COSTA MESA : Emergency Radio Network Funds OKd

The latest funding plan for a new emergency radio system for law enforcement officials won unanimous support from the City Council last week.

Other cities threatened to withdraw funding after the county, because of its financial problems, said it could not afford to pay the 45% of the $80-million system it had earlier promised.

The county now will pick up 39% of the tab, making cities responsible for the rest.

But the Costa Mesa council at its meeting last week voted to contribute $2.3 million toward the radio network, which would link all police, fire and public works agencies in the county on one system, saying it is vital to maintain public safety.

“Despite the problem with the county not honoring its earlier agreement with the cities, we do really need to upgrade the system,” Mayor Joe Erickson said. “It is important that emergency services workers be able to communicate with one another, so we decided to approve the project.”

Law enforcement officials have endorsed constructing a new radio network. The existing system was built to accommodate a countywide population of 1.5 million. Orange County’s current population is estimated at 2.5 million.