REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BILLY P. ALCORN, Interim Fire Chief
Fire Department
SUBJECT:
Title
Approve a 3-year agreement with the County of Fresno to receive County Aid Dispatch services for $3,086,756.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve a 3-year agreement with the County of Fresno to receive County Aid Dispatch services. The terms of the agreement include fees of $1,008,612.00 in Fiscal Year 2024; $1,028,784.00 in Fiscal Year 2025; and $1,049,360.00 in Fiscal Year 2026.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno (City) has been under a dispatch agreement with the County (County) of Fresno since February 1, 2006. The current agreement terminates on June 30, 2023. Under this 3-year agreement, the Fire Department will continue receiving County Aid Dispatch services through June 30, 2026.
BACKGROUND
The Fire Department receives in excess of 50,000 calls for dispatch each year. Under the dispatch agreement, such calls are transferred to the County's dispatch network - County Aid Dispatch (CAD). The CAD system then dispatches the calls to the appropriate responder/agency depending on the type of emergency. CAD system provides emergency responders and the public with efficient and improved response time. With the high volume of 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 dispatch agreement also relieves the City from having to purchase and maintain expensive dispatch equipment and networks. Under the agreement, all CAD systems and equipment are owned and maintained by the County. The CAD system ensures that all necessary reporting and statistical information is maintained, stored, and filed as appropriate.
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 emergenc...
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