CC WORKSESSION 01312006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MEMO DATE: November 21, 2005 TO: Mike Morrison, City Manager FROM: Chief John Ohl SUBJECT: Automatic Emergency Message Phone Dialing System I have completed the research on the Emergency Message Phone Dialing System. These systems can be off -site web based or we can purchase the hardware and programs to have the system on -site. An on -site system would cost as much as $40,000, and an annual subscriber fee would still apply. In addition, we would be responsible for any upgrades to the system, as well as hardware system repairs. Due to these reasons, I did not further look into an on -site system, as the trend in this business is to move to an off -site web base system. The off -site web based system is parented by a company, but are completely updated and initiated by the subscribing agency. The systems are quiet simple and very user friendly. Once purchased, the company creates a map of our city with a commercial user GIS data base, and a commercial phone number listing. The subscribing agency then simply logs onto the system and highlights a particular area of the city. The user then types in or voice records the message he wishes to be delivered, and the system automatically makes the calls. I did some research with the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), who put out lengthy standards for these types of systems. NENA would not recommend any system in particular. I researched several available systems, and found that a system called City Watch was the most affordable. City Watch is 1 c I based and is already being used Ramsey County. The City Watch system will i a ,, l RI is per hour. It also allows for certain group listings to be generated (i.e., police officers, firefighters, parents of a particular school, etc). The systems also generates comprehensive reports about who was contacted and when. In addition, it will also activate pagers, e- mails, and blackberries. The commercially available phone number listings are said to be approximately 60 to 90% accurate. We may be able to enhance this accuracy by accessing our current 911 data base held by Hennepin and Ramsey County Sheriff's radio. I was quoted a price of $8,000 per year which includes 10,000 minutes of emergency messages. A $.09 per minute charge is added for any use over 10,000 minutes.