(10)AR 082107 Homeland Security Grant

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CITY OF COLTON ITEM #10 AGENDA REPORT FOR COUNCIL MEETING OF August 21, 2007 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: ROBERT MILLER, CHIEF OF POLICE SUBJECT: APPROVE ACCEPTANCE OF HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT AS ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE OPERATIONAL AREA IN THE AMOUNT OF $53,875.00 FOR THE PURCHASE OF A LONG RANGE ACOUSTICAL DEVICE FROM AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION AND ADOPT BUDGET AMENDMENT. DATE: AUGUST 9, 2007 �T�:Cr7�Z�1�LL� The San Bernardino County Fire Operational Area is the administrating agency for a regional 2005 Homeland Security Grant. A portion of that grant has been appropriated for regional law enforcement public safety equipment. As such, the Inland Empire Chiefs of Police cooperatively proposed to purchase a Long Range Acoustical Device and the grant request has been approved. Colton Police Department is the law enforcement agency coordinating the purchase equipment on behalf of the San Bernardino County police agencies. DISCUSSION / ANALYSIS: The Long Range Acoustical Device (LRAD) is an extremely powerful hailing and warning communication device that is a crucial piece of equipment for law enforcement in the event of any large scale public disorder. The device will provide the ability to make highly directional hailing and notifications, as well as the ability to communicate at safe standoff distances. There have been several such events in various cities located in San Bernardino County where the LRAD would have assisted law enforcement officials in restoring order in a more efficient manner. The 2005 Homeland Security Grant awarded to the San Bernardino County Fire Operational Area was found to have excess funding available for redistribution. The area police agencies have a need for the Long Range Acoustical Device however the cost for an individual department was prohibitive. This device is portable and therefore, is ideal to be housed in a central location; currently scheduled to be maintained at the San Bernardino Sheriffs Central Station. The LRAD 1000 is a unique acoustical device designed and manufactured by American Technology Corporation specifically for law enforcement's search and rescue, civil disobedience, and SWAT operations. Section 3.08.140 (E) of the Colton Municipal Code authorizes the City Council to approve the acquisition of the LRAD without competitive bidding when it and the City Manager determine that it is in the best interests of the City and its administrative operations to dispense with competitive bidding. The City Manager believes that it is in the best interest of the City of Colton and the San Bernardino County law enforcement agencies, since the LRAD is specified in the Homeland Security Grant.