Joanna Green, Director of 911 Communications, told the board the communications center is improving hiring and retention, is currently staffing 52 of 65 authorized positions and plans a training class of ten new hires in October. She said year‑to‑date performance through August 2025 is at 92.6% for the goal of answering 95% of 911 calls within 20 seconds and that the department is reducing overtime by proposing schedule changes and two additional supervisor positions.

The department requested funding to improve its disaster‑recovery backup center (the department's DR site is currently at the Fire Training building) and to upgrade equipment in the main center rather than relocate at this time. Director Green said the center is pursuing next‑generation 911 technology to accept texts, photos and video and expects a technology grant to help some of those updates.

Staff presented a 2026 budget projection that included personnel and operating expenses; Director Green said total department costs including salaries and operating items were in the $4.5 million–$5.2 million range depending on staffing and capital updates. Board members asked for month‑by‑month abandoned‑call data and clarification of the DR site equipment needs; Director Green said abandoned calls are tracked, that staff return calls when possible and that the DR site has minimal workspace and needs additional equipment and separate operator positions to be a functional backup.

No vote was taken; staff will provide detailed budget worksheets and performance reports in follow‑up.