TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Steve Powers, City Manager
FROM: Robert Barron, Chief Financial Officer
SUBJECT:
title
Authorizing a transfer of FY 2021 Willamette Valley Communications Center fund budget appropriations
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Good Governance; Safe Community
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ISSUE:
Shall the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2020-45, authorizing a transfer of appropriations within the Willamette Valley Communications Fund Budget to purchase the phone equipment for two additional stations to comply with social distancing requirements?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2020-45, authorizing a transfer of appropriations within the Willamette Valley Communications Fund Budget to purchase the phone equipment for two additional stations to comply with social distancing requirements.
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SUMMARY:
State law allows the City Council to approve transfers of appropriations within the limits established by the adopted budget to address unforeseen changes. Resolution No. 2020-45 transfers a total of $60,000 within the FY 2021 budget.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
Fund 330, Willamette Valley Communications Center Fund
From: Contingency, 330-35502000-61110, $60,000
To: Capital Outlay, 330-35502000-55130, $60,000
Appropriations are needed for the purchase of equipment for the Willamette Valley Communications Center (WVCC) in order to meet social distancing guidelines and to increase capacity for 9-1-1 call taking and dispatch services. This expense is likely eligible for reimbursement through the CARES Act grant.
BACKGROUND:
WVCC provides 9-1-1 call answering and dispatch services for the city’s police, fire and emergency medical services providers as well as 27 other public safety agencies in Marion, Polk and Lincoln counties.
Due to the complexities of the 9-1-1 phone system, these are services that must be provided from WVCC’s physical location and cannot be provided through a work from home arrangement. WVCC is currently adding two additional positions to the dispatch floor in order to better meet social distancing guidelines as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This involves the acquisition of specialized ergonomic workstation furniture, computers and 9-1-1 phone equipment. Funds for the furniture and computers has been obtained through the reprogramming of current year budget appropriations that were earmarked for the replacement of existing furniture and computers. Appropriations for the 9-1-1 phone equipment will be created through the execution of this transfer.
These positions are needed to support the training of new call takers and dispatchers, and to increase our capacity for answering 9-1-1 calls. Currently, trainers sit side by side with the employee in training, so that they can closely monitor the call and provide assistance should the call require a more experienced dispatcher. The addition of these two positions will allow for the trainers to sit at a socially distanced location while still having the ability to seamlessly step into the call if needed.
An added benefit of this expansion is the increase in capacity that these positions will bring, allowing WVCC to be better prepared to answer the significant increase in calls that would accompany a large outbreak of the COVID virus. The recent wildfires in Marion and Lincoln county illustrated just how much we are under capacity for such an event.
Josh Eggleston
Budget Officer
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 2020-45