2010-2011 Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury Report “can You Hear Me Now?” Emergency Dispatch in Santa Clara County

Conclusions 3

• CL1 Page 10
  Dispatch consolidation would result in more cost-effective and efficient emergency response and should be implemented throughout Santa Clara County.
• CL2 Page 10
  Radio equipment has not been standardized and impedes effective countywide communication and emergency dispatch.
• CL3 Page 9
  Clinging to local control seems to be a luxury rather than necessity, and it is a luxury municipalities may find they simply cannot afford to retain, particularly when County Comm offers both a capable and more technologically advanced alternative compared to the outdated equipment used in some municipalities. The Grand Jury found that officials throughout Santa Clara County recognize, and are working to correct, inefficiencies in the existing emergency dispatch system. Elimination of local dispatch centers and elimination of local jurisdictional lines can go a long way toward providing faster, more efficient, and more cost-effective emergency response. The Grand Jury strongly encourages cities to work quickly and cooperatively to achieve the consolidation which will provide better emergency response service to the citizens of Santa Clara County. 9 Findings and Recommendations Finding 1 Dispatch consolidation would result in more cost-effective and efficient emergency response and should be implemented throughout Santa Clara County. Recommendation 1 Jurisdictions which maintain their own dispatching centers – Campbell, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, the City of Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale – and all jurisdictions which use Santa Clara County Communications for dispatch—Cupertino, Los Altos Hills, and Saratoga— should consolidate dispatch with neighboring jurisdictions and, where appropriate, should issue RFPs to do so. Finding 2 Radio equipment has not been standardized and impedes effective countywide communication and emergency dispatch. Recommendation 2 Jurisdictions which maintain their own dispatching centers – Campbell, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, the City of Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale; all jurisdictions which use Santa Clara County Communications for dispatch—Cupertino, Los Altos Hills, and Saratoga; the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office; and Santa Clara County, should continue to work with the Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Association to achieve countywide standardization of radio technology. 10 This report was PASSED and ADOPTED with a concurrence of at least 12 grand jurors on this 19th day of May, 2011. Helene I. Popenhager Foreperson Gerard Roney Foreperson pro tem Kathryn Janoff Secretary 11

No Responses Found 3

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