Augusta Commission to pursue a system such as
the one described in the Background Section above. The rationale
for a system such as the one described here is primarily to
automate the speaker recognition process. In essence, when an
agenda items comes up for discussion, each member has the
capability to electronically signal the chairperson with their desire
to speak. The chair would be able to see who has signaled and in
what order they did so, and the chair could then recognize them in
the appropriate order. The chair would also have the option to
manage microphones as part of the recognition of speakers. This
level of management also includes the personnel at the center
table of the chamber and the lecterns on either side. These systems
can also permit members to mute their own microphones so that
side conversations are not broadcast to the entire chamber. IT was
informed by the Finance Department that any projects that were to
be charged to the renovation of the Municipal Building must be
completed by March 2014 (when the renovation project was to be
complete). Acting on that information, IT determined that we
would go ahead and proceed with releasing an RFP because time
was very short to release an RFP, review proposals, choose a
vendor, negotiate contracts, and finally implement under a tight
deadline. If it was the will of the commission to proceed with the
project, IT’s intent was to be ready to move forward immediately
in order to be able to secure a vendor and funding in a timely
manner. If the commission determined otherwise, then the RFP
would be cancelled. As of January 22, 2015, proposals were
received in Procurement but no action has been taken pending the
determination of the will of the commission.
Financial Impact:The cost of a system such as this would most likely be in the range
of $10,000-$20,000.
Alternatives:Maintain the status quo: Perform speaker queueing manually as it
is done now.
Recommendation:Determine the will of the Commission in regard to a Speaker
Notification and Queueing System for the Augusta Commission
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
To be determined if the Commission chooses to move forward
with a project.
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Finance.
Law.
Administrator.
Clerk of Commission