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Home My WebLink AboutPR 20887: BLACKBOARD CONNECT EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM City of = ��•} 1 , 2i,,,, www.PortArthurTx.gov INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM Date: June 18, 2019 To: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Through: Rebecca Underhill, Interim City Manager From: Timothy Duriso, Chief of Police RE: PR 20887 - Blackboard Connect Emergency Notification System Introduction: The intent of this Agenda Item is to seek the City Council's approval for the City Manager to enter into an Interlocal Agreement with the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission (SETRPC)to participate in the Regional Emergency Notification project utilizing Blackboard Connect Emergency Notification System. Background: In 2014,the City of Port Arthur entered into a MOU with the SETRPC to utilize an emergency notification system(Res 14-263). After utilizing Swift Reach beginning in 2017 for emergency notifications (Res 17-167),the region has collectively chosen to return to the services of Blackboard Connect as the emergency notification system provider for all participating local jurisdictions and Blackboard Connect has been contracted with SETRPC. This system will allow government leaders, including Department Heads throughout the City and First Responders to communicate important information quickly and reliably with voice, text and email messages. The Interlocal Agreement will authorize the SETRPC to relay 911 data to Blackboard Connect for the purpose of inputting citizen contact information for the City of Port Arthur for the purpose of relaying informational messages to our citizens from the City of Port Arthur. Budget Impact: There will be no budgetary impact for the City of Port Arthur. "Remember,we are here to serve the Citizens of Port Arthur" P.O.Box 1089 X Port Arthur,Texas 77641-1089 X 409.983.8101 X FAX 409.982.6743 City of r • (irr rthur 7 www.PortArthurTx.gov Recommendation: It is recommended that City Council approve the City Manager to enter into an Interlocal Agreement with the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission(SETRPC)to participate in the Regional Emergency Notification project utilizing Blackboard Connect Emergency Notification System, as discussed and/or outline above. "Remember,we are here to serve the Citizens of Port Arthur" P.O.Box 1089 X Port Arthur,Texas 77641-1089 X 409.983.8101 X FAX 409.982.6743 P .R. No. 20887 5-31-19 mf RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE SOUTH EAST TEXAS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION (SETRPC) TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REGIONAL EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION PROJECT UTILIZING BLACKBOARD CONNECT EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM. WHEREAS, Blackboard Connect emergency notification system allows government leaders, Department Heads throughout the City, and First Responders to provide emergency information, notices, direction, and reassurance to reach thousands of constituents in minutes, without having to invest in or maintain software, or additional phone lines; and WHEREAS, this service will allow government leaders and First Responders to communicate information quickly and reliably with voice, text and email messages; and WHEREAS, the Interlocal Agreement will authorize the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission (SETRPC) to relay 911 data to Blackboard Connect for the purpose of inputting citizen contact information for the City of Port Arthur to send important messages from the City of Port Arthur. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR: Section 1 . That the facts and opinions in the preamble are true and correct . Section 2 . That the City Council authorizes the City Manager to enter into an Interlocal Agreement with the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission (SETRPC) to participate in the regional emergency notification project utilizing Blackboard Connect emergency notification system, in substantially the same form as attached hereto as Exhibit "A" . Section 3 . That a copy of the Resolution shall be spread upon the Minutes of the City Council . READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this day of A.D . , 2019, at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas , by the following vote : AYES: Mayor: Councilmembers : NOES : Derrick Freeman, Mayor ATTEST: Sherri Bellard, City Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: 01 -13 Q4 /-1\ Val , ze , City Attorney A ROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION: ' 24-C,--&-L-i2-g ebecca Underhi , Interim City Manager -------- A I r. -� (o S-(he s-fi P iiTimothy D ; so, Chief o' Police '' ' , r... Larry Richard, Fire Chief EXHIBIT "A" Emergency Notification System Interlocal Agreement This Agreement is entered into between the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission (SETRPC), and the City of Port Arthur to participate in the regional Emergency Notification project utilizing Blackboard. WHEREAS, this agreement is authorized pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 791.003; and, WHEREAS, the City of Port Arthur is a home-ruled municipality; and, WHEREAS, the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission is a political subdivision organized under state law; and, WHEREAS, the City of Port Arthur has established an emergency alerting system; and, WHEREAS, SETRPC has contracted with Blackboard to provide cost effective Emergency Notification Services on behalf of participating local jurisdictions; and, WHEREAS, the purpose of this system is to alert large numbers of citizens within a specific geographic area of important information for public safety purposes; and, WHEREAS, in the event of a large-scale emergency or incident, the alerting system would benefit the citizens of the City of Port Arthur by providing critical information in a timely fashion; and, WHEREAS, the City of Port Arthur has agreed to act as the single point of contact with West for access to the 9-1-1 Data Base for emergency alerting purposes; and, WHEREAS, the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission 9-1-1 Emergency Network agrees to this arrangement regarding the use of the 9-1-1 Data Base for this purpose; and, Interlocal Agreement Between SETRPC and the City of Port Arthur WHEREAS. all parties believe that it is in their mutual interest to enter into this agreement to disseminate emergency information; and, WHEREAS. all parties agree to abide by all pertinent federal, state, and local laws and regulations; and, WHEREAS, this agreement will provide a governmental function or service that each party to the agreement is authorized to perform individually; and, WHEREAS, this agreement must be authorized by the governing body of each party to the agreement and thus requires the approval of each governing body. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED: That SETRPC and the City of Port Arthur hereby agree to the following terms of use of the Blackboard Emergency Alerting System and the 9-1-1 Data Base. The City of Port Arthur has unlimited use of Blackboard at no cost to the City of Port Arthur during the contract year. Unlimited non-emergency messages may be sent using the non-9-1-1 data provided by Blackboard. The City of Port Arthur agrees to use the 9-1-1 West database only for the purpose of emergency notification purposes. The City of Port Arthur understands that the data contained in the 9-1-1 Database is to be used for the purpose of warning or alerting citizens to an emergency situation as defined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as a 'situation posing an extraordinary threat to the safety of life and property" and that this data is to be maintained as confidential and not subject to public inspection in accordance with Texas Health and Safety Code, Section 771 .062(a). In general, factors to be considered in determining whether an emergency situation is warranted are: 1 . Severity-will aid in reducing loss of life or reducing substantial loss of property Interlocal Agreement Between SETRPC and the City of Port Arthur 2. Timing-requires immediate public knowledge to avoid adverse impacts 3. Other means of disseminating information are inadequate to ensure rapid delivery. In order to maintain the confidential nature of the 9-1-1data base information and the rights and privacy of citizens with unlisted and unpublished numbers, the City of Port Arthur will be responsible for and agrees to create two separate account log-ins for the alerting system. One log-in will allow the City of Port Arthur to use commercially available information for non-emergency messages. The City of Port Arthur will determine who shall have access and under what conditions to this non-emergency messaging capability. Another, greatly restricted access log-in will be created by the City of Port Arthur for the purpose of solely disseminating emergency alert messages as defined above and utilizing the 9-1-1 database information. The Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Port Arthur and/or his deputy or designee will be the only persons allowed access to the restricted emergency alert messaging log-in. Due to the confidential nature of the 9-1-1 data base information and privacy of citizens with unlisted and unpublished numbers, SETRPC retains the right to withdraw their assistance if the City of Port Arthur does not maintain the confidentiality of the information or for misuse of the emergency alerting system. The SETRPC 9-1-1 Network will not be liable for any costs associated with the emergency alerting System including costs associated with the extract of data from the 9-1-1 data base. Associated costs for the unpublished West data will be covered by SETRPC Criminal Justice and Homeland Security Division through grant funds. Charges for the activation and features specified in the Blackboard contract shall be Interlocal Agreement Between SETRPC and the City of Port Arthur the responsibility of the SETRPC Criminal Justice and Homeland Security Division (CJHSD)for a period not to exceed twelve months from the initiation date reflected in the contract between SETRPC CJHSD and Blackboard beginning August 1, 2019 and ending September 30, 2020. The contract/service agreement between SETRPC and Blackboard may be renewed indefinitely and this Interlocal Agreement between the City of Port Arthur and SETRPC shall remain in full effect for the duration of the contract/service agreement with Blackboard unless SETRPC or the City of Port Arthur cancels this Interlocal Agreement in in writing. SETRPC CJHSD will not be responsible for any costs other than the activation fee for the initial twelve- month period reflected in the contract between SETRPC CJHSD and Blackboard and any subsequent contract renewals. SETRPC CJHSD does not make any promise, guarantee or other obligation for continued activation of the Blackboard system beyond the initial twelve- month period. Continued activation of the emergency alerting system will be the sole responsibility of the City of Port Arthur after the expiration of the initial twelve-month period unless additional funding is acquired for the regional project. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS: The City of Port Arthur agrees, only to the extent allowed by applicable law, to at all times indemnify, hold harmless and defend the SETRPC against any and all claims, causes of action, liabilities or losses, directly or indirectly arising as a result of the City of Port Arthur's use of any Emergency Notification System services pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Nothing herein will be deemed a waiver of governmental immunity other than per Texas Local Government code Chapter 271 . Notwithstanding the foregoing, this in no way waives the City of Port Arthur's immunity pursuant to Chapter 101 of the Local Government Code. Interlocal Agreement Between SETRPC and the City of Port Arthur This Agreement supersedes any and all other agreements, either oral or in writing between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and no other agreement, statement or promises relating to the subject matter of this Agreement which is not contained herein shall be valid or binding. IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the last date signed below. Shanna Burke, Executive Director Date South East Texas Regional Planning Commission Rebecca R. Underhill, CPA Date Interim City Manager, The City of Port Arthur Interlocal Agreement Between SETRPC and the City of Port Arthur