Consideration and Approval of Grant Agreement:  Arizona Text-to- 911 Grant Agreement between Arizona Department of Administration Office (ADOA) of Grants and Federal Resources and the City of Flagstaff acting as System Administrator for Coconino County.

Flagstaff Police Department acting as 911 System Administrator for Coconino County Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) was awarded $56,700 in grant funds from the Arizona Department of Administration Office of Grants and Federal Resources. This grant funds the implementation and operational costs of Text-to-911 for Flagstaff Police Department, Williams Police Department, Grand Canyon Police Department, and Page Police Department for a period of five (5) years.

The grant award is $56,700 which will fund all of Coconino County's Text-to 911 operational costs 100%. The FY 2019-20 Budget for this grant program is $25,200.

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Effective Governance - Regional Plan (2030) - Planning, Public Safety, Goal PF.3 Provide high-quality emergency response and public safety services.

No. In 2018, the State of Arizona 911 office was combined with the Arizona Department of Administration Office of Grants and Federal Resources Office. In 2017, a federal court in Arizona mandated the State 911 Office to pay for the cost of Text -to-911 state wide so those that are deaf, hearing impaired or unable to speak can have equal access to emergency services.

Approve the acceptance of the grant or decline the acceptance of the grant.

In 2016, the Arizona Department of Administration Office (ADOA) of Grants and Federal Resources State 911 Office was sued by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) for not providing Text-to-911 services for those that are hard of hearing or deaf. In 2017, an Arizona federal court ruled that the state 911 fund must include Text-to 911 services for the entire state. In response to the lawsuit, the ADOA Grants and Federal Resources State 911 Office set aside the funds to provide this service statewide.
In 2018, The Flagstaff Police Department upgraded the telephone system so that it was ready to implement Text-to-911. The Flagstaff Police Department acting as System Administrator for Coconino County applied for the Text-to-911 grant in 2018 and was approved in October 2019.  This grant will pay for the implementation and operational costs of Text-to-911 for Flagstaff Police Department, Williams Police Department, Page Police Department, and Grand Canyon National Park.
The goal of the Arizona Department of Administration Office of Grants and Federal Resources State 911 Office is to have the entire State using Text-to-911 by the end of 2021. It will be a requirement for the upcoming FY21 Budget process.

There are approximately 250,000 people in Arizona that are deaf, hard of hearing or unable to speak. Implementing Text-to-911 will allow them faster access to emergency services. It will also provide access to emergency services for those in domestic violence or kidnapping situations that might not be able to speak because the suspect is there with them.

Providing Text-to-911 will provide quick and reliable emergency services for those that are unable to communicate by speaking.