5.6.
| CC Regular Session |
| Meeting Date: | 09/08/2026 |
| Primary Strategic Plan Initiative: | Not Applicable |
Title:
Authorize the Advance Purchase of Fire Vehicle Tablets
Purpose/Background:
In early 2025, a new company was selected to build a new Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) mobile system for Police/Fire agencies county-wide. The new system was built and configured by Tyler Tech and has been under the management of the Joint Law Enforcement Council (JLEC) for Anoka County. Agencies, including Ramsey, selected a small implementation team that would be the primary contacts for business practice, technology, and any other questions related to the configuration being done by Tyler Tech.
In mid-March, a concern was brought up by other Fire agencies concerning how they log into the new system. Connections to the new Tyler system at the time required connection with a Virtual Private Network (or VPN). Fire staff were concerned this was conducive to their needs, as VPN connections are unique username/password/pin combinations based on the individual. During an update in late May, the JLEC, Tyler Tech, and Logis had worked to establish a Relay server for the Fire side of the program. There were details still to be worked out as of the end of May, but the idea is the relay server would take traffic from specifically the Fire applications and pass it through to the appropriate Tyler Tech software. This potentially could eliminate VPN as a need for Fire staff.
Ramsey IT was trained in early May how to install the Police and Fire modules for the vehicles. In the same timeframe, PD was trained to do the installations for the APP version of the software for tablets, as well as the cell phone APP.
Over the summer, IT Manager Fredrickson spoke with Fire Department Staff about the coming CAD implementation. It paralleled talks about computer replacements for the Fire Department vehicles. The vehicle laptops are 8 years old as of 2026. After several talks, Fire Staff decided they would like to move to having tablets in the vehicles and use the Tyler Tech APP for CAD use. Cost per device is lower. The cost for each cell connection is equivalent to what we currently use. So, the change made sense to pursue pending the approval of the Fire and PD laptops which were made for 2027. New docks would be needed, but the cost per device savings may be able to cover the dock purchase.
At the last Council work session in August 2026, Fire Chief Winkel asked for support in bringing the tablet purchase from 2027 into 2026. By moving in this direction, we would be able to avoid any complications from the VPN requirement on the desktop version of the software (which is still up in the air), and enable our Fire Staff to get trained on the tablet version as early as possible. Staff, as of this writing, are asking for 13 tablets with 15 docks for fire trucks and command vehicles. Two Fire staff currently have tablets new enough that we can continue to utilize them for this additional purpose. Currently, there is money in the 2027 preliminary budget for Fire Vehicle device replacements involving seven vehicles.
In mid-March, a concern was brought up by other Fire agencies concerning how they log into the new system. Connections to the new Tyler system at the time required connection with a Virtual Private Network (or VPN). Fire staff were concerned this was conducive to their needs, as VPN connections are unique username/password/pin combinations based on the individual. During an update in late May, the JLEC, Tyler Tech, and Logis had worked to establish a Relay server for the Fire side of the program. There were details still to be worked out as of the end of May, but the idea is the relay server would take traffic from specifically the Fire applications and pass it through to the appropriate Tyler Tech software. This potentially could eliminate VPN as a need for Fire staff.
Ramsey IT was trained in early May how to install the Police and Fire modules for the vehicles. In the same timeframe, PD was trained to do the installations for the APP version of the software for tablets, as well as the cell phone APP.
Over the summer, IT Manager Fredrickson spoke with Fire Department Staff about the coming CAD implementation. It paralleled talks about computer replacements for the Fire Department vehicles. The vehicle laptops are 8 years old as of 2026. After several talks, Fire Staff decided they would like to move to having tablets in the vehicles and use the Tyler Tech APP for CAD use. Cost per device is lower. The cost for each cell connection is equivalent to what we currently use. So, the change made sense to pursue pending the approval of the Fire and PD laptops which were made for 2027. New docks would be needed, but the cost per device savings may be able to cover the dock purchase.
At the last Council work session in August 2026, Fire Chief Winkel asked for support in bringing the tablet purchase from 2027 into 2026. By moving in this direction, we would be able to avoid any complications from the VPN requirement on the desktop version of the software (which is still up in the air), and enable our Fire Staff to get trained on the tablet version as early as possible. Staff, as of this writing, are asking for 13 tablets with 15 docks for fire trucks and command vehicles. Two Fire staff currently have tablets new enough that we can continue to utilize them for this additional purpose. Currently, there is money in the 2027 preliminary budget for Fire Vehicle device replacements involving seven vehicles.
Time Frame/Observations/Alternatives:
By bringing this purchase into 2026, we'll be in a better position to get Fire Staff using the tablets by the time the new Tyler Tech software is to go live on October 27th, 2026.
If the City were not to pursue the path to purchase early, training would continue as planned for Fire staff on the devices they have. We'd also have to keep a close eye on the VPN prerequisite issue and see how that flushes out. Adding all Fire Fighters onto a VPN solution would have an annual cost as well. Estimated cost is about $500/yr.
If the City were not to pursue the path to purchase early, training would continue as planned for Fire staff on the devices they have. We'd also have to keep a close eye on the VPN prerequisite issue and see how that flushes out. Adding all Fire Fighters onto a VPN solution would have an annual cost as well. Estimated cost is about $500/yr.
Funding Source:
- Estimated cost of tablets - $12,200
- Estimated cost of docking stations - $15,375
*Funding will be from the COR/HRA Fund. The $21,000 that was included in the 2027 budget and funded via the COR/HRA Fund will now be moved over to 2026 and reduce the 2027 request.
Recommendation:
Staff recommends Council authorize the 2026 purchase of tablets for the Fire Department that were originally requested in the 2027 General Fund Budget.
Outcome/Action:
Motion to approve the 2026 purchase of tablets for the Fire Department that were originally requested in the 2027 General Fund Budget.
Attachments
No file(s) attached.
Form Review
| Inbox | Reviewed By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Diana Lund | Diana Lund | 09/01/2026 08:02 AM |
| Brian Hagen | Brian Hagen | 09/03/2026 12:59 PM |
- Form Started By:
- Jason Fredrickson
- Started On:
- 08/31/2026 10:01 AM
- Final Approval Date:
- 09/03/2026