City Council Meeting: December 9, 2008

Agenda Item: 3-A

To: Mayor and City Council

From: Jim Hone, Fire Department

Subject: Status Update on Fire Dispatch Evaluation and Comparative Study

Recommended Action

Staff recommends the City Council receive the information into the record as presented in the status update on fire dispatch evaluation and comparative study.

Executive Summary

The Fire Department contracted the services of GeoComm to perform a comprehensive study and make recommendations as to the most efficient means of providing fire emergency dispatch and communications services that will ensure the most efficient delivery of services to the community. The preliminary findings from the study will be reviewed by the City and will be presented to Council on January 13, 2009 with recommendations and funding impacts.

Background

Up until January 2007, the Fire Department dispatched its own fire resources from a dedicated Communications Center located at the Public Safety Facility. The center relied on inadequate staffing levels to meet service demands and outdated communications equipment that consistently failed to perform that was increasingly difficult to acquire replacement parts for necessary equipment repairs. To address deficiencies and determine the best method of emergency dispatch, the department conducted an in-depth evaluation of the existing system and included comparison to other methods of service delivery. This evaluation concluded with a recommendation to join a regional dispatch center. On January 23, 2007, the Fire Department entered into a contract with the Los Angeles City Fire Department Regional Dispatch Center (OCD) to provide emergency dispatch services.

Due to unresolved operational issues associated with OCD, on June 17, 2008, Council directed Fire staff to conduct an analysis of alternative dispatching and communication system options available to the City and report back by mid-year with recommendations.

Discussion

Following a competitive process, the city contracted with GeoComm to initiate a comprehensive evaluation of the fire dispatch operations at OCD and to conduct a comparative study of other fire dispatch options to provide effective and efficient services to fire personnel and the community.

In October 2008 GeoComm representatives met with the City Manager and his staff, Fire Department staff and Santa Monica Firefighters Local 1109 members. Additionally, meetings were held with LAFD OCD, Santa Monica ISD staff, SMPD Chief of Police and SMPD dispatch personnel and representatives from Beverly Hills and Culver City Fire Departments. GeoComm staff visited all Santa Monica fire stations and work sites and one evening was spent at fire stations doing ride-alongs and talking to on-duty SMFD members. Additional data and information was gathered through meetings and site visits with staff from SMFD, SMPD and ISD. GeoComm spent two additional evenings doing ride-alongs and talking to on-duty SMFD members.

GeoComm drafted surveys to obtain data and information about the current and future dispatching options. SMFD and ISD representatives reviewed and edited the surveys. One survey was posted on the net for all SMFD personnel and a separate survey was sent to SMPD dispatch personnel. GeoComm is still processing the survey data and information.

On November 17 and 18, GeoComm returned and met with the SMFD and ISD and presented their preliminary findings, which are as follows:

1. OCD provides LAFD with an adequate level of service for their current staffing levels and volume of emergency response and radio traffic.

2. SMFD desires a higher level of fire dispatch services than OCD can provide now or in the near future.

3. The fire dispatch options evaluated included: continuing to contract with OCD, being dispatched by SMPD, SMFD dispatchers co-located in the SMPD dispatch center, forming a West Side regional dispatch center with Beverly Hills and Culver City, and reactivating the SMFD dispatch center with SMFD dispatchers.

4. Preliminary findings indicate that reactivating the SMFD dispatch center in the Public Safety Facility with SMFD dispatchers is the preferred option being considered by GeoComm to provide the desired level of fire dispatch services. Specific recommendations, costs and timelines are still being developed and will be presented to the City Council on January 13, 2009.

The GeoComm findings coupled with the areas of concern expressed by various SMFD members and the community indicates that the SMFD desires a higher level service than OCD can provide now or in the near future.

SMFD staff and GeoComm will review the data and final report with the City Manager and provide the City Council with a detailed staff report including recommendations, timelines and financial and other budget impacts on January 13, 2009.

Financial Impacts & Budget Actions

There are no costs associated with the preliminary study findings.

Prepared by:

Bruce Davis, Deputy Fire Chief

Approved:	Forwarded to Council:
Jim Hone Fire Chief, Fire Department	P. Lamont Ewell City Manager