Minutes 12-13-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1) Review of the VIPER (Voice Interoperability Plan for Emergency Responders) Original Design and Implementation and Strategies to Improve Coverage and Capacity; 2) E911 Communications Center Improvement Plan; 3) Discussion with the Board of County Commissioners Regarding Plans to Improve the Emergency Medical Services Delivery System; 4) Review of Fire Department Issues Relating to Fire Protection Districts, Fire Insurance Districts and Fire Tax Districts as Related to Property Insurance Ratings; and 5) Summary of Financial Implications to Provide Emergency Services Coverage, Capacity, and System Improvements. The Board directed staff to bring a plan back that established a workgroup to address issues related to the items presented for the purpose of seeking input. Staff has contacted and discussed workgroup makeup options with several senior fire and rescue members and senior law enforcement members. The workgroup is recommended to consist of members from the volunteer and municipal fire and rescue group, a municipal law enforcement senior officer, a representative from the Sheriff's Office, and members from the Emergency Services Department. The County Attorney's Office, Medical Director and County staff will be utilized as needed. The group will provide its recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. The group will meet probably between 6-12 months. The scope of services will include but will not be limited to: 1. Review VIPER system improvements and provide input. 2. Review the preliminary findings of Solutions for Local Government, Inc. and provide input (Note: the Board of County Commissioners. will consider authorizing a contract with Solutions for Local Government in a subsequent agenda item later in this meeting.) 3. Provide the Board with alternative short-term and long-term solutions relating to Fire Protections Districts, Fire Insurance Districts and Fire Tax Districts. 4. Review the Fire Departments Strategic Plan once complete and provide input. PUBLIC COMMENT: Bill Waddell, President of Orange Grove Volunteer Fire Company, read a prepared statement. Response to the County agenda for December 13tH Item 8C - Reframe the workgroup. (Speaker: Bill Waddell) Thank you for deciding to form an Emergency Services workgroup to address the critical issues which we brought to your attention last September. As you know, Orange County is facing major issues that impact our safety and the safety of the public -including: • Radio outages in buildings throughout the county • Poor ambulance response times especially. in the rural parts of the county. • Reacting to changed insurance underwriting policies causing sharp increases in homeowner insurance premiums in over a thousand Orange County households. • Outdated systems in the 911 call center -which appear to be contributing to response .time delays and other dispatch problems With this new workgroup, the emergency stakeholders including the rural fire departments can work together find solutions that work system wide and that taxpayers can afford.