CITY OF SPOKANE
51K it 808 SPOKANE FALLS BLVD.

.- SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 99201-3327
509.625.6250

 

    

November 20, 2018

Spokane City Council
808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.
Spokane, WA 99201

Dear Council President Stuckart Members of the Council,

I am writing to clarify my veto of Ordinance C35693, which establishes new training
requirements for employees providing police and ?re dispatch services and requires dispatch
services for Spokane Police Department and Spokane Fire Department employees be performed
solely by City employees.

This ordinance is designed to limit the ability of the City to join the integrated emergency
communications system that is being developed jointly by the ?rst responders in our county. The
ordinance achieves this outcome??rst by codifying extensive training requirements for ?re and
police dispatchers that are best handled through basic hiring requirements de?ned in Civil
Service job descriptions and then ultimately by placing unreasonable restrictions on how our
employees can interact within the community. Fear of change should never drive the
development of legislation, especially such narrowly de?ned requirements that have no policy
purpose but are simply designed to stop a discussion.

The ordinance also attempts to seize the authority of the Mayor to manage administrative
employees and City operations. I quote the Council?s letter to City Attorney Mike and
Human Resources Director Chris Cavanaugh dated October 22, 2018, expressing your concerns
about an investigation into employee concerns. You wrote, ?The Charter also makes clear the
separation between the branches by speci?cally stating that Council members do not have the
authority to direct the actions of employees of the executive branch.? This Charter direction is
appropriate here as well.

Let?s be clear, though. City Council has been included and involved throughout this process. The
interlocal agreement creating the Regional Governance Work Group on this issue was amended
in August 2017 to include a member of the City Council. This amendment coincided with the
Council?s resolution to proceed with investigation of an integration of emergency
communications. Since that time, Council Members Kinnear, Beggs, and Stratton have served in
that role at various times. Additionally, an update on the integration process has been presented
at nearly every Public Safety Committee meeting over the last year. Most recently, detailed
written responses to the Council?s questions were delivered to Council Member Beggs.

Ultimately, the law enforcement, ?re, and emergency communication agencies involved in
deve10ping the integrated emergency communications system have work ahead in this process of

Spokane City Council
November 20, 2018
Page 2

integration. Admittedly, we don?t have all the details yet of what an integrated system will look
like, behave, and cost, but we have some very compelling initial information.

Today, the City pays about $4.2 million for emergency communications services for our police
and ?re services. If we join the system, the combined ?nancial resources from dedicated funding
sources would take over, and eventually, that $4.2 million cost to the General Fund will go away,
allowing us to prioritize other services. While our General Fund costs would go down, we also
would see enhanced services, including additional capacity to handle calls from the north part of
our community and improved data capture and reports taken through Crime Check. We don?t
have ?nal employment and bene?ts information yet for our employees, but we are in the midst
of impacts bargaining with our labor groups to get to those details.

If we don?t join the regional system, we would anticipate the costs to the General Fund to go up a
bit from where they are today?to about $4.7 million annually, or about a half million dollars
more. Since the other 13 ?re agencies served through our Fire Dispatch have already committed
to the new integrated system, we would no longer need so many employees; we would anticipate
laying off in the neighborhood of 10 employees. We wouldn?t have the ability to guarantee them
employment with the new integrated system. Duplication of services always has a cost.

Integration of the emergency communications system doesn?t just deliver ?nancial results. This
system has incredible potential for improved public safety outcomes for our community. We
already mentioned the expanded call taking and improved data collection at Crime Check. An
integrated system also will enhance community-wide collaboration during widespread
emergencies, while improving outcomes on a day-to-day basis. Removing unneeded steps in the
9-1-1 and dispatch functions has the potential to reduce response times by up to 90 seconds??
that?s life-saving moments in medical emergencies.

In April 2017, our voters approved a 10-year extension of a one-tenth of one percent sales tax
measure to continue to move toward a collaborative, integrated emergency communications
system. With our move toward an integrated system, we are carrying forward the will of the
voters. Changes in operations also will be combined with changes in technology to make sure we
have the very best tools available for our employees to deliver the best results for our citizens.
We have three seats on the integrated system board to help ensure funds are spent effectively.

Integration has been a proven strategy for the City to provide greater value for our citizens.
Integration started in the utilities with the development of the Integrated Clean Water Plan, when
we looked at all discharges at the river to come up with the very best pollution-reduction plan
and when we committed to deliver above-ground bene?ts when we built underground
infrastructure. We extended that thinking to our streets and delivered amazing change in our
business districts, including on East Sprague and North Monroe. And, now, we have moved to
integrated projects that involve outside partners. Consider the success of our partnership with
Spokane Public Schools and in the development of our joint Public Development Authority on
the West Plains. We have every reason to expect similar results in emergency communications.

Spokane City Council
November 20, 2018
Page 3

Integrated approaches consistently have gained us ?nancial value, improved service, and
community enhancements. We have a responsibility to our voters, our community, and those
who need our ?rst responders to create the best emergency communications system possible with
the dollars we collectively have available.

Sincerely,

QM

David A. Condon
Mayor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agenda Sheet for City Council Meeting of: Date Rec'd 8/30/2017
09/11/2017 Clerk?s File RES 2017-0080
my. may.
Submitting Dept POLICE Cross Ref 
Contact Name/Phone ARIANNE 477~2610 Proiect 
Contact E-Mall Bid 
mnda Item Type Resolutions Requisition 

 

 

 

Agenda Item Name

 

 

0680-RESOLUTION T0 EXPLORE INTEGRATED EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

 

Agenda Wording

Committee.

Resolution to declare the City of Spokane's intent to explore the integration of integrated Regional
communications throughout the City and County recommended to do so by the Regional Governance

 

Summary {Background}

The City of Spokane and Spokane County respectively under OPR 2015-0074 and Resolution No. 16-0755
established a Regional Governance Committee and created a position of Regional Project Manager whose
function is responsible for the oversight and implementation of projects. The committee has recommended a
need to ingrate emergency communications between the City and County of Spokane. This Resolution
authorized the research phase of the proposed integration.

 

Fiscal Imgact Grant related? N0

Budget Account

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public Works? TEST
Neutral none none
Select 
Select 
Select 
Approvals Council Notifications
Dept Head LUNDGREN, JUSTIN ?t_udj Session 3/21/17
Division Qirector MEIDL, CRAIG Other
Finance DOVAL, MATTHEW DistribII?tion List
Legal DALTON, PAT aschmidt
For the Mayor DUNIVANT, TIMOTHY jlundgren
Additional Approvals Spdfinance
Purchasing cmeidl

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


ADOPT BY
CITY COUNCIL:


?ii/cm: :51?

CITY dang,

A. 4-1.

 

RESOLUTION NO. 2017?0080

A resolution declaring the City of Spokane's intent to explore the potential
integration of 911 Emergency Communication, Dispatch, Non-Emergency Crime
Reporting and Emergency Communication.

WHEREAS, Spokane County has established a 911 Emergency Communications
Department; and

WHEREAS, the Spokane County Sheriff provides certain dispatch services for
governmental entities within Spokane County; and

WHEREAS, the City of Spokane provides certain dispatch services to its various
departments; and

WHEREAS, the City of Spokane administration and Spokane County respectively,
under a memorandum of understanding (OPR 2015-0074, dated Jan. 30, 2017) and
Spokane County Resolution No. 16-0755 established a Regional Governance Committee
to have various responsibilities, including among others address issues of discussion
for other regional projects in addition to those within this Agreement"; and

WHEREAS, the City of Spokane and Spokane County, pursuant to Spokane
County Resolution No. 17-0121 (Jan. 30, 2017) created a positon of Regional Project
Manager whose function is responsible for the oversight and implementation of projects
and/or programs authorized by the Regional Governance Committee; and

WHEREAS, the City of Spokane and Spokane County desire to acknowledge the
recommendation of the Regional Governance Committee and further explore the
feasibility of further efforts of the Regional Governance Committee and Project Manager,
recognizing collective bargaining obligation(s) with respect to combining/integrating 911,
dispatch, non-emergency crime reporting and emergency communications between the
City of Spokane and Spokane County.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council for the City of
Spokane that the City Council does hereby acknowledge the recommendation of the
Regional Govemanoe Committee with respect to combining?ntegrating 911, dispatch,
non-emergency crime reporting and emergency communications between the City of
Spokane and County, recognizing collective bargaining obligation(s) with respect to such
efforts/actions.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT solutions implemented to achieve this
integration will not result in the direct job loss for any employee currently within the
emergency communications response departments for the City of Spokane and will
provide the same or greater level of service delivery for constituents at an equal or lesser
cost. A normalization period of no more than two (2) years will be allowed for budget
?uctuations while the new structure is implemented. Following the Integrated Response

1

research effort phase. if anticipated savings and ef?ciencies are not realized or
anticipated in financial and operational implementation plans, the City of Spokane may
elect to not proceed.

t/L
Adopted this day of September. 2017.

 



 

Appn? form:
?*3le

Assistant City Attorney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agenda Sheet for City Council Meeting of: Date Rec?d 8/30/2017
09/11/2017 Clerk?s File OPR 2015~0074
. 1111'! Renews 
Submitting Dept POLICE Crag Ref 
?gontact Name/Phone ARIANNE 477-2610 Project 
Contact E-Mail Bid 
Agenda Item Type Contract Item R_eguisition 

 

 

 

 

_l_\genda Item Name

OSBOWAMENDMENT TO INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR 

 

Agenda Wording

Amendment #3 to the ILA between Spokane County and the City of Spokane to add two members: (1) City
Council representative and (1) County Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to the Regional Governance Committee

membership.

 

Summag (Background)

The amendment adds an elected official to the Regional Governance Committee representing the City of
Spokane and the County CFO to represent financial perspective from the County.

 

Fiscal [meant Grant related? N0
Public Works? TEST

Bugget Account

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neutral 5 none none

Select 5 

Select 5 

Select 5 

Approvals Council Noti?cations

Degt Head LUNDGREN, JUSTIN Study Session 8/21/17
_pivision Director MEIDL, CRAIG Other

Finance DOVAL, MATTHEW Distribution List

Legal DALTON, PAT aschmidt

For the Mayor DUNIVANT, TIMOTHY cmeidl

Additional Approvals jlundgren

Purchasing drichards

 

 

 

 

 

 

ll?lf?t't :r?rt n?l

 

 

I

SPOKANE CITY COUNCIL:
Jag/U Lia/714$

41:ny 
CITY 7?}di

OPR 2015-0074

AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND
ANNUAL MAINTENANCE OF COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH (CAD), RECORDS
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (RMS), AND MOBILE APPLICATIONS AND OTHER
MATTERS RELATED THERETO

THIS AMENDMENT No.3 AGREEMENT, made and entered into by and
between Spokane County, a political subdivision of the State of Washington. having
of?ces for the transaction of business at 1116 West Broadway Avenue, Spokane,
Washington 99260, hereinafter referred to as and the City of Spokane, a
municipal corporation of the State of Washington, having of?ces for the transaction of
business at 808 West Spokane Falls Boulevard, Spokane, Washington 99201,
hereinafter referred to as jointly hereinafter referred to as the 

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of RCW the Board of
County Commissioners of Spokane County, Washington has the care of County
property and the management of county funds and business; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of chapter 39.34 RCW (lnterlocal
Cooperation Act), counties and cities may contract with each other to perform certain
functions which each may legally perform; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of RCW 36.32.120(6) and chapter 39.34
RCW, Spokane County under Resolution No. 15-0120 and City of Spokane under
OPR2015-0074 executed a document entitled AGREEMENT FOR
IMPLEMENTATION AND ANNUAL MAINTENANCE OF COMPUTER AIDED
DISPATCH (CAD), RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (RMS), AND MOBILE
APPLICATIONS AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED lnterlocal
Agreement") wherein Spokane County and the City of Spokane reduced to writing their
respective financial obligations regarding the implementation and annual maintenance
of the new to include Computer Aided Dispatch, (Ii) Records Management
System, and Mobile Applications as well as the established of a Public Safety
Information Technology Governance Committee; and

 

WHEREAS, Section No. 13 (Modification) of the Interlocal Agreement
provides that the document may be modified by mutual written agreement of the
Spokane County and the City of Spokane; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of RCW 36.32.120(6) and chapter 39.34
RCW, Spokane County under Resolution No. 15-0652 and City of Spokane County
under OPR 2015-0074 executed a document entitled NO. 1 TO
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND ANNUAL MAINTENANCE
OF COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH (CAD), RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
(RMS), AND MOBILE APPLICATIONS AND OTHER RELATED 
AMENDMENT NO. wherein Spokane County and the City of Spokane
modified Attachment referenced in Section No. 6 (Financial Responsibilities of the
Parties for Implementation and Annual Maintenance of (1) Computer Aided Dispatch,
(2) Records Management System, and (3) Mobile Applications) of the 
Interlocal Agreement to more accurately recognize limitations on moneys used to
implement the annual maintenance of (1) Computer Aided Dispatch, (2) Records
Management System, and (3) Mobile Applications); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of RCW 36.32.120(6) and chapter 39.34
RCW, Spokane County under Resolution No. 16?0755 and City of Spokane County
under OPR 2015-0074 executed a document entitled NO. 2 TO
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND ANNUAL MAINTENANCE
OF COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH (CAD), RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
(RMS), AND MOBILE APPLICATIONS AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED 
wherein Spokane County and the City of pokane amended Section 5 of the interlocal
agreement to rename the committee entitled "Public Safety Information Technology
Governance Committee (PSITGC) as the ?Governance Committee" and to address
additional functions of the Governance Committee; and

WHEREAS, Section No.5 of the Interlocal Agreement establishes a
committee entitled Governance Committee and allocates to the committee various
responsibilities. The PARTIES desire to amend the membership of the committee to
include a City Council Member.

NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the above recitals which are
incorporated herein by reference and other valuable consideration receipt of which is
hereby acknowledged, Spokane County and the City of Spokane agree that the
document entitled AGREEMENT FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND
ANNUAL MAINTENANCE OF COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH (CAD), RECORDS
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (RMS), AND MOBILE APPLICATIONS AND OTHER

MATTERS RELATED executed under Spokane County under Resolution
No. 15-0120 and City of Spokane under OPR 2015-0074 and AMENDMENTS NO. 1
and NO. 2 TO INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND ANNUAL
MAINTENANCE OF COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH (CAD), RECORDS
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (RMS), AND MOBILE APPLICATIONS AND OTHER
MATTERS RELATED executed under Spokane County under Resolutions
No. 15-0652 and 16-0755 and City of Spokane County under OPR 2015-0074 be and
are here modi?ed to provide as follows:

SECTION NO. 5: GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE.

There is established a Governance Committee ("Governance
Committee?). The Governance Committee shall consist of seven
individuals to include a County Commissioner, a member of the Spokane
City Council,I the City Administrator, the County CEO, the City 
County CFO and a ?fifth? seventh member to be selected at large
annually by the other ((feur? s_ix members and shall not be an elected
official.

 

The Governance Committee shall review any objections to the sharing of
costs between the PARTIES for the "'purchase and implementation" cost
items as well as "'combined total annual maintenance" cost items as
provided for in Section No.6.

Additionally, the Governance Committee shall review and approve any
enhancement requests for items identified in the chart set forth in Section
No. 6. Any such enhancement requests with cost estimates shall be
submitted in writing by the County lnfonnation Systems Department to the
Governance Committee in a timely manner. Governance Committee will
review any written enhancement request within thirty (30) days and
determine if the enhancement and cost estimate should be approved. The
decision of the Governance Committee on the necessity and
appropriateness of any enhancement as well as the proportionate share of
the cost of the enhancement to be paid by the PARTIES shall be binding
on the PARTIES. An enhancement request may include proposed
alternate funding such as a single agency's willingness to assume funding
of the enhancement in its entirety.

The Governance Committee will be notified as soon as possible should an
unplanned event occur requiring funding for additional resources

(emergency support resources) from County Information Systems
Department, City MIS Department, or other IT agency. An example of an
unplanned event is a malicious viral network attack causing
network/system downtime and requiring emergency support resources.

The Governance Committee may address issues of discussion for other
regional projects in addition to those within this Agreement.

BE IT HEREBY FURTHER AGREED by the Spokane County and the City of
Spokane that but for the modification to Section No. 5 set forth above all other terms
and conditions within that document entitled AGREEMENT FOR
IMPLEMENTATION AND ANNUAL MAINTENANCE OF COMPUTER AIDED
DISPATCH (CAD), RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (RMS), AND MOBILE
APPLICATIONS AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED executed under
Spokane County under Resolution No. 15-0120 and City of Spokane under OPR 2015-
0074 and AMENDMENT NO- 1 AND 2 TO INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR
AND ANNUAL MAINTENANCE OF COMPUTER AIDED
DISPATCH (CAD), RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND MOBILE
APPLICATIONS AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED executed under
Spokane County under Resolutions No. 15?0652 and No. 16-0755 and City of Spokane
County under OPR 2015-0074 will remain in full force and effect without any change or
modi?cation whatsoever.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the PARTIES have caused this Agreement to be
executed on date and year opposite their respective signatures

DATED: 3- ?7 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF SPOKANE COUNTY, WASHINGTON

By.
AI FRENCH, Ir

{/34 
KERNS, Vice-Ch-Qr

ATTEST
Clerk of the Board



Jeri/Ilia, t/G/Dcf Mp3,? fat/(m.

Gina Vasquez 0? /COmmissioner -


 

 

DATED: 9 '2 .31 -f 7 CITY OF SPOKANE

Title: {Fm-Yon.

Attest:

11M 91%

City Clerk Assistant City Attorney