Currently the only Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in the Southern portion of Yuma County is located in the City of Somerton. The PSAP is monitored and answered by the Somerton Police Department Dispatch Center. The PSAP was assigned there over twenty (20) years ago when the City of San Luis had a much smaller area and population. As a result, any 9-1-1 calls originating from the area of the City of San Luis are directed to the City of Somerton Police Dispatch Center or the Yuma County Sheriff’s Communications Center.

Once the Somerton Dispatcher or Yuma County Sheriff's Office (YCSO) determines the caller needs assistance in the City of San Luis, the 9-1-1 caller is placed on hold. The Somerton Police Dispatch or YCSO Dispatch calls our Dispatch Center over the radio and notifies the San Luis Police Department (SLPD) that the PSAP will be transferring a 9-1-1 call to SLPD along with a short synopsis of the call. This process wastes a great amount of valuable time, and crucial information is occasionally lost during the transfer of the emergency call to our agency. There are many benefits that will be provided to our residents by SLPD with the implementation of this system. The dispatcher will not only be able to obtain the crucial 9-1-1 information immediately through the direct contact with the caller, the dispatcher will also be able to trace the call using Global Positioning System (GPS) if the address cannot be provided at the time. Instant playback of the call allows the recorded call to be listened to instantly, in the event that crucial information was missed. With this system in our Dispatch Center, the City’s emergency services can respond rapidly, efficiently, and with accurate information.

The vast majority of 9-1-1 calls received by the Somerton PSAP are calls originating from the City of San Luis. Both the San Luis Fire and Police Departments have long known of our need to have our own PSAP in San Luis. Until recently the cost of hosting our own PSAP was cost prohibitive. The City was quoted a cost around $300,000.00 to install and maintain the PSAP 9-1-1 system. Though the City of San Luis could not afford the high cost of the system, the City has already demonstrated the need for the service. With over 35,000 calls for service and 9,000 9-1-1 calls, the City’s 9-1-1 call volume far exceeds the minimum call volume required by the state in order to have our own system. The State of Arizona currently lacks the funding to establish new PSAP's. This is not to say that funding may not be available in the future. As new technology becomes less expensive, the state could possibly make funding available to assist new PSAP's to cover the annual costs.
 
Recently, the Area PSAP Coordinator notified us of a change in the fee structure of the system which would allow the City of San Luis to have a PSAP. The cost of a new PSAP has been reduced to $2,000.00 per station, per month. The City would be required to convert three dispatch stations to PSAP's. In addition, there is a one-time installation cost of $10,727.00. The total cost to the City of San Luis would be a one-time cost of $10,727.00 for the installation, and an on-going annual cost of $72,000.00 with a minimum 5 year maintenance contract, which is standard.
 
The Police Department is requesting authorization to purchase the one-time installation cost of $10,727.00 and first year annual maintenance cost of $72,000.00 for three PSAP stations. The $10,727.00 would be an “up front” cost, while the annual cost would be paid after installation. The ordering of the equipment, installation and training usually takes about 90 days. This purchase complies with Section 36.01 (G), of the San Luis City Purchasing Code for state contracts based on Arizona State Contract ADSPO14-079526.
 
The $72,000.00 price is a significant savings from the previously quoted costs of almost $300,000.00. Seconds after receiving an emergency call, with the caller still providing information, life-saving assistance can be en-route to the emergency. Our dispatchers are truly the first responders in any emergency situation. Adequate equipment is necessary to offer clear communication, immediate response, and provide better service to our residents. Dispatchers rely on visual information from their computer-aided dispatch screens and audible information from telephones and radios. This requires high quality and reliable equipment to provide the best service possible. Not having this crucial system could possibly compromise the lives of our citizens and adversely impact the City.

This purchase complies with the San Luis Purchasing Code Section 36.02, Exclusive Services, because only Century Link provides this service.  At the time of publishing of the Agenda, the City Attorney was working with Century Link to negotiate the terms of the contract.  The City Attorney will provide the contract when it is finalized.