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TO: Mayor Thomas J. Weisner
FROM: Alayne M. Weingartz, Corporation Counsel
Care Anne Ergo, Chief Management Officer
DATE: December 11, 2015
SUBJECT:
Resolution Authorizing the City of Aurora to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with the City of Naperville for the Future Creation of a Joint Emergency Telephone System Board ("ETSB").
PURPOSE:
Aurora is currently pursuing legislation that would allow Aurora to disconnect from its current ETSB and form a joint ETSB with Naperville. This MOU, which is also being considered by the Naperville City Council, memorializes both cities’ commitments to enter into discussions on the formation of a Joint ETSB should the legislation pass.
BACKGROUND:
Aurora operates its own Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) system, which receives emergency 911 calls and dispatches more than 100,000 calls annually for police, fire, and ambulance services. In 1989, Kane County voters approved the creation of the Kane County Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB) in order to provide oversight to the Aurora’s dispatch center, as well as two other dispatch centers: Kane Comm and Tri-Com Central Dispatch.
Dispatch centers are funded, in part, through the imposition of monthly surcharges on local landline and wireless phone services. According to State Law, the ETSB receives and manages these funds. The nine-member Kane County ETSB is appointed by the Kane County Chairman. The City of Aurora has one representative on the board.
This past summer the State of Illinois approved SB 96, which overhauled the law as it pertains to funding and provision of 911 services in the State of Illinois. The new law would require the number of PSAPs in the Kane County ETSB to drop from 3 to 2 in order to achieve its consolidation goals.
DISCUSSION:
Over the years, the City of Aurora has partnered with the City of Naperville to save money through cooperative purchase agreements, including the purchase of the digital radio system. The two cities also currently serve as each other’s reciprocal backup for PSAP services. Kane Comm and Tri-Com, which serve rural and small suburban towns, still operate on analog radio systems. In order to avoid high costs associated with merging digital and analog systems, and to preserve our mutually beneficial partnership with Naperville, the Aurora Police Department recommended that we explore forming a joint ETSB with Naperville.
Continued partnership with Naperville would provide future opportunities for shared communication and resources, thus saving taxpayers money through increased efficiencies. Unfortunately under the current interpretation of Illinois law, municipalities have been prevented from disconnecting from a county ETSB.
Aurora is currently pursuing legislation that would allow Aurora's PSAP to disconnect from its current ETSB and form a joint ETSB with Naperville. This Memorandum of Understanding, which is also being considered by the Naperville City Council, memorializes both cities’ commitments to enter into discussions on the formation of a Joint ETSB should the legislation pass.
The MOU does not bind the Aurora City Council to enter into an intergovernmental agreement to form a joint ETSB with Naperville. Should the legislation pass, the City would then begin negotiations with Naperville concerning the creation of a joint ETSB and an intergovernmental agreement would be brought back before the City Council for consideration.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
N/A
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Adopt the Resolution approving the Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Naperville for the future creation of a Joint Emergency Telephone System Board.
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution Approving the Memorandum of Understanding for the Future Creation of a Joint Emergency Telephone System Board between the City of Aurora and the City of Naperville.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Naperville for the Future Creation of a Joint Emergency Telephone System Board attached to this Resolution as Exhibit A is hereby approved.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the Mayor and City Clerk are hereby authorized to execute the Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Naperville for the Future Creation of a Joint Emergency Telephone System Board on behalf of the City of Aurora.