AJ Johnson

Public Works Administrator

Julie Leonard

Public Works Director

Purchase of Nine (9) Two-Way Radios from Motorola Solutions, Inc. for the Public Works Department

Issue Statement: The City of Oakland Park Public Works Department participates in the City of Fort Lauderdale’s local government-owned, non-public safety radio dispatch system. Fort Lauderdale has converted that system from analog to a new P25 digital radio communication system and terminated the analog system. As a result, the City’s existing Public Works radios are no longer compatible and must be replaced to maintain reliable field communications.

Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution authorizing the appropriate City official to approve the purchase of nine (9) two-way radios from Motorola Solutions, Inc., including programming, accessories, and warranties, in the amount of $32,773.05, and approving the use of the State of Florida Alternative Contract Source (ACS) Contract No. 43190000-22-NASPO-ACS, and approving the proposed Budget Amendment.

History: The Public Works Department has long relied on handheld radios to maintain real-time communication between supervisors and field staff. Radios are used to coordinate utility repairs, routine service calls, and responses to heavy rain and other emergency events. This communication allows staff to respond quickly and make operational adjustments, as needed.

The City of Fort Lauderdale upgraded its local government-owned radio system from an analog 800 MHz system to a P25 digital radio communication system, providing a more reliable communications network. Because the analog system has been discontinued, the City of Oakland Park’s existing non-public safety radios are no longer compatible and must be replaced.

Reliable radio communication is essential for Public Works operations. Staff use radios to coordinate utility repairs, respond to damaged infrastructure, dispatch field personnel, and reassign crews as needed to address resident and customer service requests. Radios are also critical during severe weather events or other emergencies when cellular service may be interrupted.

In accordance with the NASPO agreement, the attached quote from Motorola Solutions, Inc. provides for the purchase of nine (9) two-way P25 digital radios, including programming, accessories, and warranties, at an approximate discount of 27% off list price.  

The radios will be assigned as follows:

• Parks Maintenance – 2
• Building Maintenance – 1
• Streets – 1
• Water – 2
• Stormwater – 2
• Wastewater – 1

As shown in the attached quote from Motorola Solutions, Inc., the total cost for the purchase of nine (9) two-way radios, including programming, accessories, and warranties, is $32,773.05.

Although funds are available within the FY26 Adopted Operating Budget across various Divisions of the Public Works Department (i.e., Parks and Building Maintenance, Streets, Water, Stormwater, and Wastewater Divisions), a Budget Amendment is necessary to transfer these funds into the appropriate account, as prescribed by the governmental accounting standards.  Attached in Exhibit A is the proposed Budget Amendment reclassifying the funds.

The proposed expenditure is as follows: