CC 2014-02-11_08.d. Temporary Dispatch of Emergency Fire CallsMEMORANDUM
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: STEVEN ADAMS, CITY MANAGER #
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF GROVER
BEACH FOR TEMPORARY DISPATCH OF EMERGENCY FIRE
CALLS
DATE: JANUARY 28, 2014
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the Council authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement
with the City of Grover Beach for the temporary dispatch of emergency fire calls.
IMPACT ON FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL RESOURCES:
The proposed cost is approximately $25 per call. It is estimated that this will result in
approximately $3,200 per month. Based on a projected time frame of six months, it
is estimated that the total cost will be approximately $20,000. However, it is also
anticipated that there will be savings in the dispatch budget from use of part-time staff
and overtime to temporarily address staffing vacancies. In addition, there will be a
reduction in the costs for infrastructure upgrades if fire calls are not dispatched by the
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department ("Sheriff's Department"). Therefore, no
additional appropriation is requested at this time.
BACKGROUND:
At the October 8, 2013 meeting, the City Council approved staff's recommendations
for temporary relocation of the Police Department during the construction of the
proposed Police Station improvements. The recommendations included entering into
an agreement with the Sheriff's Department for temporary use of their dispatch center
during this period.
Arrangements are being finalized with the Sheriff's Department for the move, which is
scheduled to take effect on February 3, 2014. Under the proposal, the City of Arroyo
Grande staff will be relocated to the Sheriff's Department dispatch center temporarily
and were intended to continue to dispatch all City police and fire calls. The proposal
was also intended to serve as a pilot project, during which time discussions would
continue with the Sheriff's Department on a proposal to contract with them in the
future for the provision of police dispatch services.
Item 8.d. - Page 1
CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION OF AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF GROVER BEACH FOR
TEMPORARY DISPATCH OF EMERGENCY FIRE CALLS
JANUARY 28, 2014
PAGE2
ANALYSIS OF ISSUES:
Under the arrangement with the Sheriffs Department, they have agreed to provide
backup support to the City of Arroyo Grande staff when necessary. The need for this
may increase due to staffing vacancies. However, the Sheriffs Department is not
equipped to, and has not agreed to, handle fire related calls. As a result, transferring
the dispatch of Arroyo Grande emergency fire calls during this temporary period has
now been deemed infeasible because fire calls would not be handled during times
when Sheriffs Department staff are providing backup.
Therefore, the City of Grover Beach has been approached to address this need.
They have responded with a proposal to charge the City the same rate as is currently
paid to them by the Oceano Community Services District on a per call basis, which
results in a cost of roughly $25 per call. This cost is less than Cal Fire charges for
their service so staff has determined it is a reasonable proposal. When compared to
what would be required to relocate dispatch to the City of Arroyo Grande and
Woman's Club Community Center along with the rest of the Police Department
operations, staff still believes this is the most cost effective alternative available
during this interim period. It would also be very problematic to modify the direction at
this time.
Since dispatch has not been consolidated, each city continues to be responsible for
calls within their own jurisdiction. As a result, it is necessary for the City to make
arrangements to address fire calls during this interim period rather than requiring the
issue be resolved by the Five Cities Fire Authority. The Arroyo Grand Police Chief,
Grover Beach Police Chief and Five Cities Fire Authority Fire Chief have met to
ensure that the Fire Authority's needs will be met during this period. The
recommendations do not make any long-term commitment regarding the dispatch of
emergency fire calls.
ALTERNATIVES:
The following alternatives are provided for the Council's consideration:
1. Approve staffs recommendations;
2. Direct staff to relocate dispatch and maintain dispatch of emergency fire calls
during the interim period; or
3. Provide staff direction.
ADVANTAGES:
The proposal will address both police and fire dispatch needs in the most cost
effective way during the construction of the Police Station improvements.
DISADVANTAGES:
The recommendations will result in a new cost for the dispatch of fire calls. It also
forces the City to make changes before long-term strategies can be developed.
Item 8.d. - Page 2
CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION OF AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF GROVER BEACH FOR
TEMPORARY DISPATCH OF EMERGENCY FIRE CALLS
JANUARY 28, 2014
PAGE3
Lastly, it will result in an additional transfer of fire related calls, but it has been
confirmed that this will be limited to a momentary delay and will not impact response
times by the Fire Authority.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
No environmental review is required for this item.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND COMMENTS:
The Agenda was posted in front of City Hall on Thursday, January 23, 2014 and on
the City's website on Friday, January 24, 2014. No comments were received.
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