HomeMy Public PortalAboutResolution No. 161-01 07-24-2001 RESOLUTION NO. 161-O1
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS, URGING THE TARRANT
COUNTY 911 BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO ADOPT A
POLICY TO PARTIALLY REIMBURSE PARTICIPATING
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDING THE CITY OF
RICHLAND HILLS, FOR CALL TAKER EXPENSES.
WHEREAS, 911 services are coordinated by an Emergency Communication District called
the Tarrant County 911 District established by the voters pursuant to state law under Subchapter
C, Chapter 772 of the Health and Safety Code; and,
WHEREAS, one of the essential components of the 911 system are the call centers which
are staffed, operated and funded by each local government that participates in the district; and,
WHEREAS, the state law establishing the local 911 district contains a provision which
• states that "allowable operating expenses of a district include all costs attributable to designing a
911 system and to all equipment and personnel necessary to establish and operate a public safety
answering point and other related answering points that the board considers necessary"; and,
WHEREAS, this provision legally means that personnel costs needed to operate a call
center or public safety answering point are allowable expenses under state law and as such
provides the legal authority for the local 911 district to expend funds to cover the cost of call
centers operated by member cities and the county; and,
WHEREAS, this provision relating to "allowable operating expenses" in state law is
identical to provisions governing the Bexar County 911 District and the Greater Harris County
Emergency Network, both of which provide partial reimbursement to cities for call taker expenses;
and,
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• RESOLUTION NO. 161-O1
Page 2 of 3
WHEREAS, the City of Richland Hills supports the proposal of the City of Fort Worth
that the Tarrant County 911 Board of Directors develop a policy to provide for partial
reimbursement of costs associated with staffing the call centers in the County and in each City;
and,
WHEREAS, such a reimbursement policy could be funded by imposing a .5 percent
increase in the 911 fee base, which translates to a 5 cent increase in the monthly local residential
911 fee, and to use the resulting yearly revenues of over $1 million to partially reimburse
participating local governments for call taker expenses incurred without harming the financial
• integrity of the local 911 system; and,
WHEREAS, it is understood that the loca1911 District cannot absorb all of the call taker
expenses incurred by the participating local governments through its fee base, however, the
Tarrant County 911 District should share in the cost through a reimbursement policy.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS, THAT:
1. The City of Richland Hills joins with the City of Fort Worth in urging the Board of
Directors of the Tarrant County 911 District to develop a policy to partially reimburse
all participating local governments for call taker expenses; and,
2. The City of Richland Hills supports an increase in the local 911 system fee base in
order to fund the implementation of the policy; and,
3. The City of Richland Hills urges immediate development and implementation of the
call taker reimbursement policy so that any reimbursement funds may be included in
the projected revenue of the FY 2001-2002 budget.
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• RESOLUTION NO. 161-O1
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PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Richland Hills, Texas, by
a vote of 3 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions, on this the 24th day of J~ 2001.
APPROVED:
r
C. F. KELLEY, MAYOR
ATTEST:
\ ,
TERRI WILLIS, CMC, CITY SECRETARY
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