The Culver City Council seeks approval of a five-year contract with the South Bay Regional Public Communications Authority (SBRPCA) to provide emergency dispatch, vehicle build and radio maintenance services to the Culver City Police and Fire Departments.
Should the City Council approve the proposal, the South Bay Regional Public Communications Authority would provide services currently performed by City staff.
The public is invited to participate in a meeting held by Lt. Jason Sims of the Culver City Police Department at the Mike Balkman Council Chambers. The chambers are located at 9770 Culver Boulevard in Culver City. The meeting will begin at 7 PM.
Persons unable to attend the meeting but who wish to submit written comments may do so by any of the following means before 4:00 PM on Monday, March 14, 2016.
- By letter to City of Culver City, City Clerk’s Office, 9770 Culver Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
- By email to city.clerk@culvercity.org
- By fax to 310-253-6010
Some interesting background on the SBRPCA via their website:
The South Bay Regional Public Communications Authority (also referred to as “RCC” for Regional Communications Center) has provided police and fire 9-1-1 dispatching since 1977. The RCC processes approximately 250,000 police and fire incidents annually in the Southern California region commonly referred to as the “South Bay.” The RCC is a joint powers authority currently owned by the Cities of Gardena, Hawthorne and Manhattan Beach while also providing communications services to the cities of El Segundo and Hermosa Beach under contract.
The RCC’s Board of Directors, consisting of one City Council member from each of the owner cities, maintains authority over the annual budget approval for the Authority. Policy management of the Authority is relegated to the Executive Committee consisting, of the City Managers from each of the member cities. Day-to-day operations are managed by the Executive Director, who is appointed by the Executive Committee. A User Committee, consisting of police and fire chiefs from the member cities, provides direction relative to the needs of the organization. Police officers and fire fighters from the member cities make up the Police and Fire Task Forces, which provide feedback and recommendations to facilitate an optimum level of service and safety for citizens, police officers and firefighters.
The RCC is currently budgeted for 66 full-time positions. A technical services staff of seven provides radio communication installations, as well as light bars, mobile camera and computer systems and all necessary equipment for full-service, emergency vehicles. These technical services are also provided to the following outside agencies: El Camino College Campus Police Department, Gardena Public Works Department, Hermosa Beach Public Works Department, L.A. Impact, Manhattan Beach Public Works Department and the Redondo Beach Fire Department.
SCMA member Steve Herbert (LA-187, K6CRW), who alerted me of this information, adds that apparently the RCC has originally planned to serve 10 cities, including Culver City back in the mid-1980’s. Culver City pulled out of the plan after it was felt they were too north of the cluster to be practical.
Sources:
- Steve Herbert (LA-187, K6CRW)
- Culver City E-mail Notification System
- South Bay Regional Public Communications Authority website
- L.A. Times article from 1987