LTC 446-2017 The Public Safety Communications UnitMIANII BEACH
No. LTC # �46-2017
LETTERiTO COMMISSION
To: Mayor Philip Levine and Members �f the City (�ommission
FROM
DATE
Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
August 29, 2017
sua�ECT: THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNILATIONS UNIT (PSCU)
This purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to inform the Mayor and City
Commission of an administrative transfer of operational and administrative oversight
with respect to PSCU.
When I first joined the City in 2013, PSCU was overseen by the Police Department.
During my first year, my concerns with the performance of PSCU combined with
concerns regarding leadership of the department led me to transfer oversight to the
Department of Emergency Management. I knew that someday I would revisit whether
that was the right place for PSCU, but at the time I felt it was the right way to proceed.
Under Charles Tear's leadership, we were able to stabilize the unit and enact some
improvements. I recognize that public safety communications operations are difficult
and concerns about these units are commonplace throughout the state. Consequently,
it has not been an easy process, including challenging labor management issues, but
Chuck and his team have done their best. There have been some perFormance issues
raised in recent months, however, and I certainly want to make sure our first responders
are getting the best support services possible.
In response to these concerns, therefore, I tasked Fire Chief Virgil Fernandez
approximately one month ago to conduct an assessment of PSCU and prepare a series
of recommendations. I received a first draft of the report last Friday, which identifies
various short comings and makes a series of recommendations. The report concludes
that all issues can be remediated with the implementation of the proper plan and I know
that Chief Fernandez feels that it is quite conceivable, over time, to achieve national
certification for PSCU as is the case with both our Fire and Police Departments.
In order to achieve these results, I have directed Chief Fernandez, Director Tear and
Chief Oates to work on a transition plan that will result in the turnover of administrative
oversight of PSCU to the Fire Department, effective October 1. Daily operational
oversight would be through an executive director that would be responsible to Chief
Fernandez and Chief Oates, or their respective designees. The goal is to make sure
that each Department gets what it needs from PSCU. In the meantime, Director Tear
can focus on the emergency management function to make sure our City is as ready as
possible to mitigate against and recover from natural and manmade disasters. As the
events in Texas show, you can never be too prepared.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.