HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 04 Mobile Emergency Resonder Radio Coverage AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 5/6/2019
Meeting Type: Regular Meeting
Staff Contact/Dept.: Amy Linder/FLS
Staff Phone No: 541-682-8428
Estimated Time: Consent Calendar
S P R I N G F I E L D
C I T Y C O U N C I L
Council Goals: Provide Financially
Responsible and
Innovative Government
Services
ITEM TITLE: MOBILE EMERGENCY RESPONDER RADIO COVERAGE PROGRAM
ACTION
REQUESTED:
Adopt the following Resolution: A RESOLUTION OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY
COUNCIL ESTABLISHING A MOBILE EMERGENCY RESPONDER RADIO
COVERAGE SYSTEM AND AMENDING THE MASTER FEES AND
CHARGES SCHEDULE.
ISSUE
STATEMENT:
Creation of a Mobile Emergency Responder Radio Coverage (MERRC) program as an
alternative to the Springfield Fire Code requirement to install emergency communications
equipment inside certain new buildings.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution
DISCUSSION/
FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
Oregon Fire Code, subsequently adopted as the Springfield Fire Code (SFC) section 510.1 identifies specific buildings and locations which “shall have approved radio coverage for emergency responders within the building based upon the existing coverage levels of the public safety communications systems of the jurisdiction at the exterior of the building”. This means that new buildings constructed that meet one of five criteria within SFC section 510.1.1 needs to provide a means for emergency responders to be able to communicate with portable radios inside a building just as if they were standing outside the building. New building construction technology and energy efficient materials negatively impact the ability of our emergency responders to communicate while inside these buildings. In these cases, the fire code requires the building owner to install an in-building distributed antennae system (DAS). These systems have to meet both local and FCC requirements. These systems are complicated to install and maintain, adding more costs to the building owner. If a system is not properly maintained, it could cause interference disrupting the overall radio communication system impacting all radio system users. Approval of a MERRC program in conjunction with establishing a funding mechanism for radio coverage improvements in compliance with the intent of the SFC, will enhance health, life and fire safety requirements within buildings and throughout the City, and provide a more efficient and cost-effective process for compliance with the SFC. It is not the intent to limit a party’s ability to maintain or install an approved in-building repeater. This proposal is not a new requirement, but merely allows another option for building owners to meet established fire code requirements.
CITY OF SPRINGFIELD, OREGON
RESOLUTION NO. ___________
A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD ESTABLISHING
A MOBILE EMERGENCY RESPONDER RADIO COVERAGE SYSTEM PROGRAM AND
AMENDING THE MASTER FEES AND CHARGES SCHEDULE
WHEREAS, the City of Springfield has adopted the Oregon Fire Code (OFC) pursuant to Ordinance No.
6334, adopted February 17, 2015;
WHEREAS, under the Amended and Restated Fire Services Functional Consolidation
Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Eugene and the City of Springfield, the Eugene
Springfield Fire Marshal has the authority to administer and enforce the OFC within the City of
Springfield;
WHEREAS, OFC 104.8 gives the Fire Marshal the authority to grant modifications to requirements
under the Fire Code, OFC 104.9 authorizes the approval of alternative materials and methods, OFC
510.1 provides for emergency responder radio coverage for new buildings;
WHEREAS, the Fire Marshal has found that installation of in-building coverage is not practical in all
circumstances in light of technical advances to provide coverage using mobile emergency responder
radio coverage (MERRC) systems;
WHEREAS, the Fire Marshal has determined that, pursuant to OFC 510.1, OFC 104.8, OFC 104.9, and
OFC 510.4.2.1, an MERRC system on an emergency responder apparatus is an approved means of
providing radio coverage for emergency responders within buildings specified in OFC 510.1.1; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that it is in the public interest to establish a program under which
developers of new buildings, upon approval by the Fire Marshal, may pay a fee to fund a MERRC
system for Springfield emergency responders who may respond to an event at that building, as an
alternative to installing an in-building emergency radio systems under OFC 510.1,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD:
Section 1: A Mobile Emergency Responder Radio Coverage (MERRC) Program is established
as an alternative to installing an in-building emergency communication system under Oregon Fire Code
510.1. Building permit applicants may, at the time the building permit is issued and upon approval by
the Eugene Springfield Fire Marshal, pay a fee (the “MERRC Fee”) that shall be used to pay or
reimburse the cost of acquisition, installation, operation, maintenance, or replacement of equipment on
Eugene Springfield Fire emergency responder apparatus that enables, as determined by the Eugene
Springfield Fire Marshal, emergency responder radio communication within that building and other
buildings in the response area. The MERRC Program shall be administered by the Eugene Springfield
Fire Marshal.
Section 2: The Master Fees and Charges Schedule shall be amended to adopt the MERRC
fee as follows:
0 to 50,000 sq. ft.: $0.50 per sq. ft.
Attachment 1, Page 1 of 2
Additional sq. ft. from 50,001 to 100,000: $0.30 per sq. ft.
Additional sq. ft. exceeding 100,000: $0.10 per sq. ft.
Section 3: This Resolution will take effect upon adoption by the Council and approval by the
Mayor.
ADOPTED by the Common Council of the City of Springfield this ___ day of ________________,
2019, by a vote of _____ for and ____ against.
_______________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
City Recorder
Attachment 1, Page 2 of 2