The RECC presented monthly public safety and staffing reports showing the center handled roughly 30,451 telephone calls in December 2024 and 29,510 in January 2025, and that the center met a 90 percent answer-rate standard for 9-1-1 calls in both months.

Lester Mitchell delivered the public-safety report, saying December’s total telephone calls were 30,451, with 7,470 calls received via 9-1-1, and January’s total calls were 29,510, with 6,940 received via 9-1-1. Mitchell reported the RECC answered 90 percent of 9-1-1 calls within 15 seconds for both months.

The RECC staffing report showed a current vacancy rate of 30.4 percent. Director Lujan reported the center hired three emergency communications specialists — Alyssa Duran, Sol Gonzales and Brianna Hernandez — and that when they begin their orientation and in-house training this month the vacancy rate will drop to 23.9 percent. Lujan described the local training sequence: county orientation, fingerprinting, PS telecommunicator basic academy enrollment, and several weeks of in-house CAD, NCIC and agency-specific training with ride-alongs.

Board members discussed recruitment and retention strategies. Chief Jimenez and others asked about use of recruitment bonuses and state retention funds; Director Lujan confirmed RECC was included in a recent law enforcement retention fund application and that departments could list RECC staff when applying for retention funds. Pay ranges cited in the meeting packet were: ECS2 starting at $27.34 per hour, ECS3 starting at $30.34 per hour and team leader at $34.84 per hour.

The board emphasized filling existing vacancies as a priority in the upcoming budget cycle and said phased hiring to reach a minimum operational staffing level should be budgeted in FY26.