Subject:
Title
Fiscal Year 2022 Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Technology and Equipment Program funding.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Ratification of the County Administrator’s approval that was electronically submitted on June 27, 2022, with the application to comply with outlined terms and conditions associated with the Fiscal Year 2022 Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Technology and Equipment Program. This is a multi-year reimbursement grant project that is projected to impact Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 ($500,000.00), FY23 ($500,000.00) and FY24 ($750,000.00) with total funding in the amount of $1.75M.
• On March 18th, 2021 Pinellas County submitted the grant request identifying four projects, including partial funding for a Consolidated Computer Aided Dispatch System for Emergency Service Agencies
• On March 10th, 2022 Pinellas County received informal notice of the award for the CAD project through Congressman Bilirakis Office.
• On April 26, 2022, the Director of SES received instructions from the U.S. Department of Justice instructing the County to submit for processing the electronic application associated with the approved award for the 2022 COPS Technology and Equipment program. The application deadline was June 28, 2022.
• The Director of SES authorized the submission of the previously requested and approved grant to ensure compliance with outlined terms and conditions of the grant.
• Funding will be utilized for the Pinellas County Consolidated Computer Aided Dispatch system and associated expenditures.
• The County must agree to the terms & conditions of the award when submitting the application electronically in the JustGrants database.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to create and enhance a safe, secure, and healthy community
Deliver First-Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.3 Ensure effective and efficient delivery of county services and support
Summary:
Pinellas County desires to implement a new computer-aided dispatch system to ensure the dispatch of an appropriate emergency response to telephone calls placed to 911. Many of the computer-aided dispatch and record management systems currently in use throughout Pinellas County have reached or are rapidly approaching the end of their useful life. The replacement of the existing independent computer-aided dispatch and records management systems with advanced technology adhering to national data standards is a crucial priority to all Emergency First Responder Agencies in recognizing that immediate response of first responders is an essential component of effective public safety, and that second’s matter in response to a call for help involving an active and imminent threat to life or great bodily harm. Benefits of a shared common computer-aided dispatch system includes increasing efficiency in workflow, reducing repetition of data entry, and saving time in an emergency, which could save lives. Additional benefits of shared data through a common records management system include increasing the efficiency of solving crimes, identifying trends in criminal activity, and forecasting workforce staffing levels for law enforcement.
Background/Explanation:
Pinellas County operates the County's Primary 911 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) and is responsible for 911 call-taking and dispatch for all Pinellas County fire departments and emergency medical service (EMS) first responders throughout Pinellas County, Florida, from the PRIMARY PSAP. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) provides primary law enforcement dispatch service for unincorporated Pinellas County and nineteen of Pinellas County's twenty-four cities; and each of the Parties are Public Agencies authorized to provide law enforcement dispatch emergency response services within its respective jurisdiction. The City of St. Petersburg, City of Clearwater, City of Largo, City of Pinellas Park, and City of Tarpon Springs provide the primary law enforcement dispatch service for their respective jurisdictions, and each operates a Secondary PSAP. The goal is to integrate the various information systems used by emergency response agencies throughout Pinellas County, Florida through advanced integrated technology and standardized reporting methods. The DOJ funding was earmarked for Pinellas County in the FY22 Budget.
Fiscal Impact:
This is a multi-year reimbursement grant project that is projected to impact FY22 ($500,000), FY23 ($500,000) and FY24 ($750,000) with total funding in the amount of $1.75M. Revenue was not anticipated during the FY22 Budget development cycle and therefore not included in the FY22 adopted budget. The revenue is also not included in the FY23 Budget Request. Upon notice of grant award, the revenue can be added to the FY22 and FY23 budgets accordingly and will be included in the FY24 budget.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to approve this item is granted under Code Section 2-62(a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
James Fogarty, Bureau Director, Safety & Emergency Services
Partners:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
City of St. Petersburg
City of Clearwater
U.S. Department of Justice
Attachments:
2022 COPS Office Technology and Equipment Program Resource Guide
FY 2022 COPS Technology
OMB Approval