Subject:
Title
Interlocal Agreement between Pinellas County and the City of Clearwater for use of the Pinellas County Intergovernmental Public Safety 800 MHz Radio System.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Interlocal Agreement (ILA) between Pinellas County and the City of Clearwater to allow access to the Radio System.
• This agreement is between Pinellas County and the City of Clearwater.
• The City of Clearwater agrees to pay its proportionate share of operating costs for access to radio system for non-public safety operations.
• Costs will be based on airtime utilization determined by the County after having reviewed ninety (90) days of data and reevaluated at the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.
• Section 10. Term. This Agreement shall take effect from date of execution by both parties and continue in effect thereafter through September 30, 2030.
• The City of Clearwater will pay the County a not to exceed $50,000 annual access fee. This results in Clearwater sharing a percentage of the cost for the radio system infrastructure maintenance. Cost recovery to the County will be allocated between the General Fund, Moving Violation Surcharge Fund (law enforcement), and Emergency Medical Services Fund.
• No formal agreement was in place during budget development. As such, this offset to costs (revenue) was not included in the FY26 Proposed Budget and department may request a Budget Adjustment to the FY26 budget once the agreement is finalized.
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Strategic Priorities:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.2 Enhance community safety
Smart Service Delivery
4.2 Achieve and maintain a high level of customer satisfaction
4.4 Pursue continuous improvement
Summary:
Sharing of the radio system utilized by the City of Clearwater, public safety and non-public safety, provides economies of scale and meets the regional goal of interoperability and interagency communications.
Background/Explanation:
Pinellas County manages a single shared radio system with multiple agencies. Under Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Support Function #3- Communications, Clearwater Police Department coming on to the Pinellas radio system provides seamless communications for every public safety entity within the County for interoperability. During disaster recovery under FEMA Emergency Support Function #3-Public Works and Engineering, Clearwater Police has access to their non-public safety departments.
Fiscal Impact:
The City of Clearwater will pay the County a not to exceed $50,000 annual access fee. This results in Clearwater sharing a percentage of the cost for the radio system infrastructure maintenance. Cost recovery to the County will be allocated between the General Fund, Moving Violation Surcharge Fund (law enforcement), and Emergency Medical Services Fund.
No formal agreement was in place during budget development. As such, this offset to costs was not included in the FY26 Proposed Budget and department will request a Budget Adjustment to the FY26 budget once the agreement is finalized.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this ILA is granted under Code Section 2-62(a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
James Fogarty, Bureau Director, Safety & Emergency Services
Partners:
City of Clearwater
Attachments:
Interlocal Agreement for the Use of Pinellas County Emergency Communication Radio System