XX Department Proposed Budget Overview
Month Date, 2022
Disaster Preparedness and
Emergency Communications
Public Safety Committee Meeting
August 26, 2022
9-1-1 Center Budget and Staffing
2 Position Budgeted Filled % Filled
Public Safety
Dispatcher I and II
56 41 73%
Public Safety
Dispatcher III
4 3 75%
Public Safety
Dispatcher IV
11 11 100%
Comm. Center
Supervisor
3 3 100%
Comm. Center
Coordinator
3 2 66%
Comm. Center
Officer
1 1 100%
Total 78 61 78%
• 78 budgeted positions with a
budget of $9.6 million
• 61 of 78 budgeted positions
filled
• 5 part‐time Public Safety
Dispatchers and 3 retired Public
Safety Dispatchers to
supplement staffing levels
9-1-1 Current Staffing Levels
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
PROPOSED FY 23 BUDGET OVERVIEW
• In April 2020, City Council approved a 4% salary increase for Dispatchers, in addition to negotiated increases in October 2020 • Public Safety Dispatcher II starting salary (after probation): $62,600 • Public Safety Dispatcher II at Step 7 (max): $76,600
Salaries and Raises*
9-1-1 Compensation
3 Skill Pays*
• Training New Dispatchers: $2.84/hour
• Cross‐Trained Dispatcher, Police and Fire Phones: $2.00/hour • Cross‐Trained Dispatcher, Police and Fire Radio: $2.00/hour *Current IAM contract expires on the last day of FY 23
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
PROPOSED FY 23 BUDGET OVERVIEW
Challenges
9-1-1 Call Volumes
4 • 704,692 total calls answered
• 80 calls answered per hour
• 80% of calls answered within 15 seconds
• 60% of calls were for non‐emergency
services
• Call‐Taker Only positions (FY 23)
• “Help Us ‐ Help You” campaign (FY 23)
• City One Number Call System
• Implemented Non‐Emergency Phone Tree
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
PROPOSED FY 23 BUDGET OVERVIEW
9‐1‐1 Calls
Non‐Emergency Calls
Total Calls
Opportunities
Additional Key Measures
9-1-1 Operations
5 • 33,057 Priority 1 Calls answered
• 81% of calls answered and entered within 60s
• Talk Time
• Police Dispatchers: 1m 43s
• Fire Dispatchers: 2m 13s
• Quality Assurance Program
• Review 10% of annual calls received
• Continuing Education Program
• 12 hours of POST and Emergency Medical Services training annually
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
PROPOSED FY 23 BUDGET OVERVIEW
• Implemented to reduce non‐emergency
calls to Public Safety Dispatchers
• Increases availability of Public Safety
Dispatchers for urgent 9‐1‐1 calls requiring
immediate assistance
• Options to connect directly to commonly
requested City services
• 25% reduction in calls answered by Public
Safety Dispatchers since implementation
New Non-Emergency Phone Tree
6 9-1-1 Accomplishments
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
PROPOSED FY 23 BUDGET OVERVIEW
• 27,057 hours of overtime worked
• $1.3M fiscal impact, 13 FTE equivalent
• 10‐hour shifts; can add 2‐6 hours OT
Overtime Drivers
9-1-1 Overtime
7 • Increasingly competitive job market
• Staffing vacancies, resignations, dismissals, and retirements • Lengthy Police‐level background investigation
• One‐year probation for all new hires with high rate of attrition • Extended leaves (FMLA, Worker’s Comp, COVID‐19, etc.) 2021 Overtime
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
PROPOSED FY 23 BUDGET OVERVIEW
• Open and continuous recruitment
• Recruitment Incentive Program
• 9‐1‐1 Recruitment Coordinator (FY 23)
• JoinLB911 recruitment campaign
• Call‐Taker Only positions (FY 23)
• Part‐time and recently retired Dispatchers
• 9‐1‐1 Staffing Study in progress
Recruitment and Retention Strategies
9-1-1 Recruitment and Retention
8 9‐1‐1 Staffing Study
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
PROPOSED FY 23 BUDGET OVERVIEW
Join LB 9-1-1
9-1-1 Accomplishments
9 • Launched extensive website update
focused on Join LB 9‐1‐1
• 5‐step outline of becoming a dispatcher
• JoinLB911.com –v a n i t y URL
• Information for public on calling or
texting 9‐1‐1
• Promotional materials branded with
Join LB 9‐1‐1
• Social media and digital presence,
including City newsletters
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
PROPOSED FY 23 BUDGET OVERVIEW
Connect with LB 9-1-1:
LongBeach911
JoinLB911.com
9-1-1 Back-Up Center
9-1-1 Accomplishments
10 • Initiated during COVID‐19, should the
9‐1‐1 Center need to be evacuated
• 14 fully functioning stations
mirroring capabilities of main Center
• Fully funded with grant funds
• Technology is regularly tested
• Staff receives training to maintain
familiarity with back‐up center
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
PROPOSED FY 23 BUDGET OVERVIEW
Back‐Up 9‐1‐1 Center
• Third member of City’s Continuum of Public Safety
• Explicit details of urgent calls can impact Dispatchers • Seldom receive closure on highly emotional police and fire incidents
• Modern facility with recent upgrades to Fitness Room, Break Rooms and Kitchens
• Instituted Casual Dress Policy and Wellness items
• Contract with Counseling Team International
• Quarterly visits with Comfort Canines
Wellness Initiatives
9-1-1 Health and Wellness
11DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
PROPOSED FY 23 BUDGET OVERVIEW
Challenges
Improve Operations
9‐1‐1 Staffing Study
Call‐Taker Only Positions (FY 23)
“Help Us ‐ Help You” Campaign
City One Number Call System
Opportunities
12DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
PROPOSED FY 23 BUDGET OVERVIEW
Recruitment & Retention
Recruitment Coordinator
Recruitment Incentive Program
Join LB 9‐1‐1 Campaign
Community Engagement
Quarterly Meetings with
Community Groups
Preparedness Resources
Recruit at community events
Questions
13DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
PROPOSED FY 23 BUDGET OVERVIEW