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Page 1 of 1 <br /> <br />DATE: August 21, 2017 <br /> <br />TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers <br /> William S. Joynes, Sr., City Administrator <br /> <br />FROM: Sue Polka, Public Works Director/City Engineer <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Civil Defense Sirens <br /> <br /> <br />The outdoor warning sirens in Arden Hills are activated using a system that is now over 30 years <br />old. The equipment used to send the activation signal (the encoder) is located in the Emergency <br />Communications Center (ECC) and is owned by Ramsey County. The equipment at each of the <br />four siren sites in Arden Hills that is used to receive the activation signal is owned by the City. <br />The encoder in the ECC could fail at any time and the only reliable source for parts is a backup <br />controller. To minimalize the risk of failure, Ramsey County has established a target date of <br />April 1, 2018 to decommission the old system. <br /> <br />In order for the City to upgrade to new equipment that will communicate with the County <br />system, funding was identified in the CIP for replacement of just the radio system (Attachment <br />A) in the amount of $28,000. As shown on Attachment B – Existing Siren Locations, the current <br />sirens do not cover the entire City. Ramsey County hired Federal Signal to prepare a sound <br />propagation model, which shows that by upgrading the system, City coverage could be attained <br />by installing two upgraded signals (Attachment C) located at 4250 Old Highway 10 and Arden <br />Place/Snelling Place. Not only would this improve coverage, but the City could upgrade the <br />existing AC only system with no battery backup to an AC/DC system that would provide battery <br />backup in the event of a power outage. <br /> <br />Federal Signal Corporation has provided a quote in the amount of $41,830.00 to supply the <br />equipment for the two upgraded siren systems. Staff estimates the cost of installation and <br />removal of the old poles at $8,000 to $10,000. <br /> <br />Attachments: <br /> <br />A. CIP Info <br />B. Existing Siren System <br />C. Proposed Siren Locations <br />D. Quote <br />AGENDA ITEM –1A <br /> MEMORANDUM <br />