HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2011 0504 CC REG ITEM 10H ITEM 10.H.
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MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL ;�-
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: John Brand, Senior Management Analyst
DATE: April 25, 2011 (CC Meeting of 5/04/2011
SUBJECT: Consider a Letter of Intent Regarding the City's Continued
Participation in the County's Emergency Notification System
SUMMARY
The Council is being asked to authorize the Mayor to sign a Letter of Intent (LOI) to
continue the City of Moorpark's participation the County's emergency notification
system as the county prepares to transition to a new vendor to provide these services.
BACKGROUND
In July 2008, the Ventura County Sheriffs Department Office of Emergency Services
(VC OES) launched a public notification system known as "Reverse 911." It is used to
alert residents of emergencies such as fires, floods, and earthquakes. The system has
been effectively used in over 70 incidents in the past three years and is utilized on a
day-to-day basis for mobilization of response teams throughout the County.
The Cities of Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, and Santa
Paula entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County that
allowed these cities access to the Reverse 911 system for emergency notification, but
left responsibility for administration of the system to VC OES. Cities not included in the
MOU were Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, and Ventura.
The County, in coordination with the Reverse 911 User's Group consisting of City staff,
representatives from other cities, and certain county agencies recently completed a
Request For Proposals (RFP) for an emergency notification system and selected
Everbridge Inc. in the process.
174
Honorable City Council
May 4, 2011
Page 2
Reasons for selection of this vendor include, but are not limited to:
• Experience in notification services and customer references
• Fully hosted solution accessible via the internet
• 24/7 Live Support available to all users
• Provides self-registration portal for citizen opt-in and responder
notification
Each city is considering its options. Two cities have their own systems: Simi Valley
uses "Rapid Notify"; and San Buenaventura uses "Code Red" for their high-volume
calling solutions. These vendors were invited to submit proposals. Thousand Oaks
already contracts with Everbridge and may consider joining the new county system.
DISCUSSION
As proposed, the Everbridge system will afford greater flexibility. Participating agencies
could develop a system-wide consensus regarding the appropriate use of the system.
For example, Everbridge allows a separate Community Alerts section which residents
can opt-in or out of to suit their needs. They may include information that would usually
be distributed via press release, Facebook, and Twitter. These nonemergency alerts
would be the responsibility of each city. The Reverse 911 system would remain
available until the Everbridge system comes on-line, early in 2012.
FISCAL IMPACT
First year procurement and implementation costs would be paid for with a Homeland
Security grant. In FY 2011-2012, Moorpark's cost to access the system would be about
$680.00 and about $4,500 in the second year of the contract. Sufficient funds are
included in the approved Emergency Management budget to pay for this service. This
would be a recurring annual expense at about $4,500 at the current level of
participation, and somewhat less if Thousand Oaks and San Buenaventura join. Cost to
the cities is based on census data for the community, and may vary depending on the
number of cities that opt-in. In the three years of the current contract, the cost to the
City has ranged from about $1,300 to $1,500 per year.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the Mayor to sign a Letter of Intent to support the selection of Everbridge as
the emergency notification system vendor and document the City's intent to continue
participation.
Attachment 1: Draft Letter of Intent
175
Attachment 1
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
May 5, 2011
Laura Hernandez, Manager
Sheriffs Office of Emergency Services
800 South Victoria Ave #3450
Ventura, CA 93009
Dear Ms. Hernandez:
As you are aware, in July, 2008 the City of Moorpark entered into a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with the County to access a public notification system known
as Reverse 911 (current contractor). The MOU allowed access to Reverse 911 for
emergency notification such as fires, floods and earthquakes, but left responsibility
for administration of the system to your office.
The County, in coordination with representatives from Moorpark and the Reverse
911 User's Group, recently completed a Request For Proposals (RFP) for an
emergency notification system and selected Everbridge Inc. in the process.
The City of Moorpark fully supports the recommendation of the Reverse 911 User's
Group to select Everbridge as the future emergency notification vendor for the
County. Moorpark also supports the plan to secure 2011 Homeland Security Grant
funding to pay for the first year of the contract, and intends to enter into a revised
MOU with the County for notification services when appropriate. I understand that
your office will keep us apprised of any changes regarding the selection process.
Should you have any questions, please contact Mr. John Brand at 805 517-6248.
Sincerely,
Janice S. Parvin
Mayor
JP: jb
C: Honorable City Council
Steven Kueny, City Manager
JANICE S. PARVIN MARK VAN DAM ROSEANN MIKOS KEITH F. MILLHOUSE DAVID POLLOCK 17 6
Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember