HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCAgenda_04Jun21_Special
CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS
Special Meeting of the City Council
City Hall
2077 West Larpenteur Avenue
AGENDA
June 21, 2004
A. CALL TO ORDER: 8:00 PM
• B. ROLL CALL: GEHRZ KUETTEL LAMB
LINDSTROM TALBOT
WORTHINGTON SHEA KODLUBOY
ATTORNEY ENGINEER
C. POLICY AGENDA:
1. Recommendation for County Board regarding 800 MHz dispatch system
Recommendation for County Board on 800 MHz Dispatch System
• Prepared by Mayor Gehrz
Need for Action: On Tuesday, June 22, the Ramsey County Board will decide how
many Dispatch/ Communication Centers (PSAP's) will be included in the new 800 MHz
system in Ramsey County. They have requested input from all cities and townships to
assist them in making this decision. Since our next regularly scheduled city council
meeting will be held after the June 22 county board meeting, this special city council
meeting was scheduled to enable us to take formal action on a recommendation
formulated by Mayor Gehrz and City Administrator Worthington.
Basis for Recommendations: Since September, 2003, Mayor Gehrz has been
representing 14 suburban cities and townships on the 800 MHz Public Safety
Communications System Policy Planning Committee. This committee, composed of
elected officials from the county, cities, and school districts, makes recommendations to
the County Board on the organization, governance, and financing of a public safety
system in Ramsey County. Work groups composed of first responders and dispatchers
have been working with technical consultants to plan the system, operating protocols, and
training. To assist in gathering information about service options, financing, and
governance, Heather Worthington has convened several meetings of suburban City
Administrators and City Managers. They have developed recommendations around
governance principles and dispatching service needs.
• Current status of dispatching centers: There are currently four separate PSAP sites
operating in Ramsey County:
1. Saint Paul
2. Ramsey County Sheriff
3. Maplewood
4. White Bear Lake
Falcon Heights paid $12,5521ast year to the Ramsey County Sheriffs dispatch as a part
of our contract with St. Anthony Police. An additional $10,825 was paid by our
taxpayers on their county taxes to be used toward the cost of maintaining a county
dispatch system.
All taxpayers in Ramsey County help support the cost of a county-wide dispatch system.
Cities have the choice of operating their own dispatch centers but must cover the costs for
doing so out of their city funds. The dispatch functions in White Bear Lake and
Maplewood have been intertwined into a public safety service model that includes non-
dispatch related activities.
Current positions: As of June 17, Maplewood and White Bear Lake have taken official
positions of support for continuing the operation of their independent PSAP's. This is
• similar to Hennepin County in which everyone pays toward the cost of maintaining a
county-wide dispatch capability but some cities, including Minneapolis, maintain and
• fund their own dispatch centers.
The city of Saint Paul and Ramsey County Administrative staff have expressed
preferences for a single site PSAP to handle all dispatching for Ramsey County.
The suburban cities have directly or indirectly opposed the merger of Saint Paul and
suburban dispatch. There have been three major concerns:
-Backup capability in the event of disruption of service
-Potential reduction in services in the suburban cities due to increase in call
volume in Saint Paul and differences in response protocols
-Increased cost for suburban cities to add dispatchers to handle the call volume for
Saint Paul
ATTACHMENT:
• County Questionnaire on pages ~
ACTION:
• Discussion
• Approve recommended response to County Questionnaire
•
PSCS/800 MHz PROJECT
PSAP OPTION FEEDBACK FORM
• June 2004
The Public Safety Communication System (PSCP) / 800 MHz Policy Planning Committee is holding a
meeting on June 3 for elected officials from all Ramsey County jurisdictions. The purpose of the
meeting is to provide elected officials a project update in preparation for upcoming discussions and
decisions needed to move forward on implementation.
One of the major decisions to be made is the organizational structure of the Dispatch/Communication
Centers (PSAPs). The Dispatch Work Group has produced a report that identifies 5 options. This
report will be reviewed at the June 3 meeting. At the end of the meeting jurisdictions will be asked to
provide feedback to the Policy Planning Committee for its consideration on June 17.
This form is to be used by jurisdictions to communicate their preferences to the Policy Planning
Committee regarding the five PSAP Options identified by the Dispatch Work Group. Please complete
this form and send it to Sandy May no later than Wednesday, June 16, 2004.
The Project Management Team identified the following criteria that it would like each jurisdiction to
consider when discussing both its short-term and long-term policy decisions around PSAPs.
CRITERIA FOR MAKING THE BEST POLICY DECISION
• All federal requirements are met
• Appropriate protection for the life and property of our citizens
• • Appropriate support for the safety of first responders
• Cost justifiable best service for the dollar
• Appropriate long-term approach to managing system/resources
• Increased homeland security by offering appropriate integration and interoperability
• Results in no reduction of service level
• Facilitates continuous cross training skills development of dispatch staff
• Maintains culture of responder organizations
PLEASE RESPOND TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. If you would like to respond
electronically you can find the form on the County WEB site www.co.ramsey.mn.us or ask Sandy May
to email you the form.
1. Does your jurisdiction want to be a subscriber to the Ramsey County Interoperable 800 Base
Radio System? Yes X No
Comments:
C
3
2. What is your jurisdiction's preferred dispatch option for operation by Mid 2005?
a.)
Four PSAP -Four Sites
Single PSAP -Single Site
Two PSAP -Common Borders
Two PSAP -Urban-Suburban
Two PSAP -Fire-Law Enforcement
X
b.) What key factors led to selection of your jurisdiction's preferred option?
Concern about potential reduction in suburban service levels due to the discrepancy between
Saint Paul and the suburbs in ratio of dispatchers to calls.
Concern about potential cost increase to suburban cities for the additional personnel required
to handle the call volume for Saint Paul.
c.) Are there any conditions that need to be met for your preferred option?
While not required, we recommend that a co-located site be used for Saint Paul and Ramsey
County dispatch. This would have the advantage of significant capital cost savings but allow
for separate dispatch personnel. The Maplewood PSAP should then be considered as a backup
location to the joint Saint PauURamsey County site.
,7
3. Are there any contingencies or conditions that would make another option acceptable? If
so, what are the conditions by option?
Four PSAP -Four Sites If the current funding sources continue so that
municipalities do not end up subsidizing costs for
cities that choose or need to have separate PSAP's.
Single PSAP -Single Site This might be a viable long-term option and a co-
located site for Saint Paul and Ramsey County
PSAP's could provide the structural framework
within which to resolve current service and staffing
differences.
Two PSAP -Common Borders
Two PSAP -Urban-Suburban
4
Two PSAP -Fire-Law Enforcement
•
4. This new system will be in operation for a number of years. Is there an option other than
your preferred option that you might consider in the future? Yes
a.)
Four PSAP - Four Sites
Single PSAP -Single Site
Two PSAP - Common Borders
Two PSAP - Urban-Suburban
Two PSAP - Fire-Law Enforcement
X
b.) Are there any contingencies or conditions that would have to be met to support your future
choice?
The single site could be a viable long-term option and a co-located site for Saint Paul and
Ramsey County PSAP's could provide the structural framework within which to resolve
current service and staffing differences. A governance model that enables representation
from all cities using the system would be critical to a single site option.
•
5. Are there any of the 5 options that are not acceptable at all?
a.)
Four PSAP -Four Sites
Single PSAP -Single Site
Two PSAP -Common Borders
Two PSAP -Urban-Suburban
Two PSAP -Fire-Law Enforcement
X
b.) What are the reasons the selected model (s) are not acceptable at all?
It seems to reduce, rather than increase, interoperability and communication.
•
6. Other Comments: A dedicated phone line surcharge should be included in financing options.
This would enable tax exempt entities to participate in the cost and would be less regressive than
reliance on only the property tax for ongoing operating costs.
Name of Jurisdiction City of Falcon Hei ht~Contact Person _Mayor Sue Gehrz
Telephone Number 651-641-1229 Email Address_sgehrz@comcast.net
Return Form to:
Sandy May, Ramsey County Manager's Office
250 Court House, 15 West Kellogg Boulevard
Saint Paul, MN 55102
sand~@,co.ramsey. mn. us
S