TITLE:
title
ALERTOC MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN THE CITY OF COSTA MESA AND THE COUNTY OF ORANGE
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DEPARTMENT: POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESENTED BY: DELCIE HYNES, EMERGENCY SERVICES MANAGER
CONTACT INFORMATION: DELCIE HYNES, EMERGENCY SERVICES MANAGER 714-754-5189
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Costa Mesa and the County of Orange to allow the use of the County’s Countywide Mass Notification System under the terms and conditions of the County’s Countywide Mass Notification System Operations Guidelines and vendor-provider agreements, commencing on December 30, 2024, through December 30, 2029.
2. Authorize the City Manager and/or her designee to execute and manage the MOU on behalf of the City of Costa Mesa.
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BACKGROUND:
AlertOC has been used since its inception in 2008 to contact hundreds of thousand Orange County residents in times of emergency. Public safety agencies have employed AlertOC for a wide range of notifications, including missing children, severe weather warnings, COVID-19 information, and evacuations when required for public safety purposes.
On July 22, 2008, the Orange County Board of Supervisors (BOS) extended use of the AlertOC system regionally by approving a MOU with Orange County municipalities and public universities, which are responsible for protecting a resident population and maintains a dedicated Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).
As a full-service City providing police, fire and 911 emergency communications services, Costa Mesa has a dedicated PSAP and is eligible to enter an MOU with the County for its own use of AlertOC. The MOU allows the City to use the County’s Countywide Mass Notification System under the terms and conditions of the County’s Countywide Mass Notification System Operating Guidelines and vendor-provided agreements.
Over time, the County of Orange has updated the terms and conditions of the AlertOC operating guidelines, which has resulted in updates to the MOU. On June 18, 2013, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved an MOU with cities, public universities, and water agencies to allow their use of the County's Countywide Mass Notification System under the terms and conditions of the County's Operating Guidelines and vendor-provided agreements for the period of July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2016.
On May 5, 2016, the Board renewed the MOU with Orange County cities, universities, and water agencies for a five-year term from July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2021. On June 22, 2021, the Board approved an updated version of the MOU with the Orange County cities, universities, and water agencies for a four-year term from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2025. Most recently, on November 19, 2024, the Board approved an updated version of the MOU with the Orange County cities, universities, and water agencies for a five-year term from December 30, 2024, to December 20, 2029. The updated version of the MOU approved by the County is the basis for this recommendation.
ANALYSIS:
Staff is requesting the approval of a non-financial MOU between the City of Costa Mesa and the County of Orange for use of the Countywide Mass Notification System for the term of December 30, 2024, through December 30, 2029.
Approval of the MOU with the County of Orange will allow the City of Costa Mesa to continue using the County's Countywide Mass Notification System, AlertOC, to notify our residents in times of emergency.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council could decide not to approve the MOU with the County of Orange; however, this alternative is not recommended because it would result in the loss of access to the AlertOC mass notification system which would be essential in the event of a disaster.
FISCAL REVIEW:
There is no fiscal impact with this action as the AlertOC service is provided through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Costa Mesa and the County of Orange.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed this report and the MOU and approved them as to form.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES:
This item supports the following City Council Goal: Strengthen the public’s safety and improve the quality of life.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Costa Mesa and the County of Orange to allow the use of the County's Countywide Mass Notification System under the terms and conditions of the County's Countywide Mass Notification System Operating Guidelines and vendor-provided agreements, commencing on December 30, 2024, through December 30, 2029.
2. Authorize the City Manager and/or her designee to execute and manage the MOU on behalf of the City of Costa Mesa.