On February 6, 1996, the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the original Joint Agreement (Agreement) for the Implementation and Operation of the OC 800 MHz Countywide Coordinated Communications System (CCCS).  The Sheriff-Coroner Department (Sheriff) operates and maintains the 800 MHz CCCS, which provides centralized, interoperable voice radio communications for the County and its 34 cities, including all public safety and public service agencies, as well as a number of private, state and federal agencies that provide support to the above agencies and/or have relevant communications requirements.  The 800 MHz CCCS is funded by the CCCS partnership in accordance with the financial requirements outlined in the Agreement.  The original agreement addressed city and County partnership responsibilities and financial obligations for the implementation of the 800 MHz CCCS in Orange County. It was executed by the then 31 cities and the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA). The agreement was amended by the Board on June 24, 2003, to include the capital improvement cost-sharing agreement negotiated by the County with the 34 cities and OCFA and replaced the original Joint Agreement.

On November 23, 2004, the current Joint Agreement for the Operation, Maintenance and Financial Management of the CCCS was entered into by the County, its 34 cities and other partnership agencies, replacing the original 1996 Agreement and subsequent 2003 amendment with the intent to define the post-implementation operational, technical and financial requirements and guidelines for the CCCS going forward. On March 10, 2015, the Garden Grove City Council approved entering into an amended agreement, and on June 2, 2015, the Board approved the current version of the Joint Agreement.

The 800 MHz Governance Committee (Governance Committee) oversees the operation of the CCCS. The Governance Committee is currently comprised of four City Managers and three County representatives. The attached 2021 re-write of the Joint Agreement establishes the technical, operational, and financial requirements for all agencies participating in the CCCS. This includes establishing financial parameters for the year to year cost and for the costs of necessary system upgrades in the future. This also includes establishing Bylaws for the Governance Committee. The re-written Agreement was presented to the Governance Committee at the April 28, 2021, Governance Committee Meeting. The Governance Committee approved the re-write and recommended submitting to the Board of Supervisors for approval.

The re-written Agreement was presented to the City Managers of the Partner Agencies to seek input and revisions. All revisions received were incorporated into the document. The Partner Agencies, which include 34 Orange County cities, OCFA, Orange County Transportation Authority, Orange County Lifeguards, Irvine Valley College Police Department, Santa Ana Unified School District Police Department and Saddleback College Police Department have confirmed their continued participation in the CCCS. The Board of Supervisors approved the re-written Agreement on June 22, 2021. The re-written Agreement is now being forwarded to all Partner Agencies’ Governing Authorities for approval and adoption.

Expenditures associated with 800 MHz are 100 percent funded by the 800 MHz CCCS Partnership consisting of the County, 34 cities, OCFA, Orange County Transportation Authority, Orange County Lifeguards, Irvine Valley College Police Department, Santa Ana Unified School District Police Department, Saddleback College Police Department, Metro Net and West-Comm whose funding sources may include the state, Federal Government, fees, General Fund and other funding sources.  The City of Garden Grove’s share of costs for the current Fiscal Year is $142,077 and is available in the adopted FY 2021-22 general fund budget. For FY 2022-23, the estimated cost will increase by $22,208 to $164,285. The increase will need to be appropriated for FY 2022-23.

It is recommended that the City Council:

• Approve the 2021 Joint Agreement for 800MHz Emergency Communications System; and

• Authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement and approve any minor modifications should they be deemed necessary.