Consolidation of Dispatch Services*

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and R2 Recommendations numbered will not be implemented because they are not warranted or are not reasonable. (Attach an explanation.) Date: July 19, 2013 __ Signed: ____ ٠, Three (3) Number of pages attached Revised August 2012 model to a common to a common a wiper party production of the con- GROVA City of Grover Beach Mayor Debbie Peterson Mayor Pro Tem Karen Bright Council Member Jeff Lee, Council Member Glenn Marshall, Council Member Bill Nicolls Robert Perrault City Manager July 19, 2013 The Honorable Judge Barry T. LaBarbera Presiding Judge Superior Court of California 1035 Palm Street, Room 355 San Luis Obispo, CA 93408 RESPONSE TO SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT ENTITLED: SUBJECT: "CONSOLIDATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCH SYSTEMS" Dear Judge LaBarbera: Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the Grand Jury Report entitled "Consolidation of Public Safety Dispatch Systems". The report and our response were thoroughly reviewed during the Council meeting held on Monday, July 15, 2013. In developing this response, the Council asked me to convey to you the Council's concern that, while the report focused on the possibility of combining dispatch centers for the City of Grover Beach and Arroyo Grande, the report did not include the City of Pismo Beach in the discussion. The concept of consolidation of dispatch services is not new to the City of Grover Beach or for that matter the South County area. As early as 2003, and in response to an invitation from the City of Grover Beach, the Cities of Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande, and Pismo Beach met to consider the consolidation of police services, including dispatch. At the conclusion of that discussion, the Cities determined that consolidation of police services was not feasible, but agreed to continue a focus on communications. The Cities continued to review the prospect until 2006 when the City of Pismo Beach decided to discontinue participation. In 2009, the Cities of Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach took the lead in retaining a consultant to review possible dispatch opportunities throughout the County. While the consultant determined that a consolidation of dispatch services was fiscally possible in the South County, service issues were not addressed and consolidation did not move forward. With the advent of the Five Cities Fire Authority and the recognized need to consolidate fire dispatch within the Fire Authority area, efforts were again undertaken in 2010 and 2012. In order for the consolidation of safety dispatch to succeed, a balance must be struck between the desire to save funds and the ability to deliver quality and necessary services. History indicates that it is difficult to strike this balance when consolidating dispatch services for just Grover Beach and Arroyo Grande. Based on this background, I offer the following required responses to the report: 154 South Eighth Street & Grover Beach, California 93433 & FAX (805) 489-9657 & www.grover.org Administrative Services/Water (805) 473-4550 City Council/City Manager (805) 473-4567 City Clerk (805) 473-4568 Community Development - Building, Planning & Economic Development (805) 473-4520 * Human Resources (805) 473-4564 Parks & Recreation (805) 473-4580 ❖ Police/Non-Emergency (805) 473-4511 ❖ Public Works (805) 473-4520 City Council's Response to Grand Jury Report Regarding "Consolidation of Police Dispatch Systems" July 19, 2013

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All city law enforcement, city managers, Sheriff, Five Cities Fire Authority and CAL FIRE should join in meeting with an independent facilitator to finalize consolidations of dispatch by contracting dispatch services to the Sheriff's Office. Response: Disagree. The City is not averse to meeting with all the parties noted in the recommendation, but does not believe a facilitator or the cost of a facilitator is necessary. Additionally, the recommendation notes one alternative - contracting services with the Sheriff's Department. This was the only alternative cited. As has been already mentioned, an alternative that should be considered would be a review of consolidating communication services for all South County agencies, including Pismo Beach and the Five Cities Fire Authority. In conclusion, the Council requested that I convey to the Grand Jury that the City remains open to considering options for the consolidation of dispatch services that are practical and make sense. Once again, thank you for the opportunity to respond to the Grand Jury Report. Sincerely, DEBBIE PETERSON Mayor c: SLO County Grand Jury, PO Box 4910, SLO, CA 93403 (w/ electronic copy to: [email protected]) City Council City Manager City Attorney Police Chief . . . • .