Officials say new dispatch center will use existing city radio tower; state pushes PSAP regionalization

Neighbors asked whether the project would add new radio towers or antennas and whether there had been environmental or health reviews of prior tower work. One resident asked: "there was already a tower put up without even us having environmental impacts and or the health impacts if there will be more towers put up?"

Tekton and city staff responded that the project will use the existing city-owned tower and run a fiber interconnect and a small microwave link to the tower. Saladin said, "We're utilizing that tower. We're not building a new 1 associated with this building and we're not adding a bunch of antennas to this building either." The director added the radio program is part of a larger public-safety investment and said the broader radio upgrade was around $12,000,000 to improve in-building coverage.

City staff explained the state's interest in regionalization: there are currently about 103 PSAPs and the state has promoted consolidations to reduce equipment and staffing costs. Staff said the goal for the local radio program is improved coverage so responders have reliable in-building reception.