Agenda - 03-22-2012 - 7b - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Orange County 911 Center is the public safety answering point for residents to access emergency services agencies. It originated in the former Orange County Sheriff's Office at Columbia and Rosemary Streets in Chapel Hill. It is a branch of Orange County Emergency Services and is staffed by dedicated professionals around the ctock. On December 13, 2011, the Board discussed the Emergency Medical System Delivery and E911 Communications Center improvements. There was consensus that the County needed to develop a strategic plan to improve the County's Emergency Management Services Delivery System and E911 Communications Center. The County requested and has received a proposal from Solutions for Local Government, Inc. to assess and study the operations of both the County's Emergency Medical Services and E911 Communications Center. The Charge for the ESW included reviewing alternatives and making recommendations for the following: System improvements for EMS Ambulance response times including but not limited to equipment, staffing, facility's and/or a strategic plan, to define data elements for meaningful analytical data as related to ambulance response time and to discuss and review that data. Improvements for the E911 Communications Center including but not limited to technology, equipment, staffing, training and/or a strategic plan. On March 13, 2012 the ESW reviewed the scope of services for each area provided by Steve Allan, President of Solutions for Local Government, Inc. The ESW added to the scope of services a plan for meetings with the stakeholders including: municipal fire departments, rural fire departments, municipal law enforcement, the Sheriff and the County Medical Director. The ESW recommends the original scope of services outlined by Solutions for Local Government plus the additional meetings to the Orange County Board of Commissioners. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The cost to contract with Solutions for Local Government, Inc. to assess and study the operations of both the County's Emergency Medical Services and E911 Communications Center will not exceed $28,000. The Emergency Telephone System Fund has adequate fund balance to cover this cost and a budget amendment will be submitted for the Board to approve on April 17, 2012 to fund this study. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board authorize staff to enter into a contract with Solutions for Local Government, Inc. to develop a multi-year strategic plan addressing Emergency Medical Services System and E911 Communications Center needs, based on the attached scope of services and additional stakeholder meetings, and authorize the Manager to execute the contract.