Item 4G Presentation
Approve the Purchase of Two Mobile Outdoor Warning Sirens
Item 4G
Madam Mayor and members of the City Council: The purpose of this item is to approve the purchase of two Mobile Outdoor Warning Sirens.
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City of Southlake Strategy Map
Critical Business Outcomes
CBO1 - Continue to implement Southlake 2030 Plan by focusing on short-term initiatives.
CBO2 - Become an employer of choice by developing a plan to recruit,
develop and retain employees committed to excellence.
CBO3 - Develop long-term strategies to address future financial uncertainties and challenges.
CBO4 - Improve mobility by proactively
completing traffic analysis of key areas.
CBO5 -Optimize resources through collaboration and partnerships to reduce costs and add service value.
The City of Southlake provides municipal services that support the highest quality of life for our residents, businesses, and visitors. We do this by being an exemplary model of balancing
efficiency, fiscal responsibility, transparency, and sustainability.
Deliver on Our Focus Areas
Performance
Management &
Service Delivery
C1 Achieve the highest standards of safety & security
C2 Provide travel convenience within City & region
C3 Provide attractive & unique spaces for enjoyment of personal interests
C4 Attract & keep top-tier businesses to drive a dynamic & sustainable economic environment
C5 Promote opportunities for partnerships & volunteer involvement
Serve our Customers
Manage the Business
B1 Achieve best-in-class status in all City disciplines
B2 Collaborate with select partners to implement service solutions
B3 Enhance resident quality of life & business vitality through tourism
B4 Provide high quality services through sustainable business practices
B5 Enhance service delivery through continual process improvement
B6 Optimize use of technology
Provide Financial Stewardship
Promote Learning and Growth
F1 Adhere to financial management principles & budget
F2 Invest to provide & maintain high quality public assets
F3 Achieve fiscal wellness standards
F4 Establish & maintain effective internal controls
L1 Ensure our people understand the strategy & how they contribute to it
L2 Enhance leadership capabilities to deliver results
L3 Attract, develop & retain a skilled workforce
L4 Recognize & reward high performers
L5 Empower informed decision-making at all levels in the organization
C6 Enhance the sense of
community by providing excellent customer service and citizen engagement opportunities
L6 Foster positive employee engagement
The Mobile Outdoor Warning Sirens fall under the Safety & Security focus area and most heavily tie to
C1 – Achieve the highest standards of safety and security
on the City’s Strategy
Map
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Necessity for the Mobile Outdoor Warning Sirens
We host multiple special events throughout the year that draw thousands of visitors and residents to Southlake.
Severe weather can occur very quickly and without notice.
There is a
gap in warning capability at our special events.
The City of Southlake is at the Advanced Preparedness Level, which is the highest level of preparedness in the State of Texas. A key component to our readiness capability is the ability
to warn the public. The public is most vulnerable when they are outside and Southlake hosts multiple events each year including Art in the Square, Stars and Stripes, major sporting
events, Green Fest, and Country Music in the Square to name a few. The result is thousands of people being outside where they are most vulnerable.
Our in-ground outdoor warning sirens
are designed to be sounded when winds are above 70 mph, hail of 1.5" or greater, or for a tornado warning. But, an outdoor event with tents, trailers, and stages is vulnerable to much
less-severe weather with winds as low as 35 mph and any type of hail.
The Mobile Outdoor Warning Sirens bridge the gap between a severe weather event such as a tornado and a less severe
weather event that has the potential to cause damage and injuries at a large outdoor event.
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Mobile Outdoor Warning Sirens Overview
Overview
It is capable of remote activation through the current radio system and is voice capable
Is equipped with a NOAA weather radio, so it can be set to automatically sound warnings
Includes
LED lights that allows people with limited auditory capability to see the sirens activate
Has the ability to serve as a lightning detector
This sirens can be tuned to the volume level
needed for a particular event
Overall, the mobile outdoor warning sirens are a complimentary piece to our current warning system. Aside from meeting the technical needs we require to support our comprehensive warning
needs, a demo of the siren system was utilized at Stars and Stripes to see how the sirens would integrate into our current special event management structure and solicit feedback from
internal and external stakeholders. The demo was well received by the Police Department, which had command at the event, and it out performed our expectations with use and functionality.
Additionally, the mobile outdoor warning siren was well-received by the public when they inquired about the system.
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Mobile Outdoor Warning Siren Benefits
Benefits
Ability to provide warnings at special events
Integrates into our current warning system structure
Deployable to anywhere they are needed
Impacts if not Approved
Delays in
clearing special events
Continued vulnerability to weather at special events
The mobile outdoor warning sirens provide a level of safety and security that aligns with the best-in-class service we strive to provide in every action we take. These sirens will allow
us to provide advanced warnings to our attendees at the many special events we host throughout the year that make Southlake a premiere destination.
This past year, Art in the Square
was impacted by a severe weather event where Police had to use their vehicles’ public address systems in crowded streets to warn the thousands of visitors. This resulted in a delay in
clearing the event.
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Financial Impact
The mobile outdoor warning sirens will cost no more than $80,000 for both.
After the initial 2-year warranty period expires, the anticipated annual maintenance cost is estimated to be
$1,000.
A proposal from DFW Communications has been received for $80,000. This includes the complete and functional outdoor warning sirens with a 2-year warranty. After the initial warranty
period expires, we anticipate an annual cost of $1,000 to maintain the system with the bulk of that cost allocated to replacing the batteries in the system.
With Council approval,
the sirens are anticipated to be ready by November, in time for our next special event: Home for the Holidays.
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Thank you.Please contact Michael Starr with questions817.748.8168
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Staff recommends approval of the purchase of the mobile outdoor warning sirens.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Michael Starr, Fire Chief for the City of Southlake,
at 817-748-8168
Thank you for your consideration!