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Capitola council agrees to join countywide 'Ring' next‑generation radio system
Summary
The City of Capitola approved participation in a countywide master service and governance agreement for the ‘Ring’ next‑generation radio system, authorizing the city manager to execute the agreement and serve as the city’s voting member; staff said Capitola’s early capital share is modest but operational costs will rise over time.
Capitola’s City Council voted to participate in the regional “Ring” next‑generation radio system, authorizing the city manager to sign a master service and governance agreement with Santa Cruz County and partner agencies and naming the city manager as Capitola’s representative on the Ring executive committee.
Jim Frawley, introduced by the police chief as the lead consultant on the project, described the Ring system as two linked elements: a hardware upgrade (new radios, microwave backbone and dispatch consoles) and a governance structure to allocate costs and set operational standards. “The Ring radio system comprises... 1 is the upgrade, the actual technical hardware upgrade piece, and the other is the governance,” Frawley said, summarizing the program’s technical and administrative components.
Staff and consultants said the system replaces fragmented, decades‑old infrastructure, adds mandatory radio encryption for public‑safety traffic, and improves interagency coverage. The project will be delivered in phases: immediate microwave and console improvements; a countywide build across 17 sites; and a final acceptance and testing phase. Staff described a financing plan that capitalizes interest for the first three years so debt service and larger payments begin in 2030.
City staff presented budget estimates showing Capitola’s initial capital obligation as relatively small compared with the total program; consultants stated Capitola’s early‑period share was approximately $48,000, rising under the financing scenario to a larger annual cost after the debt service period began. Staff described a per‑device charge model for ongoing operational costs and said municipalities can control how many subscriber radios they attach to the system; the county will maintain a rental cache of radios for event surges so cities need not maintain large inventories.
Councilors asked how Ring would integrate with NETCOM, the Santa Cruz regional 9‑1‑1 dispatch JPA. Staff said dispatchers will use the new radio network but that the Ring governance contract is currently structured as a master service and governance agreement; conversion to a JPA to own assets was described as a potential future option.
Public commenters raised concerns about privacy, encryption and digital‑system resilience; one commenter cited a $29 million county allocation reported at a Board of Supervisors meeting. Staff acknowledged public concerns and said there are three years before the system is fully implemented to pursue grants and reduce local costs.
Councilors moved and seconded the staff recommendation to participate and authorize signature of the master service and governance agreement; the council approved the recommendation and proceeded to the next agenda item.
Next steps: Capitola staff will return with implementation details as the city moves into project management and financing agreements with the county and other partners.
