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Pella staff recommends networked radio upgrade; council to review budget options Nov. 19 after hearing regional dispatch proposal
Summary
City staff and police recommended switching to a networked radio system (Raycom) and upgrading consoles (Symphony) for broader coverage and redundancy; estimated capital ranges from $350,000 (midlevel) to about $542,000 (full network/console option). Staff also outlined a proposal to provide dispatch services for Oskaloosa that would require additional staffing and cost‑recovery arrangements; council asked to revisit during the Nov. 19 budget/finance session.
City staff and the police chief recommended that Pella move from its current analog radio system to a networked digital solution to improve coverage, redundancy and interoperability, and asked council to consider budget options at an upcoming finance session.
A consultant and staff recommended a Raycom (SARAH) network approach because its tower footprint better overlapped the city and nearby counties than the statewide ISICS option, staff said. Initial tower/build estimates had been as high as $1.2 million; by leveraging existing infrastructure the staff reported the capital estimate could fall to roughly $540,000. Council was presented two funding/implementation tiers: a $350,000 midlevel upgrade (with limitations) and a $542,000 full upgrade to Symphony consoles that staff said would provide better redundancy and more channels for police, fire and ambulance.
The police chief described practical coverage gaps in portable radio performance inside buildings versus mobile unit radios, argued for tower additions or site adaptation (including using a city water tower), and said joining a network offers backup redundancy during large incidents. Staff also explained ongoing costs: network licensing and maintenance and a tower lease; the meeting record cited a recurring network fee example increasing from $12,000 to a potential $97,000 per year when fully scaled to network maintenance and console licensing.
Staff additionally described a proposal to provide dispatch services for the neighboring City of Oskaloosa. If pursued, staff estimated needing almost four additional FTEs (~$266,000 annually) and proposed a cost‑recovery model over a five‑year initial term. Staff recommended the council discuss funding and the tradeoffs at the Nov. 19 general fund/budget workshop before committing to the full $542,000 option.
Council reaction: Members expressed public safety and regionalization interest but sought more financial clarity. Several councilors favored prioritizing public safety but asked staff to return with detailed FY26 budget impacts before formally approving the larger upgrade or a service agreement with Oskaloosa.
Next steps: staff to present updated budget projections and a finalized cost model at the Nov. 19 finance/budget session; council may then direct whether to proceed and at which funding level.
