City of Norman

PROJECT PURPOSE

Partial funding of project to design and construct fully hardened public safety facility that will house the City of Norman Communications (911) division, a modern Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and a future Traffic Management Center (TMC). Each component is critical to the safety and efficient response of city departments and community partners to critical incidents and large community events.

EVIDENCE

The current City of Norman communications Center is located within the basement of the 1984 police facility. The center has seating for 5 dispatcher?s/call takers and one supervisor. The facility fails to provide a working environment suitable for the daily high stress work place the employees operate resulting in lower productivity, diminished employee wellness, and low retention rates. There is no room to expand staffing which is much needed to maintain call volume in the growing city. The city has no modern EOC, which this facility will provide.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

The communications center of a city is often the lifeline for those needing assistance and those who respond to provide it. The first step in gathering information to dispatch necessary emergency services, this critical function truly impacts every citizen and visitor of the community. Ensuring a modern facility able to operate during poor weather and provide ADA access for future employees is paramount to ensure the safety of all residents, visitors, and businesses. Management of criminal activity, community stress, mental health, medical response, and other pandemic related impacts are all fulfilled in this facility. The activities of this facility both from communications/dispatching and EOC will greatly improve the city?s ability to support very large community events and responses to disasters when they occur. Additionally, the current dispatch center is simply undersized to adequately allow for safe spacing of employees. There is no mechanism for establishing daylight into the facility or accessing fresh air. The new facility will correct all of these concerns, thereby improving occupant wellness, continuity of operations, and providing more adequate access for those with disabilities or other barriers.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Performance of this completed project will be measured and exhibited though evaluation of the successful completion of emergency communications calls, dispatching, employee longevity (moral/hiring), and responses to community events/incidents. Programmatic data is collected each month for the communications division and will be incorporated within our departments strategic plan.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma