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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 01-10-2022January 10, 2022 At a Special Called Meeting of the 911 Communications Oversight Committee on Monday, January 10, 2022, at 1:30 p.m., in the Commission Chambers of City Hall located at 300 South 5th Street. The following committee members were present: Jewel Jones, Carol Gault, Dr. Irvin Smith, Kevin Kauffeld, Edwin Jones (5). Also present were Mayor George Bray, Police Chief Brian Laird, Fire Chief Steve Kyle, City Manager Daron Jordan, Assistant City Manager Michelle Smolen, Finance Director Jon Perkins, Communications Manager Pam Spencer and City Clerk Lindsay Parish. BACKGROUND INFORMATION The 911 Communication Oversight Committee was formed by a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Paducah and McCracken County. The Committee was created with the following purpose: Guide the parties (City & County) in making recommendations regarding the upgrades, pursuing funding options, and governance. The committee shall make formal reports to the City and the County at least every sixty (60) days, with the City and County making all final decisions regarding the upgrades. MEMBER INTRODUCTIONS Mayor Bray had all of the Committee Members introduce themselves. Mayor Bray thanked the members of the committee on behalf of himself and the McCracken County Judge Executive for their willingness to serve. 911 OVERVIEW Mayor Bray asked Chief Laird to give an overview of the current situation of 911. Chief Laird went over the following information: • 911 Center currently is a division of the Paducah Police Department. It has 23 full-time employees. • The radio system, which includes handheld radios, the radio infrastructure at the Center, and towers, is at its end-of-life and needs upgrading. This is the most expensive component with an estimated cost of $8 to 12 million. • The radio system is for dispatchers to talk to first responders and for first responders to talk to each other and dispatch. Currently, there are dead spots in the City and County where communication is not possible. • Upgrades have been COMPLETED to the telephony and the computer-aided-dispatching (CAD) systems. • It costs more than $2.1 million to operate the Center. Land-line fees used to cover the majority of the cost. However, the declining land-line fees and cell fees do not cover the operational costs which lead the City and County to provide operational funds. • In 2019, 911 Communication Manager Robin Hood came on board which helped the city to elevate the level of service • In 2015, Federal Engineering completed a report that the telephone system, computer system and radio system as components requiring upgrade. The radio system is the last piece that still needs to be replaced, which is the most expensive part of the project January 10, 2022 • The timeline for implementation of a new system is 18-24 months after the time that the project is funded and greenlighted. INITIAL ORGANIZATIONAL DISCUSSION Committee Member Edwin Jones brought a list of questions for discussion. Chief Laird and Finance Director Jon Perkins gave estimate responses to some of the questions which included: • What is the annual cost of 911 Operations? Estimated at $2.1 million. • What is the cost of the necessary upgrade? Estimated at $10-12 million. • What is the annual debt service for the cost of the necessary upgrade? Approximately $80,000 per $1 million bonded. • What is the present revenue from the city land line fee? Landline fee is approximately $2.50 in the city and $1.50 in the county. • What is the present revenue from the City cell phone fee? Approximately $300,000 to $350,000. It was clarified that the City does not have a cell phone fee and the revenue that comes in is for the county. The fee is also set by the state. The City and County do not have any control over the fee. Additional Questions to be reviewed at a future meeting include: How many real estate parcels are in the County (including the City)? How many real estate parcels do not have a water meter? How many electric meters are in the County (including the City)? Carol Gault requested a copy of the most recent Federal Engineering study. Mayor Bray let the Committee know that he would send a copy of the study directly after the meeting. Additional discussion points included: Kevin Kauffeld asked Chief Laird if the City is fearful of a 911 failure and the Chief responded that we are concerned about potential failures of the system. Jewel Jones and Kevin Kauffeld would like to tour the 911 Communication Center before the next meeting of the committee. Eddie Jones would like the committee to discuss wants to talk about the governance of the agency, not just funding. County is the customer currently. REGULAR MEETINGS Carol Gault offered motion, seconded by Eddie Jones that regular meetings of the 911 Communications Oversight Committee shall be the second (2nd) and Fourth (4th) Mondays of the month at 1:30 p.m. in the Commission Chambers of City Hall (300 South 5th Street). All in favor. CLERK OF THE COMMITTEE The Committee decided that City Clerk Lindsay Parish would oversee notices and minutes for the Committee. BOARD OFFICERS The Committee decided to wait until the next meeting to elect a Chairperson of the Committee. ADJOURN Eddie Jones offered motion, seconded by Carol Gault to adjourn the meeting. January 10, 2022 All in favor. Time Adjourned: 2:09 p.m. ADOPTED: January 24, 2022 ______________________________ Committee Chairperson ATTEST: ________________________________ Lindsay Parish, City Clerk