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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-09-08 03-292 ORDERDate: 9-8-W Item/$ubject: Omer, Directing the City Clerk to Distribute a Non -Binding Opinion Question at the Municipal Election Scheduled for November 9, 2083 Responsible Department City Council Councilor Tremble has requested that this item be placed on the agenda. R would provide for the distribution of a non-binding opinion question at this November's election on whether the City should or should not join Penobscot Regional Dispatch. In addition to the actual question, some background information would also be provided to the voter outlining some of die major consideral affecting this issue and explaining the reasons for presenting it as a non-binding question as contrasted to a binding referendum. Department Head Manager's Comments: 4LJ 6.%,%L City Manager Associated Information: Finance Director Legal Approval: City Soli or Introduced for X passage _ First Reading Page_ Of Referral AsdagnAto Councilor Trestle semtmber ✓� CITY OF BANGOR (TITLE.) Order, Directing Me City Clerk to Distribute a Non -Binding Opinion Question at Me Municipal Election Scheduled for November 4, 2003. WHEREPS, Penobscot County provides regional dispatch services for police and fire departments Within Penobscot County; and WHEREAS, the City of Bangor dog not currently participate in Me Penobs of County Regional Dispatch for its pollee and fire dispatch seMces; and WHEREAS, Penobscot County has expressed an Interest N providing dispatch ser for the City of Bangor's Police and Fire Departments; and WHEREAS, joining Penobscot Regional Dispatch will reduce Me CRWs tort M provide this service by appmaimately $150,000 par year but may result in a decreased level of public safety response and service M Me pudic; and WHEREAS, any savings nixed from consolidating Me City's dispakh operations wiM Me County will reduce the amounts required M be raised annually from the property tax; and WHEREAS, joining Penobscot Regional Dispatch would show the CAWS support for the provision of mtsin governmental functions on a regional basis; and WHEREAS, while recognizing Mat Mere are numemus technical, operational, and management issues which must be addressed In the process of analydng whether or not it is appropriate for Me City of Bangor to utilize Me services of Penobscot Regional Dispatch, the Council B Interested in Me opinion of Me citizens of Bangor on this question; and WHEREAS, among Besse questions are the composition of Me Regional Dispatch Aduisany Board which may not provide adequate representation to Me City of Bangor to Insure Mat our unique dispatch needs are recognized and addressed; and WHEREAS, due to the complewTy, of Me Issues involved, the Council also recognizes Mat the opinion of Bangor's voters should be solicited on an advisory as opposed M a binding basis, Mus allowing boM Me publlcs opinion and the ability of Me Cdunto Regional Dispatch Cerner to meet the unique needs of Bangor's public safety opendions M be taken Into account. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED BY THE CIT( COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR THAT Me following non-binding opinion question be submitted to the voters of the City of Bangor at the next muniapal election M be held on Novambv 4, 2003: IN CITY mufmclL September S. 2003 Notions ande and Seconded for Passage mHOn Made ansa Seconded to Ameud by Substitution Nation Node and Seconded to Paso An Avanded by Substitution vote: a no. 1 yes Councilors voting no: Allen. Crawley. Faceless. yarringtw. Create. Nealley. Palmer and gohman Co®cllor voting yes: Trembler'. Palled Pas C # 03-292 �TTITLE) Directing the Clty Clerk to bistrMilte ag at the Nuultipal election ScLedaled for N Assigned to Councilor 'rd!+ 121 e 03-292 substitute copy �F Auigyedm Cnwcil« (AS khemoea) v CITY OF BANGOR (TITLE.) Order, Referring a Resolve Regarding the City of Bangor Joining the Penobscot County Regional Communications Center for the Purpose of Providing Public Safety Dispatching Services to Ne City of Bangor to a Referendum W be held on November 4, 2003. WHEREAS, Penobscot County provides regional dispatch services for police and fire departments within Penobscot County; and WHEREAS, Bre CIN of Bangor does not currently participate in the Penobscot County Regional Dispatch for Its Police and fire dispatch services; and WHEREAS, Penobscot County has expressed an intend: in providing d'epatch services for the City of Bangor§ Police and Rre Departments; and WHEREAS, joining Penobscot Regional Dispatch will reduce the Cdys cent to provide this service by approximately $150,000 per year but may resuO In a decreased level of public safety nes uirse and service to the public; and WHEREAS, any savings realized from consolidating the Cirys dispatch operations with the County will reduce the amounts required to be raised annually from the property taz; and WHEREAS, joining Penobscot Regional Dispatch would show the Cry's support for the provision of certain governmental functions on a regional basis; and WHEREAS, while recognizing that there are numerous technical, operational, and management Laud which must be addressed in the process of analyzing whether or not it is appropriate for the Cry of Bangor W utilize the services of Penobscot Regional Dispatch, the Council a Interested in the opinion of the citizens a Bangor on this question; and WHEREAS, among there questions are the composition of the Regional Dispatch Advisory Boed which may rot provide adequate representation N the City of Bangor to Insure that our unique dispatch needs are recognized and addressed; and WHEREAS, due to the compledty of the issues involved, the Council also recognizes that the opinion of Bangoh vacs should be solicited, Nus allowing both the publics opinion and the ability of the County's Regional Dispatch Center ft meet the unique needs of Bangor's public safety operetions N be Taken Into aaount. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED BY THE CIT)( COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGORTHATthe following be submitted to the voters of the Ory of Bangor a the next municipal election to be held on November 4, 2003: 03-292 S,bstitute Copy (As Ameeaea) "Shall the following Resolve be adopted? Be it Resolved that tine City Ccundl ache City of Bangor give strong corWderadon to transferring the Police and Fre dispatch function cvnentty performed by the City to Penobscot County Regional Dispatch, recognizing that such a transfer will reduce the aWs costs for such service but might real in a reduced level of service to those requiring Police and Fire services?" BE IT FURTHER ORDERED Me the following explanatory statement also be included on the ballot: EXPLANATORY STATEMENT The CRY Council of the City of Bangor has been reviewing the feasibility of transferring our public safety dispatch function to Penobscot County. At the present time, the City employs Its own dispatchers m handle all Police and Fire calls. Trensfeming this function th the County will likely reduce the annual costs W provide this service. First year operating savings have been estimated at $150,000, which, g realized, will reduce the amount required by the City in property taxes. The City will, however, be required to spend money on a number of one-time modifications to the Police Department building. Joining regional dispatch would show the Cant support far providing certain governmental functions on a regional basis. At the same dome, the transfer of this function to the County may result in a reduced level of services to those citizens requiring police or fire assistance. It is difficult to quandfy or measure such potential reductions. There are also a number of technical and managerial issues that must be resolved, including Insuring that the structure of the County -wide advisory committee that works with regional dispatch provides adequate representation to the City of Bangor so that our unique needs are addressed. The quantifiable cost savings of joining regional dispatch must be measured against the level of service desired by the public. For this reason, the Council is interested in the opinion of Bangor's ddzens on this question. We have chosen not to present this as a binding referendum because additional information or issuesmay arise that may make joining regional - - - dispatch either more or less advantageous. NON-IMNDMG OPINION QUEMCN Should the City of Bangor give strong consideration to transferring da Police and Fre dispatch function cumently performed by the Cry to Penobscot County Regional Dispatch, recognizing that such a tranfer will reduce the CItyS costs for such service but might result in a reduced level of service to those requiring Police and Rre services? Yes No No Opinon/Don't Know BACKGROUND The City Council of the City of Bangor has been reviewing the feasibility of transferring our public safety dispatch function to Penobscot County. At the present time, the City employs Its own dispatchers to handle all Police and Fire calls. Transferring this function to the County will likely reduce the annual costs to provide this service. First year operating savings have been estimated at $150,000, which, if realized, will reduce the amount required by the City in property taxes. The City will, however, be required to spend money on a number of ora -time modifications to the Police Department building. Joining regional dispatch would show the City's support for providing certain governmental functions on a regional basis. At the same time, the transfer of this function to the County may result Ina reduced level of services to those citizens requiring police or fire assistance. It Is difficult to quantify or measure such potential reductions. There are also a number of technical and managerial issues that must be resolved, Including insuring that the structure of the Countywide advisory committee that works with regional dispatch provides adequate representation to the City of Bangor so that our unique needs are addressed. The quantifiable cost savings of joining regional dispatch must be measured against the level of service desired by the public. For this reason, the Council is interested in the opinion of Bangor's dtizens on thhillmi tion. We have chow not_topresent this as_a binding.__ referendum because additional information or issues may arise that may make joining regional dispatch either more or less advantageous.