COUNCIL PANEL BACKS MOTOROLA.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

A City Council panel recommended Wednesday that Motorola be given a $51 million contract to install a new LAPD radio system even though the firm is over budget and 21 months behind schedule on a computer contract.

The council's Public Safety Committee agreed to support the contract after Police Chief Bernard C. Parks said the Los Angeles Police Department desperately needs a new radio system to avoid further breakdowns in emergency communications.

Councilwoman Laura Chick, the committee's chairwoman, said she was moved by Parks' strong recommendation despite her concerns about Motorola's performance on a contract it also holds for mobile digital terminal system and despite a competitor's claim that it can install a system for $20 million less.

``What is before us right now does not inspire great confidence from me,'' Chick said. ``I am not at all convinced we are getting the best that our taxpayer dollars could have bought us.''

Ericsson Communications had offered to install a new radio system for about $20 million less than what the city is paying, but city officials judged that Motorola had the preferable technology.

Motorola officials have said they are required by the MDT contract to give the LAPD the opportunity to substitute new technology, which is the reason there may be additional costs and delays.

Parks said he is working closely with Motorola officials to reduce the 21 months of delays anticipated on the MDT contract and to keep new costs at a minimum.

``We will not pay anything until we are satisfied about what we receive,'' Parks said.

In addition to recommending the new contract to the full council, the council committee called for stronger project management to ride herd on costs and timetables.

Councilman Richard Alarcon supported moving ahead with the new contract, in part because of concerns about recent breakdowns in the police communications systems.

``We might have seen some officers shot without backup,'' Alarcon said.