2B, Ramsey Cty Consolidated Dispatch Center Update

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MEMORANDUM DATE: August 8, 2008 SUBJECT: Mayor and City Council Ron Moorse, City Administrator r ~ Ramsey County Consolidated Dispatch Center Update TO: FROM: On Monday, August 4, at the meeting of Ramsey County City Administrators, David Twa, Ramsey County Administrator, and Scott WilIams, Director of the consolidated dispatch center, provided an update regarding the dispatch center. They indicated that, although the dispatch center is experiencing growing pains, the center is operating well. The center is not yet fully staffed. Full staffing is a total of 114. The current staffing is 104. Eight additional call takers recently completed training. David Twa indicated an agreement has been reached with the Sheriff under which the Sheriff will not move forward with an effort to take over the center, and the County will add five additional call takers, beyond the 114, in 2009, and will hire a national expert to review the operation of the center. The dispatch center handles calls through call-takers, who answer all calls, input the call information into the computerized dispatch system, and forward the information electronically to the dispatchers. The dispatchers then communicate directly to the public safety staff. The call- takers are separated from the dispatchers, so that they communicate through the computer, rather than verbally. The Sheriff believes the call-takers should be located closer to the dispatchers. David Twa indicated it is premature to make substantial changes to the operation while they are still staffing up, and all staff are still getting used to the operation. He indicated that they will be open to looking at changes once they have some experience with the center at full staffing. \\Metro-inet\ardenhills\Admin\City Administrator\General documents\RCA's\agenda Memo_consol dispatch 8-8-08.doc