Exhibit C Page 1 of 3

Exhibit C
Public Safety Emergency Communications (PSEC)
Project Summary and Status
The County of Riverside encompasses approximately 7,400 square miles of diverse topography, from
valleys lying below sea level to mountains exceeding 10,000 feet in height. This varied topography
can make it difficult for fire and law enforcement personnel to communicate.
The County is implementing a new public safety communication system to resolve radio coverage
issues for public safety emergency responders. The County's fire and law enforcement agencies
currently utilize approximately 20 communication sites to provide public safety voice and data
transmission capabilities to assigned personnel in the field. As currently configured, the system
provides coverage to only about 60 percent of the County and is at the end of its useful life.
Population growth within the County, particularly in areas that have been traditionally only sparsely
populated, necessitates the expansion of the radio coverage footprint. The current system is no
longer adequate to meet the County's coverage and capacity needs. Additionally, due to increases in
the County's radio voice and data usage, additional traffic-carrying capacity is required to meet the
needs of emergency services personnel in the field.
The Public Safety Emergency Communications (PSEC) project involves the expansion and upgrade
of the system's capabilities and its associated infrastructure. This upgraded and expanded system will
allow public safety officials to share information via voice and data on demand and in real time over
all types of topography throughout the County.
The PSEC project was approved by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors on August 20th, 2008.
Final EIR No. 2008021126 was certified at the time. The project is estimated to cost $148 million and
is fully funded.
The County's Economic Development Agency, in its capacity as both real property manager, has
been acquiring sites throughout the County and, in a few cases, outside the County to provide the
needed radio coverage at locations. To complete the system, a total of 68 sites are required,
including 50 new ones. These sites are located in both populated and unpopulated areas - some sites
already support communications equipment, while others are on undeveloped land.
Currently, 48 sites have been acquired, and the towers and equipment have been installed. The
County has purchased or acquired leases for 19 of the 20 remaining sites, and they are moving
toward construction.
The one remaining site is proposed to be located in Caspers Park in the northeast corner of Orange
County. As the attached exhibits show, the site would be located between sites at EI Cariso (in
Orange County) and Elsinore Peak and Redondo Mesa (both in Riverside County). Without a site in
this location, the small community of Rancho Carrillo (located in Riverside County) would continue to
have minimal radio coverage, as would nearby areas in the Cleveland National Forest and along
Ortega Highway. Additionally, without the site, the Cal-Fire radio system could not be extended into
the area to provide service during firefighting operations. This site is expected to support a microwave
link requested by Orange County Sheriff Communications.
The preferred site, and the one analyzed in Final EIR No. 2008021126, was located in the Cleveland
National Forest near Rancho Carrillo. However, the site proved infeasible because the U.S. Forest
Service would not grant an easement, and Riverside County was unable to secure a road and power
easement from the sixty Rancho Carrillo property owners.
A suitable alternate site is located in Caspers Wilderness Park. Riverside County staff is currently
working with Orange County Parks' staff to secure a lease.
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Exhibit C
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Exhibit C
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