City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 21, 2017
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Memorandum of Understanding for a National Capitol Region Next Generation 9-1-1.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of a Memorandum of Understanding for a National Capitol Region Next Generation 9-1-1.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1) Approve the City of Alexandria’s participation in the National Capital Region (NCR) Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG 9-1-1) Memorandum of Understanding (Attached); and
2) Authorize the City Manager to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
BACKGROUND: Next Generation (NG) 9-1-1 is an Internet Protocol-based system that allows digital information (e.g., voice, photos, videos, text messages) to flow seamlessly from the public, through the 9-1-1 network to emergency responders. NG 9-1-1 will benefit the residents, visitors, and businesses of the City of Alexandria and the National Capital Region (NCR) by enhancing call delivery resiliency and reliability; creating network redundancy and diversity; enabling real-time photo and video transmissions; and, improving call transfer capabilities across jurisdictions. Purposeful implementation of NG 9-1-1 will maximize the region’s continued commitment to timely and effective delivery of interoperable 9-1-1 service.
DISCUSSION: The NCR NG 9-1-1 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) demonstrates each Jurisdiction’s commitment to recommend to their respective governing body to make timely and well-coordinated technology investments. It is anticipated through coordinated NG 9-1-1 investments that the region will realize lower costs through leveraging the economies of scale provided when procuring from a common NG 9-1-1 solution provider. The NCR NG 9-1-1 MOU establishes the region’s commitment to transition to and maintain an interoperable
NG 9-1-1 Emergency Services Internet Protocol network (ESInet) capability by 2019.
The City of Alexandria, as part of its commitment to NG 9-1-1 technology, has funded for FY 2018 in its latest approved Capital Improvement Program $1.5 million in capital funding for the purchase of NG 9-1-1 compliant call processing equipment. The current call processing equipment is near its end of life.
FISCAL IMPACT: This MOU does not require a binding funding commitment by the Jurisdictions; however, the Jurisdictions concur on the following process as a premise for this MOU: NG 9-1-1 ESInet service costs are anticipated to be locally funded, with each Jurisdiction paying a proportional share of costs directly to the NG 9-1-1 solution provider. Each Jurisdiction
will also be responsible for internal NG 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) equipment costs and recurring costs associated with delivery of 9-1-1 calls to the PSAP. Opportunities to seek grant funding to support regional efforts in NG 9-1-1 may be available to supplement these strategic enhancements, but such grants should not be viewed as the primary strategy for implementing and maintaining the commitments to NG 9-1-1 espoused in the MOU.
As stated in the MOU, the commitment to participate in NG 9-1-1 is voluntary and does not supersede any Jurisdiction’s autonomy, responsibility or independence.
ATTACHMENT: Memorandum of Understanding for a National Capital Region Next
Generation 9-1-1
STAFF:
Debra Collins, Deputy City Manager
Renee M. Gordon, Director, Department of Emergency Communications