Robert Porier, Deschutes County 9-1-1 Director, will be the speaker at the April 5, League of Women Voters of Deschutes County First Thursday Luncheon at Boston’s Restaurant in Bend. He will be discussing the 9-1-1 Ballot Measure on the May Ballot.
League meets at Boston’s Restaurant (just south of Outlet Mall, Bend), Thursday, April 5, 11am-1pm. The public is invited to this luncheon and should arrive at 11:00 a.m. if ordering from the menu. The speaker will begin at noon.
Rob Porier started his public safety career in August of 1993 when he was hired as a police/fire/EMS dispatcher for the Sweet Home Police Department. From July 2007 to October 2010 he was the director of the Santiam Canyon Communications Center in Stayton, Oregon. This was his first position with a primary PSAP and gave him the opportunity to learn the ends and out of running a 9-1-1 Center.
In October 2010 Porier was hired as the director of the Deschutes County 9-1-1 Service District. He serves on the board of United Way Deschutes County and is a member of the volunteer management team for the Oregon Jamboree.
9-1-1 Ballot Measure Explanation
Why No Local Option Levy?
· Prevents district from doing any realistic long term planning
· Cost in time and money every few years
· Harder to maintain good staff with no job security
Why This Ballot Measure?
· Permanently caps rate at $0.39 – less than current level
· Forecast $0.33 for next five years (16% less than current rate)
· Impact you on next tax statement (November 2012)
· Good value compared to other counties (Hood River $0.5644 & Columbia $0.5454)
Why Only $0.33 Initially?
- New Building & Equipment
o Low or no maintenance and replacement costs
o Higher efficiency – Staffed Appropriately, New Technology
- Cost Savings – Reserve Funds
o Grant funding procured to pay for part of new building and equipment
o Construction project came in under budget
o Periods of working understaffed
- In past, County only levy what is needed, not maximum (Law Enforcement Districts)
Why $0.39 in Future?
- Allows district to be sustainable for foreseeable future
- Maintenance and replacement of building and equipment (operating 24/7)
- Reserve Fund surplus expended
- Prepared for Next Generation of technology
What You Are Buying
- Emergency call handled by first call taker (no transfers)
- Immediate patient care (emergency medical dispatch), instead of waiting for someone on scene
- Consolidated dispatch center for better coordinated response between public safety agencies
- Certified staff trained and qualified to handle any emergency
- 24/7 availability for assistance with emergencies and non-emergencies
- Service exceeding national performance standards for answering and processing call
9-1-1 Facts: (2011)
301,300 phone calls
Avg. 34.39 Calls per hour
Avg. 1 phone call every 1 min. 40 seconds
Avg. 53.7 minutes on phone each hour
59,047 9-1-1 Emergency Calls
Avg. 6.7 9-1-1 Calls per hour
Avg. 9-1-1 call every 9 minutes.
Deschutes County 9-1-1 Service District became a consolidated public safety dispatching agency in 1985, taking all calls for police, fire, and medical service assistance for the 9-1-1 Service District in Deschutes County. 9-1-1 dispatches for 14 police and fire/emergency medical services agencies and works closely with the U.S. Forest Service, AirLink, Oregon State Police, and other State and Federal agencies. These calls are entered into a computerized dispatch system and units are directed to the incident.
