City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: RENEE GORDON, DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY AND
CUSTOMER COMMUNICATION
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of a Grant Application for Virginia Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP/9-1-1 Center) Staffing Recognition Funding Program through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) for Staffing Recognition and Retention.
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ISSUE: Consideration of a grant application for Virginia 9-1-1 Center Staffing Recognition Funding Program for staffing recognition and retention to help address the staffing crisis experienced by Virginia 9-1-1 centers.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Retroactively approve the submission of the grant application (applied on August 11, 2023) for up to $113,750; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: Virginia 9-1-1 Centers (along with the rest of country) are experiencing an ongoing staffing crisis. The Virginia 9-1-1 Services Board wants to demonstrate its support for the 9-1-1 community and help to alleviate this staffing crisis by providing funding, for the first time, to eligible 9-1-1 centers enabling them to recognize and retain their telecommunicators with a one-time bonus, with 100% of the funding provided by the state. Each 9-1-1 center is eligible by applying its full-time employee rate to the total, pre-determined full-time employee authorization for each eligible staffing category.
DISCUSSION: The Next Generation 9-1-1 Funding and PSAP grant program is a multi-million-dollar funding mechanism and grant program administered by the Virginia 9-1-1 Services Board. Funding is limited to those projects that fall within the programmatic areas identified in the guidelines. Virginia PSAP Grant Programs financially assist primary 9-1-1 centers.
Funding is made available through the Code of Virginia and administered by the Board. Funding is limited to those projects that fall within the programmatic areas identified in the guidelines for a fiscal year. The PSAP Staffing Recognition Funding Program was requested by Virginia PSAPs to help address the staffing crisis experienced by Virginia 9-1-1 centers. The Staffing Recognition Funding program will benefit the City and its 9-1-1 full and part-time staff with a one-time bonus that will assist in the retention of valuable trained employees, enhance call delivery resiliency and reliability, create a positive work environment and improve recruitment.
Through August 21, 2023, 94% of all eligible 911 centers in the state (115 of 123 centers) had applied for the grant, including every jurisdiction in Northern Virginia.
FISCAL IMPACT: The grant does not require any matching funds and does not have a fiscal impact. Funding amounts are $2,500 per each eligible full-time 9-1-1 employee and $1,250 per each eligible part-time 9-1-1 employee. The Department of Emergency and Customer Communication is eligible and will be able to apply for this grant through the VDEM PSAP Grants Program for a total of 43 FTE’s and 5 Part-time employees.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
STAFF:
Yon Lambert, Deputy City Manager