COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Employee and Public Services Department

DATE:

August 5, 2004

BOARD MEETING DATE:

August 31, 2004

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Mary Welch, Director of Employee and Public Services

Jaime D. Young, Public Safety Communications Division

SUBJECT:

Agreement between the City of South San Francisco and the County of San Mateo for the provision of fire and emergency medical services communications/dispatch services.

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board to execute an agreement between the County of San Mateo and the City of South San Francisco for fire and emergency medical communications/dispatch services.

BACKGROUND:

On September 15, 1998, the Board of Supervisors approved a five year agreement between the County and AMR, providing the citizens of the County with fire/paramedic first response and emergency ambulance service. Under the terms of this agreement, Public Safety Communications provides dispatching services for both the JPA and AMR but not for the City of South San Francisco. South San Francisco Police Department’s Communications Division has historically provided police, fire and EMS communications and does so today.

DISCUSSION:

The County has provided fire and emergency medical communications services for the JPA and AMR for over five years. The City of South San Francisco has determined that the County can more effectively provide the services, under the terms of this agreement.

Public Safety Communications will dispatch for all fire and EMS first responders for South San Francisco. Public Safety Communications will assume full-time communications/dispatch services on a 24 hour a day, seven-days a week as follows:

• Emergency telephone answering for all agencies for both fire and medical services

• Dispatching emergency calls within 60 seconds from the first notification

• Answering emergency radio traffic on the primary frequency within 10 seconds

• Bi-yearly dispatcher proficiency testing

These are the same services provided to all other JPA members. By adding South San Francisco the result will be a more coordinated and streamlined dispatch of services and allocation of resources.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

This agreement keeps the commitment of ensuring basic health and safety for all through goal number 7: Maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The City of South San Francisco will pay the County $104,898 for the first year of the agreement. The fee will be adjusted annually based on staffing costs. Public Safety Communications will be able to take on the additional duties with its current staffing level.