HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-06-2010 - 4h ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 6, 2010
Action Agenda
Item No.
SUBJECT: Public Safety Telecommunications Week Proclamation
DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) INo
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dinah L. Jeffries, 245-5100
Proclamation F. Rojas Montes de Oca, 245-0100
PURPOSE: To proclaim the week of April 11 through 17, 2010, as Public Safety
Telecommunications Week in Orange County.
BACKGROUND: Every year across the nation, the second full week of April is dedicated to the
professional women and men who serve as public safety telecommunicators. First conceived by
Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County (Calif.) Sheriffs Office in 1981, this practice was
recognized by Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) in what became H.J. Res. 284 to create
"National Public Safety Telecommunications Week." With the continued efforts of the
International Association of Public Safety Communications Officials and the National
Emergency Number Association, the act to recognize public safety telecommunications became
a permanent proclamation in 1994.
Each day hundreds of orange county residents and those visiting the County rely on the
expertise and dedication of public safety telecommunicators. These professionals help save
countless lives by responding to emergency calls, dispatching law enforcement, fire and
emergency medical personnel and equipment and providing support to the residents and
visitors of this county. Their skills in high-pressure situations allow rapid emergency response,
aid and compassion in times of great distress and critical decision-making within seconds.
Orange county Communications is the primary answering point for all emergency and non-
emergency service calls in the county. Orange County 9-1-1 Telecommunicators dispatched
187,000 calls for service, managed over 400,000 telephone calls and monitored and responded
to over 3 million radio transmissions in 2009. The communications center operates twenty--four
hours a day, seven days a week with a staff of twenty--six full time telecommunicators and three
part-time telecommunicators.
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Orange County's telecommunications staff continue to strive for excellence in their performance
and are among the highest trained in the state.
Orange County's telecommunications staff provide a valuable service to the residents, visitors
and to multiple public safety providers in the County.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the proclamation
and authorize the Chair to sign it.
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION
PUBLIC SAFETY TELECONIMUNICATIONS WEED
2010
WI-EREAS, Thousands of dedicated telecommunicators daily serve the residents of the United
States and Canada by answering their telephone calls for law enforcement, fire, and emergency
medical services by dispatching the appropriate assistance as quickly as possible; and
WHEREAS, Professional telecommunicators are the link between those residents who call for
help and the agencies which provide the help; and
WHEREAS, The critical functions performed by professional telecommunicators impact all
aspects of public safety and include those performed by forestry and conservation operations,
highway safety and maintenance activities, and many other operations performed by federal, state
and local government agencies; and
WHEREAS, Professional telecommunicators work to improve the emergency response
capabilities of these communication systems through their leadership and participation in training
programs and other activities provided by the Association of Public Safety Communications
Officials-International and the National Emergency Number Association; and
WHEREAS, These associations are organizations of more than 100,000 people engaged in the
design, installation and operation of emergency response communications, has set aside the week
beginning April 11, 2010, to recognize telecommunicators and their crucial role in the protection
of life and property; and
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby proclaim the
week of April 11-17, 2010, as "National Public Safety Telecommunications Week" in Orange
County,North Carolina, in honor and recognition of our County's telecommunicators and the vital
contributions they make to the safety and well being of our residents,those visiting the County and
the multiple public safety providers in the County.
Adopted this 6th day of April 2010.
Valerie P. Foushee, Chair
Board of County Commissioners