REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
August 17, 2017
FROM: KERRI DONIS, Fire Chief
Fire Department
SUBJECT:
Title
Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute a one-year contract between the City of Fresno (City) and the County of Fresno (County). The agreement allows the City to continue receiving emergency dispatch services utilizing the County Aid Dispatch (CAD) network and EMS Communications Center.
1. Authorizing a one-year contract between the City of Fresno and the County of Fresno to receive emergency dispatch services utilizing the County Aid Dispatch (CAD) network and EMS Communications Center
2. ***RESOLUTION - 19th amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2017-165 appropriating $35,700 to fully fund a one-year contract extension between the City and Fresno County for County Aid Dispatch (CAD) Services (Requires 5 affirmative votes) (Subject to Mayor’s veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council authorize the City Manager or designee to execute a one-year contract between the City of Fresno and County of Fresno to receive County Aid Dispatch services.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City and County have been under dispatch agreements since February 1, 2006, with the current agreement terminating on June 30, 2017. The County has agreed to continue providing services on a month to month basis as to not interrupt public safety. Both parties are proposing this one-year agreement, which provides for a necessary and formal binding contract through fiscal year ending June 30, 2018.
Under the agreement, calls for Fire Department emergency services are transferred to the County’s dispatch network through an automated process. The County then dispatches the calls to the appropriate responder / agency depending on the type of emergency. The CAD system provides emergency responders and the public with efficient and improved response time. With more than 40,000 dispatched calls for Fire Department services each year, this County service is a necessary and essential element of Fire Department operations and public safety.
The contract also relieves the City from having to purchase and maintain expensive dispatch equipment and networks. All systems and equipment are owned and maintained by the County. They also ensure that all necessary reporting and statistical information is maintained, stored, and filed as appropriate. Under this agreement, the City will compensate the county $787,582 in fiscal year 2018. This is approximately $35,700 more than the $751,884 paid annually under the former agreement.
Recently, the Fire Department and the County started reviewing the agreement and looking for ways to improve service, streamline costs, or make other refinements that would be of mutual benefit to the public and responding agencies. That review will be completed prior to June 30, 2018, and any agreement going forward would reflect such refinements.
BACKGROUND
The public is best served to have a unified/consolidated dispatch system. A unified system greatly enhances communication and coordination, which ultimately improves response time during emergency situations. The County has the necessary communications equipment and networks in place to effectively serve the City of Fresno and neighboring agencies.
For the past decade and beyond, the Fire Department has been under contract with the County to have emergency calls routed to the County’s dispatch system. Trained dispatchers ensure calls are prioritized, properly channeled, and communicated to the appropriate agencies and responding units.
In fiscal year 2017, the final year of the contract, charges for dispatch services to the City were $751,900 per year. This successor agreement extends the dispatch service for an additional year with charges in fiscal year 2018 to total $787,572. The new fee will be retro-effective to July 1, 2017. A formal, binding agreement is necessary to define responsibilities of each party, as well as terms and scope of services.
The Fire Department is requesting a one-year agreement at this time. Prior to the commencement of a subsequent agreement, and prior to July 1, 2018, both the County and the Fire Department will have completed a comprehensive review of terms, scope, updates, costing, and other considerations related to CAD.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This agreement is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because this is an agreement with the County of Fresno.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approving this agreement will result in additional appropriations to the General Fund of $35,700. The Fire Department anticipates there will be excess, unbudgeted revenues from Building Permit Surcharges generated by the Community Risk Reduction Division to cover this cost.
Attachments: Agreement
Resolution - 19th Amendment to AAR No. 2017-165