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City Council Study Session Meeting Minutes • Apri 110, 2001 Page 3 1 Mayor Cavanaugh asked about the $986,000 figure. Police Captain Ohl explained that they 2 brought in 40% which lowered the operating budget. 3 4 City Manager Mornson noted the City also gets aid from the State of Minnesota to pay for police 5 activities. 6 Councilmember Thuesen asked if there are advantages to the 800 megahertz system. Police 7 Captain Ohl stated there are benefits but there are also problems. He reviewed the cities that are 8 and are not going with that system since it requires changing dispatch systems, and not being 9 able to communicate with outlying counties that have not gone with an 800 megahertz system. 10 However, most of the nation is going to that type of system and officers can communicate via a 11 hand walkie talkie with no dead spots, static, or doubt about who is transmitting the signals. 12 With the current system, sometimes communication is compromised due to dead spots, low 13 batteries, etc. 14 Councilmember Thuesen asked if this is visionary on behalf of the County and if problems 15 discussed can be resolved. Police Captain Ohl stated it is somewhat visionary, however, a 16 concern is the costs to have both this and a VHS system in the patrol cars to allow communication with outlying counties. 18 Mayor Cavanaugh stated there is to be seamless radio transmission and he see no reason why St. 19 Anthony should progress with this if other communities are not compatible. He questioned 20 having duplicate radio systems. 21 Police Captain Ohl explained that all of Hennepin County is going with 800 megahertz and once 22 Hennepin County does so, there will be State-wide seamless communications. Mayor 23 Cavanaugh asked why St. Anthony should carry the cost to have duplicate radio systems and 24 noted that St. Anthony is a small community and does not have finances for a luxury like this. 25 Police Captain Ohl stated that a small community like St. Anthony does not have the luxury of 26 being separated from communication with Hennepin County. 27 Mayor Cavanaugh stated he believes the Legislature should require seven county wide seamless 28 communications. He noted that the Bear Cat scanner cannot pick up 800 megahertz. 29 Police Captain Ohl stated these concerns have been expressed by many other communities. 30 Councilmember Horst stated there was a discussion of the police budget and there being no 31 reserve in the case of a catastrophic crime. Police Captain Ohl stated he also has that concern 32 and believes they would have a great deal of difficulty in handling a catastrophic crime. He noted they would hope to get services and help from the counties and other police departments, but the cost associated in working with a catastrophic crime are quite large. Should that happen, they 35 would have to come back to the Council to obtain additional funds.