Regional Dispatching Meeting July 13, 2015

Transcription

1 Regional Dispatching Meeting July 13, 2015 Attendees Present Eric Winebrenner, Kansas City Missouri Police Department Bob Baer, Gladstone Police Department Will Akin, Clay County Sheriff s Office Erik Holland, Platte County Sheriff s Office Andy Hedrick, Liberty Police Department James Brafford, Raytown Police Department Mike Snider, Liberty Police Department John Yocum, Ft. Osage Fire Protection District Steve Davidson, Johnson County Sheriff s Office Walt Way, Johnson County Emergency Communications Kris Turnbow, Cass County Emergency Services Board Jan Zimmerman, Raymore Police Department Rick Poeschl, Lee s Summit Fire Department Paul Berardi, Kansas City Missouri Fire Department Gordon Fowlston, Riverside Police Department Chris Skinrood, Riverside Police Department Greg Mills, Riverside Police Department Mike Shelton, Riverside Police Department Mike Schumacher, City of Kansas City Missouri Michael Grigsby, Kansas City Missouri Police Department Steve Hoskins, Kansas City Missouri Police Department Michael Prindle, Harrisonville Police Department John Hofer, Harrisonville Police Department Robert Driscoll, Pleasant Hill Police Department Virgel Stigall, Lenexa Police Department Kevin Cauley, Leawood Police Department Kevin Whittaker, Motorola, Inc. Travis Forbes, Lee s Summit Police Department John Cato, Independence Police Department Gordon Abraham, Independence Police Department Todd Farley, Central Jackson County Fire Protection District Randy Powers, South Metro Fire Protection District Gary Fisher, North Kansas City Fire Department Jim Bagley, North Kansas City Police Department Tony Avery, Platte County Sheriff s Office Mark Owen, Platte County Sheriff s Office Chris Sicoli, Kansas City Missouri Police Department Julie Steenson, City of Kansas City Missouri Vince Boucher, Kansas City Missouri Fire Department Nathan Dougan, Kansas City Missouri Fire Department Jeane Fracassa, Kansas City Missouri Police Department Dawn Deterding, Kansas City Missouri Police Department Richard Carrizzo, South Platte Fire Protection District MARC Staff Adam Geffert Hassan Al-Rubaie Terry Bradshaw Keith Faddis David Warm Marlene Nagel Call to Order and Introductions Keith Faddis welcomed attendees and introductions were made.

2 Background on Current Discussions Keith Faddis indicated that all agencies in attendance were within the footprint of the MARRS radio system. In the past, one of the greatest impediments to creating a regional dispatching system was the cost of radio systems. With MARRS, that impediment has been removed. The regional dispatching project is primarily a Missouri effort, but Kansas agencies currently do a significant amount of work together, particularly in Johnson County, so agencies from the Kansas side have been asked to participate as well. Aside from this current plan, other areas of the region have been looking at consolidation recently, such as Clay County, which is still reviewing possible solutions. Claycomo PD has contracted with KCPD to dispatch for them, and the Kansas City Missouri Fire Department has been dispatching for several agencies for many years. Discussions have been held with MARC staff and KCPD staff to make sure this is something both entities are interested in pursuing before proceeding any further. In all discussions about consolidation, the ultimate goal must be to improve service. Saving money will happen eventually, but that cannot be the main goal. Public Safety Committee Presentation Mike Schumacher shared a PowerPoint presentation with details of the regional dispatching plan. Over the last several months, the Kansas City Police Department has looked at changing the way the communications department operates. The Kansas City Fire Department has also been considering this concept. The PD inquired among other agencies to determine if there was interest in a regional dispatching operation managed by a separate entity. Several agencies responded that they would be interested is participating in such an endeavor, and the Kansas City Council has given the city approval to research a regional dispatching concept. Additionally, the KC Scout Fiber agreement has been completed and is now ready to be signed. This project began when Kansas City PD chose to install Intergraph s CAD software, which is what Johnson County currently uses. Kansas City IT recalled that KC Scout had dark fiber that was originally installed for public safety applications. Scout was approached about this and indicated they would be willing to share the fiber. The MARRS Management Council will oversee and govern this project. A link will be created using this fiber to provide redundancy between Kansas City and Johnson County. There is no cost, and the fiber may be available to be used for other purposes in the future as well. For the regional dispatching project, it will be critical to figure out the actual cost of dispatch. KCPD and other agencies will need to determine whether it is fiscally possible to share these services. An example that is already in place is KCPD s agreement with Claycomo PD. Steve Hoskins stated that KCPD looked at call data for Claycomo and determined the percentage of activity for a calltaker for the year. A cost total was determined based on that data. Initially, KCPD charged Claycomo $30,000 for one year of dispatching. Once some additional data was obtained, it was determined that costs were actually much lower, so KCPD reduced the charge to $16,000 a year Legislation Update Steve Hoskins stated that many individuals have worked diligently to get wireless funding passed in Missouri. Hoskins noted that every conversation he has had with legislators has included discussion of consolidation. Nearly all legislators in the state believe there are too many PSAPs. There will be a push from Jefferson City to force consolidate across the state. The MARC region is already virtually consolidated, by sharing both a and radio system. The region may be able to use the goal of regional dispatching to help legislation pass, by stating that funds are needed to pursue this goal.

3 Committee/Working Groups Keith Faddis noted that stakeholder involvement at all stages is critical to a successful regional dispatching operation. Faddis shared a handout listing potential committees and working groups that may be formed to work through this issue. There will an executive committee and steering committee, and multiple workgroups to discuss very aspects of the project. The governance committees will likely be the first ones that will be filled. Faddis also shared a number of survey documents included in the packet that were taken from another study. He asked agencies present to begin completing them to assess the costs of their current operation and staff needs. Lastly, a document was shared from APCO, which listed points to be considered about consolidation. Next Meeting The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 20 th, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. in the MARC Board Room.

4 Regional Dispatching Meeting August 24, 2015 Attendees Present David Epperson, Jackson County Sheriff Bill Galvin, IAFF Local 42 Chuck Zang, Kansas City Missouri Fire Department Roger Mayberry, Raymore Police Department Ali Aramjoo, Kansas City Missouri Police Department Robin Tieman, Cass County ESB James Simpson, Liberty Police Department Jared McGinley, Pleasant Valley Police Department Ron Graham, Grandview Fire Department Craig Compton, Kansas City Fire Department Jim Person, Belton Police Department Doug Short, Independence Fire Department Ken Jarnagin, Independence Police Department Dave Williams, Leawood Fire Department Mark Allen, City of Kansas City Missouri Sonta Wilburn, Overland Park Police Department Bill Willoughby, Gladstone Police Department Bob Hays, Gladstone Police Department Mark Kessler, Overland Park Police Department Charles Iseman, Grandview Police Department Richard Rodgers, Grandview Police Department James Brafford, Raytown Police Department Mike Snider, Liberty Fire Department Kevin Cauley, Leawood Police Department John Yocum, Ft. Osage Fire Protection District Travis Forbes, Lee s Summit Police Department Steve Davidson, Johnson County Sheriff s Office John Cato, Independence Police Department Walt Way, Johnson County Emergency Communications Randy Powers, South Metro Fire Protection District Jan Zimmerman, Raymore Police Department Gary Fisher, North Kansas City Fire Department Rick Poeschl, Lee s Summit Fire Department Jim Bagley, North Kansas City Police Department Paul Berardi, Kansas City Missouri Fire Department Tony Avery, Platte County Sheriff s Office Gordon Fowlston, Riverside Police Department Chris Sicoli, Kansas City Missouri Police Department Chris Skinrood, Riverside Police Department Vince Boucher, Kansas City Missouri Fire Department Mike Shelton, Riverside Police Department Nathan Dougan, Kansas City Missouri Fire Department Michael Grigsby, Kansas City Missouri Police Department Jeane Fracassa, Kansas City Missouri Police Department Dawn Deterding, Kansas City Missouri Police Department MARC Staff Adam Geffert Hassan Al-Rubaie Ben Chlapek Keith Faddis Saralyn Hayes Marlene Nagel Call to Order and Introductions Keith Faddis welcomed attendees and introductions were made. Background on Current Discussions Keith Faddis noted that not all present had heard the background for this project at previous meetings, and quickly recapped the objective of the group. All agencies in attendance fit within the footprint of the MARRS radio system. In the past, one of the greatest impediments to creating a regional dispatching system was the cost of radio systems. With MARRS, that impediment has been removed. The regional dispatching project is primarily a Missouri effort, but Kansas agencies currently do a significant amount of work together, particularly in Johnson County, so agencies from the Kansas side have been asked to participate as well. Aside from this current plan, other areas of the region have been looking at consolidation recently, such as Clay County,

5 which is still reviewing possible solutions. Claycomo PD has contracted with KCPD to dispatch for them, and the Kansas City Missouri Fire Department has been dispatching for several agencies for many years. Discussions have been held with MARC staff and KCPD staff to make sure this is something both entities are interested in pursuing before proceeding any further. In all discussions about consolidation, the ultimate goal must be to improve service. Saving money will likely happen eventually, but that cannot be the main goal. Discussion No formal agenda was created for this meeting. Instead, group members were asked to share their concerns and ideas about the plan. Chief Boucher stated that the focus of the last two meeting has been mostly concept oriented. To move forward, the group needs to decide the specific details of the plan. Steve Hoskins reminded the group that KCPD is not interested in taking over the operations of other agencies. Instead, KCPD would like to take the dispatch unit and move it outside of the police department so it is no long under that command structure. The long term goal is a stand-alone entity run by a board. No KCPD employees will lose their jobs, but, as they leave, those positions will no longer be KCPD job positions. The organizational structure needs to be developed first, then the focus can shift to the operational side. Chief Berardi indicated that both police and fire entities will need to have similar governance structures. Chief Simpson stated that there is confusion between what KCPD and KCFD are trying to do. A clearer structure needs be defined before some entities will consider joining. Are both police and fire entities trying to accomplish these goals at the same time, or one after the other? Chief Yocum stated he was also confused, noting that KCPD wants agencies to join together, whereas KCFD would prefer to contract their services out. Attendees asked what MARC s goal was for this project. Faddis responded stating that MARC will likely be the oversight board for the project, but won t dictate the path to be taken. If agencies want MARC to run the project, it can, but only after stakeholders have made decisions on how it should be done. Faddis likened the approach to what MARC already does for services. Marlene Nagel suggested the next step might be to review different operational models to begin mapping out options. Doing so would allow the group to determine what the governance structure would need to be for each option. Chief Simpson shared concern that KCPD and KCFD dispatchers are represented by a union, which may cause staffing problems that elected officials may not be interest in dealing with. Faddis noted that dispatchers from KCPD and other agencies would leave by attrition and be replaced by MARC employees. Chief Zimmerman indicated that there is fear in small PSAPs that people will lose their jobs, as well as managing collateral duties. Major Skinrood stated that his agency is concerned about funding. How will they be able to pay for collateral duties if they are also paying for dispatch services in this arrangement? Simpson noted that many smaller agencies will have a hard time making decisions without something more concrete in place. Faddis asked for volunteers to contact him if interested in joining the governance committee, so that these issues can be addressed. With no further discussion, the meeting was adjourned.

6 Regional Dispatching Governance Meeting November 17, 2015 Attendees Present Charles Iseman, Grandview Police Department Mike Snider, Liberty Fire Department Jan Zimmerman, Raymore Police Department Paul Berardi, Kansas City, Missouri, Fire Department Gordon Fowlston, Riverside Police Department Chris Skinrood, Riverside Police Department Mike Schumacher, City of Kansas City, Mo. Mike Hasty, Gladstone Police Department Steve Hoskins, Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department MARC Staff Keith Faddis Adam Geffert Keith Faddis welcomed attendees and introductions were made. Faddis discussed potential governance options that were available. One governance example is the single agency, such as what is found in most regional police departments and sheriff s offices. A second, which could be referred to as a single agency with an advisory board, can be seen locally in agencies such as the Johnson County ECC. A third option, the stand-alone entity, is represented locally by the Cass County Emergency Services Board. The fourth option, which is not present locally at this time, would be the regional dispatch operation with a board. Essex County, Massachusetts, functions in this way. Funding options for this fourth option could be taxbased, or determined by population or calls for service. Steve Hoskins stated that this new entity would have to determine how to work with calltaker and dispatcher unions. Charles Iseman added that differing pay rates and pensions between agencies may become an issue. Mike Schumacher noted that existing employees will keep their benefits and remain employees of the agencies for which they currently work. Schumacher indicated that unlike Kansas City, Missouri employees, dispatchers working for this entity will not face a residency requirement. Several attendees raised concerns over different procedures between agencies and the need to avoid special cases. Steve Hoskins responded saying that having a board in place would help address these kinds of issues. Policy manuals will need to be created prior to beginning operations. Iseman stated that there will be a need to show heads of agencies that there will be a cost savings to convince them to join. Faddis noted that startup costs in the first year can be expensive, but improvements in service can be significant. Chris Skinrood noted that administrative tasks that are currently performed by dispatchers at their agencies will remain an issue. If dispatchers leave, who will perform these tasks, and how will they be paid? With no further discussion, the meeting was adjourned.