A need for the new site was identified in late 2015, when it was determined no current radio site will support adequate radio coverage in northeast Peoria, especially in the Sonoran Mountain Ranch area. Coverage studies indicated that a location within the Pyramid Peak Water Treatment Plant is positioned to provide the necessary coverage.

As part of Peoria's participation in the Regional Wireless Cooperative (RWC), funding was allocated for infrastructure upgrades beginning in FY2014 and continuing through FY2018. Due to decreased costs for the RWC upgrades, Peoria's share of the infrastructure upgrades is significantly lower than what has been paid and budgeted to date. Savings have also been identified within the Radio Operations budget due to lower than anticipated RWC operating costs.

Staff is proposing these savings be used to fund the Northeast Peoria Communications Site to improve radio coverage in north Peoria.

A. Approve expenditures in the amount of $1,216,577 for the construction of a new Northeast Peoria (Pyramid Peak) Communications Site and related budget adjustments. 

B. Deny approval of expenditures in the amount of $1,216,577 for the construction of a new Northeast Peoria (Pyramid Peak) Communications Site and related budget adjustments, which will not provide improved radio coverage in north Peoria.

Discussion and possible action to: (a) approve expenditures in the amount of $1,216,577 for the construction of a new Northeast Peoria (Pyramid Peak) Communications Site; (b) approve a budget adjustment in the amount of $1,216,577 from various accounts to the Improvements Other than Land and Buildings Northeast Peoria (Pyramid Peak) Communications Site account and the Radio System Operations Improvements Other than Land and Buildings Northeast Peoria (Pyramid Peak) Radio Communications Site account.

Staff request that Council approve expenditure authority for this project in the amount of $1,216,577. To support this authority, staff requests the following budget adjustments.

• $850,102 budget adjustment within the CIP Projects fund from the Computer Hardware account and RWC Radio Infrastructure Replacement project (4550-4550-542008-CIPOF-IT00024) to the Improvements other than Land and Buildings account and Northeast Peoria (Pyramid Peak) Communications Site project account (4550-4550-541003-CIPOF-IT00035).
• $202,917 budget adjustment from General Fund Contingency (1000-0300-570000) to CIP Projects fund Improvements other than Land and Buildings Northeast Peoria (Pyramid Peak) Communications Site project account (4550-4550-541003-CIPOF-IT00035).
• $63,533 budget adjustment from General Fund Contingency (1000-0300-570000) to Radio System Operations Improvements other than Land and Buildings Northeast Peoria (Pyramid Peak) Radio Communications Site account (3300-3760-541003-CIPOF-IT00035).
• $100,025 budget adjustment from Radio System Operations Telecommunications R & M account (3300-3760-524008) to Radio System Operations Improvements other than Land and Buildings Northeast Peoria (Pyramid Peak) Radio Communications Site account (3300-3760-541003-CIPOF-IT00035).