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Home My WebLink AboutPurchase Low Power Radio Equipment CITY COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED !/ DENIED RECEIVED O9'_1ZR MEETIN DATE /J' City of Palm Desert AYES: . INTEROFFICE MEMO NOES: -,,uo-vt_k_ ABSENT: ---- ABSTAIN: y ,.`, VERIFIED BY: , `— — OriginaL_on :_File wi h Ci 's : : �. 2 TO: CITY COUNCIL AND ACTING CITY MANAGER FROM: PUBLIC SAFETY MANAGER SUBJECT: LOW POWER RADIO STATION DATE: September 14, 1995 Recommendation: 1. By minute motion appropiate from the unobligated General Fund Reserves $11,265.20 for a low power radio station form account# 110-4260-422-4045 2. Approve the purchase of the low power equipment from Information Station Specialists a sole source provider. 3. Approve Staff to obtain a local vendor to install the radio equipment(included in the total cost). Discussion In a previous City Council meeting, staff was asked to investigate the following issues regarding the low power radio system: 1. Maintenance of the station: A. Equipment maintenance B. Broadcast station maintenance C. Format of low power radio station broadcast messages 2. Define the area coverage which provides the best possible use. 3. Determine the appropriate site for the system. 4. Define the FCC uses permitted. 5. Meet with the Chamber of Commerce representative, the Promotion Committee, and the news bureau to determine the type of pre recorded messages for the radio station. STATION MAINTENANCE Equipment: The Public Safety Department will maintain the operation of the equipment for the low power radio station. 1 City Council and Acting City Manager Broadcast System The effectiveness of the low power radio(LPR)station is directly tied to the quality, format and information provided in the broadcast message. The message format should use several different voices, be informative, and keep the listener's attention by having different morning and afternoon messages. Using selected individuals the City,the news bureau and the Chamber of Commerce would take part in the prerecording of the LPR station broadcast messages. The equipment allows us to digitally prerecord an unlimited number of messages within our total recording time. Our options of recording times range from 5.3 minutes($650.00), 7.1 minutes($875.00)or 8.9 minutes ($1,100.00). The equipment also provides for a messaging sequence format. This sequencing allows us to select any combination of messages from our total record time to be aired and repeated over the LPR station. This sequencing flexibility and an internal time clock, would allow us to have a prerecorded message for an AM and PM broadcast. Changing pre recorded broadcast segments can be accomplished through a remote telephone line connected to the transmitter. These combined features of message sequencing and telephone remote recording will allow us to maintain the radio station efficiently. Radio Station Area_Co_verage: In a telephone conversation with the vendor,we discussed the range of the 10-watt station. They indicated several factors influence the range of the system. The primary limiting factor is terrain. Depending on the number of tall buildings, mountains and coves within the range of the system would limit our optimum area of coverage. Due to low building profiles and flat open terrain the coverage area of the system should provide us with a mininium 2.5 mile radius and possibly a larger extended coverage area. Because the system will not provide coverage for the entire city, I discussed with the Chamber and the news bureau, their philosophy of what should be our target audience for the LPR system. Should it be located near Interstate 10 to attract people driving by to stop and visit Palm Desert, or located in the center of town to provide information to people who have already selected Palm Desert as a destination? We all agreed to choose the Civic Center for the transmitter location for the following reasons: • At 65 mph on Interstate 10, listeners would have approximately five minutes to tune into the station. This would decrease the listening time significantly if not entirely. • The logistic and operational factors relating to an appropriate building with easy access and an available telephone line limited our selection near the freeway. • The Civic Center site offered the Highway 111 corridor between Bob Hope Drive and El Dorado Drive. • It includes a majority of our retail shopping areas, the Marriott Hotel to the north, and the new BLM Visitors Center. • Motorist entering the radio station coverage area on Country Club Drive, Cook St., Hwy. 111, Hwy. 74 etc.would be able to tune in and listen to our entire broadcast. • The Civic Center site would provide us with an opportunity to transmit information on special events in progress. 2 City Council and Acting City Manager FCC Regulations forthe LPR_STATION • The FCC license regulations do not permit any use of music/sound effects, or advertising in the broadcast format. • The LPR Station is required to be licensed by the FCC. • The FCC further regulates the scope of LPR station broadcast messages. Below the uses are categorized into broad headings and then into a subheading to indicate specific topics permitted in that category: Traffic Conditions • Road closures(within the LPR range). • Street repairs or time delays. Weather Conditions • Pending storm information and storm updates. • High wind advisories. • Safe driving tips during the emergency. Local Points of Interest • Special events. • Visitor and information center location. • Living Desert Reserve location and activities. • BLM Visitors Center. Tourism • Travel direction to shopping centers,hotels, Civic Center. • Availability of lodging. Public Safety • Safety tips for: Driving. Local emergencies and information. City programs. Logistics and Site Operation Considerations In order to select a desirable site for the LPR System, logistic requirements of accessibility to the roof of the building, commercial power supply, telephone line accessibility for remote access and the height restriction of the City Council and Acting City Manager LPR System antenna were considered. The most desirable site to meet all the transmitter requirements was at the Civic Center. The Civic Center provides us a close location to HWY. 111 and all the logistic requirements. The LPR antenna height is limited to a maximum of 49'-0" above grade. Depending on the radio station frequency permitted by the FCC, the 530 khz or 1600 khz station on the AM radio dial will determine our antenna height. The 530 khz is 15'-0" and the 1600 khz is 25'-0". Therefore, either frequency will comply with the height requirements at the Civic Center location. The Civic Center site would provide coverage to the south as far as Mesa View,to the north as far as County Club Drive,to the west as far as Bob Hope Drive, and to the east as far as El Dorado Drive. This coverage encompasses all the retail/ commercial businesses along HWY. 111, including the Marriott Desert Springs Hotel, and the Living Desert Reserve. Costs I have reviewed the options available and recommend the following: Station 2.5 mile(10 Watt) $4,539.00 Style Rooftop mounted 235.00 Control Remote and local 495.00 Record time 8.9 minutes(total record time) 1100.00 Options Live broadcast 100.00 Power meter (to show signal strength output) 195.00 FCC licenses 200.00 Sub total $6,864.00 Tax 514.80 10% contingency 686.40 Total $8,065.20 Installation $3,200.00 Grand Total $11,265.20 4 • City uncil and Acting City Manager /:(/(_ - KENN H WELLER RAMON DIAZ PUBLIC SAFETY MANAGER ACTING CITY MANAGER at-4- ‘L21,‘' -k---- PAUL GIBSON DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Ikw 5