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Author:	nickcarr [ Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:47 pm ]
Post subject:	Seattle Times article about NORCOM
Joint Eastside 911 center gets $2.5 million By Ashley Bach Seattle Times Eastside bureau A new consolidated 911 dispatch center for the Eastside has received about $2.5 million, nearly half its startup costs, from the federal and state governments and is set to begin operations in July 2009. The new center, called Northeast King County Regional Public Safety Communications Initiative (NORCOM), will bring the emergency calls of 14 cities and agencies under one roof for the first time. About 60 Eastside city officials and public-safety officers gathered Tuesday at Bellevue City Hall to thank Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Auburn, for securing $1.7 million in federal money for the center. The state Legislature approved $750,000 last year. Murray said she was "very proud" to earmark the money because NORCOM will improve public safety, bring Eastside agencies together and provide critical infrastructure for the growing region. Bellevue handles fire calls for most of the Eastside, but cities could have more control under a regional system, officials say. Six different agencies handle Eastside police calls. The new system will integrate the fire and police calls and records of all 14 agencies that have joined NORCOM. An officer in Kirkland, for instance, will be able to bring up reports from nearby cities to compare notes on a suspect. "We're basically going to be able to be this one-stop shop," said Lee Soptich, chief of Eastside Fire & Rescue. "We see it as more opportunities to do better things." In January, the new center hired its first executive director: Chris Fischer, who had recently retired after two decades as director of the Valley Communications 911 center in South King County. The center will be located in a Kirkland fire station until it moves into Bellevue City Hall next spring. NORCOM will take 911 calls from City Hall for a few years but will eventually move into its own building, Fischer said. The center is still seeking federal grants to pay for more of its $5.5 million startup cost. Any costs not covered by outside sources — and the center's annual operational costs — will be paid by NORCOM members. The 14 members are Bellevue, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Snoqualmie, Medina, Clyde Hill, Eastside Fire & Rescue, Shoreline Fire, Northshore Fire, Bothell Fire, Woodinville Fire & Life Safety, Duvall Fire District 45, King and Kittitas Counties Fire District 51 serving Snoqualmie Pass, and Fire District 27 serving Fall City. The police departments in Redmond, Issaquah and Bothell are not members, although Redmond will contract its fire calls through NORCOM.

Author:	nickcarr [ Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:49 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Seattle Times article about NORCOM
I'm really disappointed that Redmond didn't take part in this project. Anyone have any insight as to why they didn't join?

Author:	TMF [ Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:48 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Seattle Times article about NORCOM
nickcarr wrote: I'm really disappointed that Redmond didn't take part in this project. Anyone have any insight as to why they didn't join? You may very well get your wish one day soon if the new mayor of Redmond goes the direction he is talking about. His plan is to "outsource everything possible" to save money! So if he perceives there is a savings to the budget to be made by doing so, then it is very likely it will come to fruition! Stay tuned!

Author:	cowboymike1971 [ Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:23 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Seattle Times article about NORCOM
This is supposed to kick into effect next sring it says. Will this consolidation involve any new freq changes? or have anything to do with rebanding? or just what it sounds like, a "consolidated" dispatching center...?

Author:	TMF [ Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:17 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Seattle Times article about NORCOM
Sounds to me, like it is just going to be a consolidated dispatch center like so many others have done.

Author:	Brad [ Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:28 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Seattle Times article about NORCOM
There are still a lot of unanswered questions about how NORCOM will operate. The information I got from "upstairs" was that the NORCOM train is leaving the station in June 2009 - and everybody better be on board when it does. The biggest headache right now is the labor agreements - how the current City of Bellevue employees will be absorbed into the new organization, and how the dispatchers from the closed center(s) will be absorbed. How to figure out seniority; supervision; pay and benefits. From a technical standpoint, there's no answer yet about if/how EPSCA will be handled. Will it remain separate, or will it be absorbed into the NORCOM function. Call signs....terminology.....records management....talkgroup reconfiguration.....policy/procedure.... That's a lot of stuff to consider in just over a year... Stay tuned....it'll be a wild ride! Brad/N7JGX Whidbey Island, WA.

Author:	CAR [ Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:36 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Seattle Times article about NORCOM
I thought all that was figured out already? I read quite a bit of the study material on NORCOM, and I was under the impression that the labor, RMS, TG's and EPSCA issues were all being evaluated. I'm a little surprised that at this point, there are still so many unanswered questions. Hope it doesn't fall apart...

Author:	Vizwar [ Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:08 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Seattle Times article about NORCOM
Are there any public released documents available?

Author:	B [ Wed Apr 16, 2008 8:05 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Seattle Times article about NORCOM
http://www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/depart/CMO/NORCOM.htm There's a ton of documents to peruse under the link for participating agencies.

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