The crux of the debate focused on whether to contract out dispatch services to Pasco County or continue operating with the city’s current in-house team. Council members weighed the pros and cons of each, considering the financial cost, quality of service, and potential impact on response times. One option on the table suggested retaining eight full-time dispatchers and at least four part-time dispatchers to manage staffing turnover and absences. A second option proposed a hybrid model with six full-time dispatchers and contracting out fire dispatch services to the county. The third option entailed fully outsourcing both police and fire dispatch services to the county, which would involve employing four full-time dispatchers and at least two part-time staff members.

One key aspect of the discussion was the financial impact of each option. Retaining in-house services would require a financial commitment, potentially doubling current costs without achieving desired redundancy, while outsourcing services to the county would increase expenses by an estimated 34%. Council members expressed the need for further discussion and information gathering about the contracts and cost implications of each scenario.

Staffing issues also took center stage, with concerns over the city’s ability to attract and retain dispatchers compared to the county’s hiring practices. The potential loss of control over dispatch operations if outsourced to the county was a concern raised during the meeting. Members discussed the need for high-quality training, continuous review of dispatch work, and a strong service level agreement to maintain service quality.

The importance of Advanced Life Support (ALS) implementation was underscored, with council members agreeing on the need to avoid duplicating transport services. The county currently provides the medical aspect of dispatch, which is important for ensuring a seamless continuum of care. The fire department chief provided insights into the dispatch process for fire rescue services, emphasizing challenges related to the current system and the additional steps required when the county dispatches calls to the city’s fire department.

Council members were keen to understand the potential contract details with the county, expressing the need to have a seat at the table to ensure the city’s interests were protected. The discussion also included the importance of maintaining a high level of care and the city’s ISO rating, which could be affected by changes in the dispatch system. The technical aspects of dispatch, such as the handling of calls and differences in categorization within the CAD system, were also topics of concern.

The potential consolidation of dispatch services with the county sparked debate over the benefits of redundancy and high availability. One member noted that calls already go to the county for dispatch, which could potentially result in increased service levels. However, there were concerns about the accuracy of cost estimates and the impact of merging into the county’s larger service area, with the difference in population size being a point of contention.

Public comments during the meeting sought clarification on the prioritization of calls and the level of service provided by different dispatch systems. One resident inquired about how a consolidation might affect response priorities and the potential for calls to be held until officers become available based on the county’s call prioritization policies.

The council did not reach a definitive conclusion during the meeting. Instead, they decided to gather more information and details on the dispatch services from both the city and the county to facilitate a more informed decision-making process in the future. The council agreed to place all three dispatch service options on the agenda for the next meeting and urged members to conduct necessary research in the interim.

In addition to the dispatch services debate, the council addressed the resignation of a former council member, with expressions of regret over the departure. However, this topic was secondary to the urgent matter of the city’s dispatch services, which commanded the bulk of the council’s attention.