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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: November 17, 2011 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. <br />SUBJECT: E911 Communications Center Improvement Plan <br />DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENTS: <br />1) May 2009 Report to the BOCC <br />2) March 2010 Report to the Assembly of <br />Governments <br />3) November 17, 2011 Updated Report <br />Data <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />F. R. Montes de Oca, 919-245-6100 <br />Michael Talbert, 919-245-2153 <br />PURPOSE: To receive background and historical information regarding the Orange County <br />Emergency 911 Center and needs for improvements. <br />BACKGROUND: The Orange County 911 Center is the public safety answering point for <br />residents to access emergency services agencies. It originated in the former Orange County <br />Sheriff's Office at Columbia and Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill. It is a branch of Orange <br />County Emergency Services and is staffed by dedicated professionals around the clock. The <br />following is a history of the achievements within the 911 Center supported by the Board of <br />County Commissioners: <br />- 1977: Orange County accepts responsibility for answering all emergency calls <br />- 1981: 911 center moves to residential structure at 1914 New Hope Church Road <br />- 1990: Center became an enhanced 911 center (E911) <br />- 1991: Center moves to the basement of 1914 New Hope Church Road <br />- 1992: Implements computer-aided dispatch (CAD) <br />- 1996: Adopted Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) <br />- 2001: Began discussions to upgrade communications technology <br />- 2004: Grants received to fund VIPER project <br />- 2007: Received communications and first responder radio equipment <br />- 2009: 911 Center moves to 510 Meadowlands Drive <br />- 2009: Transitioned to VIPER <br />Previous Emergency Services Reports <br />On May 5, 2009, the Emergency Services Director reported to the Board a need for. additional <br />resources including staffing and equipment to improve response times, which at the time were <br />17 minutes rather than the goal of 12 minutes. <br />On March 25, 2010, the Director of Emergency Services reported to the Assembly of <br />Governments on the continued need for resources to reduce increasing response times. <br />