Joint Emergency Communications Proposal

[Krista Laine]

Colleagues,

I'd like to raise awareness of a gap in our emergency communications coordination and propose establishing an Office of Joint Emergency Communications that reports to the Assistant City Manager for Public Safety.

While 911 response times have improved across most of the city center, outlying areas continue to lag due to overlapping jurisdictional boundaries and of other factors. This was underscored in our last work session, when we learned that our emergency response center has no formal relationship with the Round Rock ISD police department. I've served on the RRISD Safety and Security Committee for three years and there has never been other City of Austin representation. This is a clear coordination gap that an Office of Joint Emergency Communications could address.

As you are aware, emergency communications currently sits within the Austin Police Department's management structure. APD leadership is concerned with response times, but it's understandably one priority among many competing demands. I’m proposing hiring dedicated civilian leadership to lay the groundwork for a future department focused solely on 911 performance, with a team dedicated to building the interjurisdictional relationships needed to improve response times citywide, continuing on our path to operational excellence in emergency communications.

I will be bringing an IFC directing the creation of the Office of Joint Emergency Communications and look forward to continuing this conversation throughout this budget cycle.

Krista

[Jose Chito Vela]

CM Laine,

Thanks so much for your efforts on strengthening and improving our emergency communications center. They are greatly appreciated. When I was first elected to council in 2022, we were having very serious problems quickly answering 911 calls. Thankfully, we were able to work through those problems and make improvements. I support the goal of creating an independent joint emergency communications department, but I strongly believe we should move very cautiously and carefully towards this goal to avoid any disruption of service. I look forward to reviewing the consultant's report on our emergency call center operations that should soon be released.

I completely agree that, ultimately, a civilian leader who is a department head answerable to an assistant city manager gives the call center the focus and attention deserves.

Chito