HomeMy WebLinkAboutFIN-05-041 - Central Alarm Monitoring - Capital Budget
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KITCHENER
Financial Services
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Report To:
Date of Meeting:
Submitted By:
Prepared By:
Ward(s) Involved:
Date of Report:
Report No.:
Subject:
Councillor B. Vrbanovic, Chair, and Members of
the Finance and Corporate Services Committee
November 21, 2005
Pauline Houston
Tim Beckett, Deputy Fire Chief
All
November 7,2006
FIN-05-041
RECOMMENDATION:
Central Alarm Monitoring - Capital Budget
THAT an project allocation of $200,000 for a Corporate Central Alarm Monitoring system be
included in the Capital Forecast for consideration during the 2006 Capital Budget Review
Process.
BACKGROUND:
Direct Detect (Fire Department) and Utilities both currently have responsibilities for Alarm
Monitoring within the Corporation. Both use an alarm monitoring software that translates the
alarm signal into a readable text and provides an explanation about the alarm (fire, burglar,
trouble, etc). The software also allows for the management of accounts, tracks the history and
provides a database for building contacts.
Both departments are outgrowing their dated software's and have identified the need to replace
them. Realizing the synergies that could be achieved through collaborated efforts, a working
group was established in the spring of 2005. It was identified that the entire concept of the
Central Alarm Monitoring System needed to be reviewed and a formal Steering Committee was
formed. This committee is tasked with the review of not just the software, but the hardware,
structure and process and looking at methods to obtain efficiencies and effectiveness of the
system.
A formal business case is being prepared and will be presented to council at a future date for its
approval, prior to expending any funds for this project.
REPORT:
As per policy, the Steering Committee is requesting permission to add a total of $200,000 to the
2006 Capital Forecast. The $200,000 includes software costs, installation and hardware.
Due to the anticipated timelines for the software upgrade, money will need to be allocated in the
2006 Capital Budget.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Currently the Fire Department has $50,000 in existing capital funds available for this project, to
address their departmental needs. This project will be closed to the corporate capital surplus
account, as part of the capital budget review process.
A new corporate project with an estimated project cost of $200,000 will be included in capital
forecast. As a corporate project, it is estimated that the funding sources would be: 12.5% from
the gasworks enterprise, 12.5% from the water enterprise, 25% from the sewer enterprise and
50% from the tax base (for fire and facilities management requirements).
COMMUNICATIONS: none
Pauline Houston, CA
General Manager of Financial
Services & City Treasurer
Tim Beckett
Deputy Fire Chief
Kitchener Fire Department
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