COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
MISSION STATEMENT: To operate and maintain a reliable and effective
communications system which is responsive to the public needs and City
operations.
The department operates
the City's Public Safety
Communications Center
(PSCC) and is responsible
for the installation and
maintenance of all City-owned electronic
communications equipment and telephone
systems. The department's primary goals
are to provide, operate, and maintain an
efficient, reliable communications system
that is customer oriented and operationally
responsive to the community, the City, and
staff needs during both routine and
emergency conditions. The department also
makes sure that all system components
are installed, maintained, and operated in
a cost-effective manner.
The majority of the department's resources
are directed to citizen requests. As the
City's 9-1-1 public safety answering point
(PSAP), the center receives 9-1-1
emergency and non-emergency calls for
public safety services and dispatches the
appropriate police, fire, and emergency
medical units. The center is staffed by 18
full-time employees and operates on a
continuous 24-hour basis. The City's
telephone system, and a majority of the
radio equipment inventory, are maintained
by private vendors on a contractual basis.
All other radios, public address systems,
closed circuit TV's, alarms, safety vehicle
emergency lighting, sirens, and other
electromechanical systems are maintained
by two full-time technicians.
COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
FY 2005-2006 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- The center continued to answer all
incoming 9-1-1 calls within the state's
recommended guidelines. Periodic
statistical usage reports provided by the
state's 9-1-1 Program office during this
past year indicate that the center
answered 28.47% of its calls in less than
five seconds and 97.35% of its calls in
less than ten seconds, which exceeded
the statewide average of answering
91.37% of the calls for centers this size.
According to the same reports, the center
answered 100% of the calls in less than
31 seconds, whereas the statewide
average was 36 seconds.
- This past year, through administration of
the City's alarm ordinance, the
department helped reduce the number of
police responses to false alarms and
generated approximately $38,945 in
service fees.
- The department continued to generate
revenue by leasing City property to
wireless carriers (cell) for
communications facilities. Currently,
we have completed a lease for three
locations and department staff is
continuing to work with a carrier at an
additional location. Currently, the City
is receiving approximately $8,000 per
month for wireless rental customers.
With one new site coming on line in
June 2006, this revenue will increase to
$10,200 per month.
- The department upgraded the 9-1-1
Emergency Telephone System, installed
five new ergonomic work stations, new
computer monitors, replaced carpeting,
and upgraded the digital Voice Print
recording system. Total cost of these
projects was approximately $172,000.
All of these costs were reimbursed to the
City by the State of California,
Department of General Services from
their 9-1-1 revenue fund.
- Obtained funding for a consultant who
completed an in-depth assessment of the
City's land-mobile radio system along
with recommendations for replacement
of the system.
- The Emergency Communications Center
served as the Beta site for the new
Windows-based CAD system developed
by the West Covina Services Group.
Project covered a 12-month period of
identifying software and operating
problems, so the new version may be
released to their customers with
minimum cut over problems.
- Renegotiated the Jail telephone
agreement increasing the City's share to
49% of revenue. Fiscal year 05-06
revenue will be $28,000 versus $10,500
the previous year, up 62% over previous
receipts.
- Replaced the Senior Center telephone
system and linked the facility to the City
PBX at City Hall. This eliminated five
telephone lines, rental cost at $30 per
month, saving $1,800 per year for Senior
Center operating costs. Also linked the
City Hall PBX network to the
Gymnasium. This also eliminated
another four telephone lines, at a cost of
$30 per month, saving $1,440 for
Gymnasium operating cost. Total
savings for the City were $3,240 per
year.
- Installed equipment on the radio
dispatch console that allows the Fire
ground channel to be patched to the Fire
Grey channel by the dispatcher, which
can then be activated upon request of the
first-in crew Captain. This will allow all
fire personnel to hear information
directly from the on-scene crew rather
than being re-broadcast by the
dispatcher. A significant improvement
for Fire communications.
FY 2006-2008 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Replace existing land-mobile radio
system which serves the police, fire, and
public works departments with a new
digital trunk radio system
- Obtain Council approval of user
fee to cover cost to purchase
system
- Continue to seek federal and state
funding sources
- Seek alternate financing methods
such as lease purchase
- Obtain Consultant to design system
specifications and oversee project
installation to specifications
required
- Bid project once funding is
obtained
- Complete installation and bring on-line new land-mobile radio system
by June 30, 2008
Generate revenue for General Fund
- Market City-owned properties for
lease to wireless carriers
- Develop rental agreement with Mt.
San Antonio Community College
to locate an FM radio broadcast
equipment antenna and TV studio
broadcast equipment and antenna
at BKK tower
- Bring a minimum of one (1) more
wireless carrier on-line paying
rental fees by August 30, 2006
Reduce telephone cost for City
departments
- Continue to review and seek lower
cost with wireless telephone
carriers for line and usage costs
Continue to seek state and federal funds
to upgrade the Communications Center
operations
Improve security of BKK radio tower
site
- Install new security gate
- Install security lighting
- Install remote security camera
PERFORMANCE MEASURES
AUTHORIZED POSITIONS
* The department continues to have one vacant full-time dispatch position due to staff's inability to recruit
qualified candidates. The use of part-time and over-time dispatch hours to meet minimum staffing levels will
continue to be necessary.
BUDGET COMMENTS
The department's fiscal year 2006-2008
budgets are marginally sufficient to ensure
all services will be maintained. The
department continues to experience
difficulty in recruiting qualified applicants
for the public safety dispatcher positions
who can successfully complete the required
training program. Currently, the department
has one vacancy. The overtime budget and
vacant position funds are sufficient to allow
the center to continue providing for 9-1-1
and other calls for service at the current
level of service. The materials and services
portion of the budget has been reduced
significantly over the past couple of years
and current funding continues to limit
preventative maintenance being provided at
a desired level.
BUDGET ISSUES
The most pressing department unfunded
items are funds for replacement and/or
upgrade of the Public Safety Radio
Network. The equipment in this network is
in excess of nineteen (19) years old. It is
obsolete and no longer supported by the
manufacturer, and factory replacement parts
are no longer available. Estimated cost to
replace the entire system is approximately
$9 million. Recommend it be funded in
fiscal year 2006-2007 and continue to be
given high priority for completion.
ACTIVITY TREE
BUDGET SUMMARY
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