City of Alexandria, Virginia
MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 24, 2025
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 COMMUNICATIONS
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) for the Public Safety Answering Point Grant Programs for Call Handling Equipment (CHE) Funding.
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ISSUE: Consideration of grant funding from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to offset cost in the replacement of the outdated 9-1-1 call handling to a cloud-based call handling system for the Department of Emergency and Customer Communications (DECC).
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Retroactively approve the submission of a grant application (applied on May 13, 2025) for up to $300,000; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: The Virginia Department of Emergency Management's Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) Grant Programs for Call Handling Equipment provides funding for primary PSAP's in the Commonwealth to replace outdated 9-1-1 call handling equipment hardware, also known as a hardware refresh. The grant provides $300,000 to each primary PSAP participating in a multi-jurisdictional project. Funding is provided on a rolling basis when call handling equipment is due for replacement, which is roughly a 5-year rotation. Funding can be requested 12 months prior to the anticipated replacement date.
DISCUSSION: In September 2019, the City of Alexandria and Arlington County successfully implemented a joint Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) phone system, aimed at enhancing interoperability and increasing the efficiency of 9-1-1 call handling to improve operational standards and strengthen public safety across the region. This joint NG 9-1-1 legacy system is outdated and due for a hardware refresh. ...
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