Countywide : Emergency Dispatch Plan Explored

The Santa Paula City Council has agreed to explore the possibility of setting up an emergency dispatch center with the cities of Ventura, Oxnard and Port Hueneme.

The council voted Monday to contribute $5,000 of the $40,000 needed for the four cities to hire a consultant to assess the feasibility of sharing safety communication and records management.

The idea, under discussion by police officials since last June, has been pursued since August by a task force that included representatives of the four cities, said Santa Paula Police Chief Walt Adair.

By September, the task force concluded that it was possible to save money and receive the same or better service through some consolidation. “It was felt by all concerned that the consolidation of communication and records services was politically, technologically and economically feasible,” Adair said.

Adair told the council that the proposal comes at an opportune time, since the city must soon replace its dispatch console, which is based on 1970 technology. A new radio console could cost as much as $100,000, he said.

Adair also said pooling the cities’ dispatchers could help answer public demand for better-trained dispatchers who can give emergency medical advice over the telephone. “Dispatching has become increasingly professional, and this is one way we may be able to improve the service,” Adair said.

Adair said he hoped that a consultant could determine whether Santa Paula would be hurt if a dispatcher was not as familiar with city streets as a local resident would be.