HomeMy WebLinkAboutCM MERA AppointmentsAgenda Item No: 1
0✓fes Meeting Date: January 5, 2009
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: CITY MANAGER
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Prepared by: Ken Nordhof '
City Manager
City Manager Approval:
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SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN
RAFAEL APPOINTING A REPRESENTATIVE AND ALTERNATE(S) TO
THE MARIN EMERGENCY RADIO AUTHORITY BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution
BACKGROUND:
Recognizing the need for a new countywide public safety radio system, twenty-six Marin local
government agencies including the City of San Rafael and the County of Marin formed the
Marin Emergency Radio Authority (MERA). Organized back in 1999, the goal of MERA is to
establish a state-of-the-art public safety radio system for Marin County Fire, Police, and Public
Works agencies (including transit).
After an extensive due diligence bidding process, Motorola was contracted to build the new
countywide computer -controlled digital radio system. This new radio system is used by member
agencies in the law enforcement, fire management, emergency medical, road maintenance,
transit, public works, local government, and other county -based entities in Marin County. The
system unified public safety response and allowed regional conversations between dispatch
centers and mobile units operating throughout the county.
Periodically, the City is asked to review the Board representation to this Joint Powers Authority
(JPA). This report will asks you to make appointments based upon our current staffing.
ANALYSIS:
Formally, the City has not acted to appoint a primary MERA Board appointee, nor alternates,
since former City manager Rod Gould left San Rafael employment in late 2005. Due to the
technical nature of this JPA, and the focus of public safety collaborative communications, the
MERA Board has been, and remains, mostly appointed police and fire chiefs from many JPA
jurisdictions. A small number of Board members and their alternates include city managers or
district elected officials. Our representation since inception has been handled at the staff level.
The attached Resolution would allow the City Manager (me) to continue as the primary
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
File No.:
Council Meeting:
Disposition:
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Paee: 2
appointee (A side note — I was also just appointed Vice Chair of MERA for 2009). 1 am
recommending that Police Chief Odetto serve as my primary alternate to the Board, with Chief
Gray serving as a second alternate. These appointments allow San Rafael to bring both a
historical and technical perspective to the Board for the matters of finance, policy and other
actions required of this JPA.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None
OPTIONS:
The City Council may choose to:
1. Adopt the Resolution as presented.
2. Modify the Resolution for MERA appointments as you deem appropriate.
ACTION REQUIRED:
Adopt Resolution.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
WACity Managers- WorkFile\Council Material\Staff Reports\09\MERA Board appointments.doc
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL APPOINTING
A REPRESENTATIVE AND ALTERNATE(S) TO THE MARIN EMERGENCY RADIO
AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
WHEREAS, the Federal Government has made certain radio frequencies available to local agencies in
Marin County for the operation of a public safety and emergency radio system; and
WHEREAS, numerous local agencies within Marin County have entered into a Joint Powers
Agreement establishing the Marin Emergency Radio Authority, including the County, all cities and
towns, and numerous special districts; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Joint Powers Agreement, each member entity of the Radio Authority is
entitled to appoint one representative and up to two alternates to the Board of Directors of the
Authority.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the San Rafael City Council as follows:
Section 1 The following individual is hereby designated as the representative to the Marin Emergency
Radio Authority, and authorized to take all actions necessary to meet the duties and obligations of the
Joint Powers Agreement:
Ken Nordhoff, City Manager
Section 2 The following individual is hereby designated as the alternate representative to the Marin
Emergency Radio Authority, and authorized to take all actions necessary to meet the duties and
obligations of the Joint Powers Agreement in the absence of the designated representative:
Matthew Odetto, Police Chief
Section 3 The following individual is hereby designated as the second alternate representative to the
Marin Emergency Radio Authority, and authorized to take all actions necessary to meet the duties and
obligations of the Joint Powers Agreement in the absence of the designated representative and the first
alternate:
Christopher Gray, Fire Chief
I, ESTHER C. BEIRNE, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution
was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of said City
held on Monday, the 5a' day of January, 2009 by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES:
COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT:
COUNCILMEMBERS:
ESTHER C. BEIRNE, City Clerk
W:\City Managers- WorkFile\Council Material\Resolutions\2008\MERA.doc