TITLE
Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and all necessary documents including any subsequent amendments, with Los Angeles SMSA Limited Partnership, a California limited partnership, dba Verizon Wireless, to provide enhanced cellular services in the Public Safety Parking Garage, at no cost to the City. (District 1)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to enter into an agreement with Los Angeles SMSA Limited Partnership, a California limited partnership, dba Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless), to provide enhanced cellular services to the Public Safety Parking Garage located adjacent to the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) Headquarters and Fire Station 1 facilities.
On October 23, 2018, the City Council approved the execution of agreements with Verizon Wireless; T-Mobile LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; Sprint/United Management Company, a Kansas corporation; and Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (formerly known as AT&T Wireless PCS LLC) to provide enhanced cellular services in the new City Hall and Port of Long Beach Administration buildings at no cost to the City of Long Beach (City).
Modern construction materials interfere with or degrade wireless connectivity with external cellular antennas resulting in poor cellular reception inside buildings and structures such as the new Civic Center. The new Civic Center has been designed with a Cellular Distributed Antenna System (DAS) to extend cellular signals throughout the multi-story City Hall and Port of Long Beach Administration buildings.
In January 2021, the City completed construction of the Public Safety Parking Garage and it became available to the Long Beach Police and Fire departments for use. The same cellular signal degradation that impacted the City Hall and Port of Long Beach Administration buildings has been observed in the new Public Safety Parking Garage. As discussed below, Verizon Wireless is the primary provider of cellular services, data modems, and mobile data computer systems for LBPD. An additional agreement is needed with Verizon Wireless to extend the current Verizon DAS equipment into the Public Safety Parking Garage. This will resolve cellular communication issues experienced in the Public Safety Parking Garage impacting use of public safety mobile computers and other vehicle-based communication technologies.
On March 23, 2021, the City Council approved a contract with Cellco Partnership, dba Verizon Wireless, to provide cellular broadband services and modems. Currently, the City has more than 600 cellular data modems deployed for use by public safety departments. The LBPD and Fire departments’ vehicles have mobile data computer systems that enable public safety staff to conduct computer-based work in the field, including writing reports, researching computerized records, retrieving investigative database information and photographs, and accessing other City-related applications from the field. Extending the current Verizon DAS will support the deployed public safety data modems and mobile data computer systems when the public safety vehicles are in operation in the Public Safety Parking Garage.
City Charter Section 1801 requires that contracts for City purchases be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder after a competitive bid process, but allows for awards without a competitive bid process when authorized by a Resolution adopted by the City Council. Verizon Wireless is the primary provider of cellular services, data modems, and mobile data computer systems for LBPD and therefore not compatible with any other service carrier.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Erin Weesner-McKinley on December 13, 2021 and by Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on December 8, 2021.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on January 4, 2022 to ensure contracts are in place expeditiously allowing Verizon Wireless to the Public Safety Parking Garage in a timely manner.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this recommendation. Verizon Wireless will provide the equipment to connect to the DAS at no cost to the City. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
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Respectfully Submitted,
LEA D. ERIKSEN
DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER