EXPENDITURE AUTHORIZATION FOR ANNUAL AMORTIZED EQUIPMENT AND DISPATCH COSTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016-17 WITH THE CITY OF PHOENIX FOR COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH (CAD) SERVICES
Staff Contact: Terry Garrison, Fire Chief
Purpose and Recommended Action
This is a request for City Council to authorize the payment of the annual amortized equipment and dispatch costs for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016-17 pursuant to the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the City of Phoenix Fire Department for dispatching and communication services in an amount not to exceed $1,179,667.39. This action will approve payment pursuant to the IGA.
Background
The current IGA with the City of Phoenix Fire Department has been in effect since July 2003. This IGA provides a centralized location for dispatch services, and technical services and maintenance for all of the fire department technical equipment located at the fire stations and inside the fire trucks. In accordance with the current IGA, the City of Phoenix revises Exhibit A on an annual basis. Exhibit A is revised due to fluctuations in costs. These costs are based on either increases or decreases in the number of dispatches, changes in technology costs, and equipment needs. The participating agencies are strongly suggested to revise Exhibit A annually upon receiving the revised fee schedule. The IGA allows/approves revisions to Exhibit A annually.
Previous Related Council Action
City Council approved the original IGA for regional dispatch services on October 14, 2003 (C-4942). City Council also approved the renewal of the Phoenix Regional Automatic Aid System Agreement on May 28, 2013.
Community Benefit/Public Involvement
The city and its citizens receive state-of-the-art dispatch and communications services without bearing the cost of maintaining and staffing a separate facility. Phoenix automated its dispatching services going from a manual process to using a Computer Aided Dispatch system (CAD). This technology afforded a reduced response time or the time it takes a unit to be dispatched and arrive on scene, which ultimately saves lives. Their state-of-the-art CAD system is customized to fit the Valley’s needs, thereby ensuring the highest level of customer service at all times. Phoenix remains on the cutting edge not only with the CAD system but also with the radio, telephone equipment and enhancements.
By participating in Automatic Aid it erases jurisdictional boundaries for all participating agencies. This means that any time a call is received, the closest appropriate emergency response vehicle to the incident will be dispatched regardless of the location inside the dispatch area. This ensures first and foremost that the customer is receiving the highest level of care available in the shortest amount of time, and secondly, allows all participating agencies better use of their resources. Each participating agency must adhere to standard operating policies and procedures, which allows multiple agencies to work side-by-side on incidents under one Incident Command. This seamless cooperative effort ensures that the closest most appropriate resources are dispatched without a time or distance delay.
Budget and Financial Impacts
The FY 2016-17 total dispatch, technical and maintenance fees are $1,179,667.39. The City of Phoenix will invoice Glendale on a quarterly basis in the amount of $294,916.85. Items included in the annual costs for FY 2016-17 are defined in the attachment Exhibit A. Also, Southwest Ambulance will reimburse the city for the annual costs in the amount of $30,438.03.
|
Cost |
Fund-Department-Account |
|
$1,141,931.12 |
1000-12433-518200, Fire Resource Management - Professional & Contractual |
|
$30,438.03 |
1000-12491-518200, Ambulance Services -SWA |
|
$7,298.24 |
1000-12492-518200, Air-Med & Logistics Ops (HALO) - Professional & Contractual |
Capital Expense? No
Budgeted? Yes
Requesting Budget or Appropriation Transfer? No