ORDINANCE NO. 100294

Authorizing the City Manager to participate in the Metropolitan Area Regional Radio System as a Host Agency.

WHEREAS, the Cities of Kansas City, Missouri and Independence, Missouri, and Johnson County, Kansas, each operate a radio communications system for public safety and other services within their respective jurisdictions; and

WHEREAS, the Cities of Kansas City, Missouri and Independence, Missouri, and Johnson County, Kansas, wish to establish a radio system that would form the backbone of a regional radio network in which other public safety agencies and other municipal governments in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area could participate to further local government communications interoperability; and

WHEREAS, the radio communications systems of the Cities of Kansas City, Missouri and Independence, Missouri, and Johnson County, Kansas, desire to jointly comprise a Metropolitan Area Regional Radio System; and

WHEREAS, a Metropolitan Area Regional Radio System would comply with Project 25 and Inter Sub-System Interoperability standards allowing public safety radio users to seamlessly roam and have voice communications through each of their respective radio systems and jurisdictions; and

WHEREAS, the radio communications systems of the Cities of Kansas City, Missouri and Independence, Missouri, and Johnson County, Kansas, as “Host Agencies,” would comprise the backbone and primary interoperability infrastructure for the Metropolitan Area Regional Radio System; and

WHEREAS, the Mid-America Regional Council Board of Directors and the Public Safety Communications Board have approved the formation of the Metropolitan Area Regional Radio System and the establishment of a governing board to be known as the “Management Council;” and

WHEREAS, the Management Council would provide policy guidance and oversight for the Metropolitan Area Regional Radio System to ensure that a high quality, reliable system is available to the Kansas City Metropolitan Area which meets the needs of emergency response agencies and which is financed equitably; and

WHEREAS, the Mid-America Regional Council has agreed to provide administrative and coordination services associated with the Management Council and coordinate its efforts with the Public Safety Communications Board and the Regional Homeland Security Coordinating Committee; and

WHEREAS, the Cities of Kansas City, Missouri and Independence, Missouri, and Johnson County, Kansas, have determined that their cooperative effort in the Metropolitan Area Regional Radio System will be a benefit to the public’s health, safety, and welfare within their respective jurisdictions; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

Section 1. That the City Manager is hereby authorized to participate in the Metropolitan Area Regional Radio System both as a Host Agency and in its governance. Such participation may include the execution of agreements with the City of Independence, Missouri, Johnson County, Kansas, and the Mid-America Regional Council to establish the Metropolitan Area Regional Radio System and to establish the policies and oversight of such system. The City Manager is further authorized to enter into agreements with other municipalities in the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area allowing their use of the City’s radio communications system to further local government communications interoperability per the policies established for the Metropolitan Area Regional Radio System.

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Approved as to form and legality:

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Alan L. Holtkamp

Assistant City Attorney