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Page 1 of 2 <br /> <br />DATE: January 22, 2018 <br /> <br />TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers <br /> David Perrault, City Administrator <br /> <br />FROM: Sue Polka, Public Works Director/City Engineer <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Civil Defense Sirens <br /> Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Sources: <br />$28,000 $46,430.00 Equipment Replacement Fund <br /> <br />Council Should Consider <br />Authorize the purchase of two (2) new Civil Defense siren systems, including poles, from <br />Federal Signal Corporation in the amount of $41,830.00. Authorize a proposal from West Shore <br />Services, Inc. in the amount of $4,600.00 to remove equipment from the two existing siren <br />locations that will no longer be in use. <br /> <br />Background <br />This information was presented to the City Council at the work session held on August 21, 2017. <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 30, 2018 to decommission the old system. <br /> <br />Discussion <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 />CONSENT ITEM – 5C <br /> MEMORANDUM <br />