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Supervisors press for external review before investing in $270M of radio and data projects
Summary
Budget Committee members were briefed on four overlapping public-safety communications projects — 800 MHz replacement, BAYWEB regional data network, SFMTA transit communications and a public-service radio system — and many supervisors urged hiring an outside consultant and a permanent CIO before committing large general‑fund sums.
The Budget and Finance Committee combined two agenda items April 17 to review a package of communications projects for first responders and public-service agencies and to assess funding priorities across overlapping systems.
Chandy Khede of the Mayor’s Budget Office said public safety departments have submitted 22 projects totaling about $26 million in two fiscal years for the ICT plan and reminded the committee that the broader plan contemplates a $49.1 million COIT allocation over five years. Supervisors were principally concerned with four major efforts presented by Department of Emergency Management Director Anne Cronenberg and technical staff: an 800 MHz public‑safety radio replacement (voice/P25, estimated at about $69 million as a city estimate over five years), the regional BAYWEB LTE data network (a federally funded NTIA/BTOP grant of $50 million plus a $25 million match for a $75 million regional project, with an estimated $15 million local deployment), the SFMTA transit communications replacement (a specialized transit system largely grant‑funded), and an older public‑service radio network used by DPW, PUC and other non‑public‑safety users (estimated replacement radios $5–6 million, infrastructure TBD).
Director Cronenberg emphasized that the 800 MHz system — a voice push‑to‑talk system carrying roughly 104,000 daily push‑to‑talk events across first responder users — has reached the end of its lifecycle; vendors no longer support replacement parts and interoperability outside San Francisco is limited. She said the department is requesting $930,000 in each of the next two fiscal years to scope the project, fund interim staff and hire a consultant to evaluate options, including potential integration with SFMTA or BAYWEB deployments.
Supervisor Chiu pressed for clarity on whether the SFMTA system (a Project 25 and 700/800 MHz mix) or BAYWEB could be expanded to serve public‑safety needs and reduce duplication. Bayweb and DEM representatives said BAYWEB is a regional LTE data network funded largely by federal grant and Motorola's match, and that SFMTA’s system is focused on transit coverage and was not necessarily sized to handle the ~100,000 daily push‑to‑talk events of public safety without substantial augmentation.
Barry Frazier, acting general manager for the regional JPA, said some Bay Area jurisdictions originally declined to contribute infrastructure because of high local site lease costs, but that FirstNet’s creation at the federal level has revived the regional effort and could change cost structures. DEM and the Mayor’s Budget Office argued for an external, technical consultant to scope interoperability options and long‑term operating costs before the Board commits significant general‑fund dollars; multiple supervisors agreed.
There were no public speakers and the committee continued the combined items to the call of the chair.
