HERMOSA BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT

MEMORANDUM

 

SUBJECT: REGIONAL POLICE AND FIRE COMMUNICATIONS STUDY

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Office of the Fire Chief has been participating with Police Department staff in the study of feasibility and fact finding surrounding the contract for services of public safety communications and dispatching proposed by the City of El Segundo. This report is companion to an Administrative Report from the Office of the Chief of Police which contains the study objectives, demographics, costs, and background information. This report will summarize the position of the Fire Chief.

 

CHIEF'S REPORT

The basis of the study has been to gather then analyze information and data relative to public safety dispatch communications alternatives available to the City of Hermosa Beach that best meet the current and future needs for improved service and responsiveness to the citizens and public safety personnel of the City.

The fire department, for all practical purposes, sells only one product: service. The department must continually seek out ways to supply a high-quality product at either the same cost or reduced cost. We owe it to our customers. The formation of strategic alliances between fire departments and contracts for service is not only a way to cope with the current environment, but it can be a way to provide an efficient and effective means to deliver service quicker, better, and possibly even less costly.

Regionalized communications and dispatch centers have inherent features that can lead to increased efficiency; improved effectiveness; enhanced or expanded services; reduction of duplication; depth of service; improved or enhanced service levels; better communications; cost saving considerations; coordination of regional planning; standardization of services; and potentially reduced Insurance Services Office rating for departments involved.

Insofar as public agencies are concerned, communications centers represent the start and finish of all emergency calls for service. The communications center bridges the gap between the customer - the citizen, and the provider - the public safety agency. Response times to the community will most likely improve (time that the 9-1-1 call is answered, dispatched, to arrival on scene). This improvement is due to a better staffing level and configuration.

One of the advantages of a contractual agreement is that an organization is held accountable to the identified performance criteria. Benefits from this agreement include:

 

• Use of modern communications equipment including VHF band repeater frequencies leading to improved radio coverage. Additional radio channels: one main dispatch channel and two tactical frequencies.
• Staffing levels - structured supervision with two dispatchers and a supervisor on duty.
• Dedicated "fire" dispatchers - trained in fire based Incident Command System. Communications center awareness of available regional resources in support of EMS, fire, hazardous materials, and other emergency service-type incidents.
• RMS system CAD is compatible with Sunpro. West Covina is a Sunpro user which will enable future transition to NFIRS.
• Single-stage dispatching.
• Seamless automatic-aid delivery.
• Insurance Services Office (ISO) grading improvement.
• State-of-the-art Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for local and regional disaster operations.
• Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMD) trained to provide first-aid and life-saving directions to the caller.

 

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the City Council consider all aspects of regionalizing communications by contracting with the City of El Segundo to provide communication and dispatch services and to direct staff appropriately.

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