Mayor proposes intercommittee task force to pick site for 9-1-1 center; asks quick timeline

Mayor Kopenhaver asked the Public Safety Council Committee to join an intercommittee task force to evaluate locations for a proposed 9-1-1 center tied to a revenue bond proposal discussed over the past 18 months.

Kopenhaver said he had consulted council members, design professionals and development experts and that the most transparent approach was to have the relevant committee chairs work together on a recommendation. "Since it affects each committee, finance, public safety, public services, and public works, I have asked that they work together on this," the mayor said. He added that he asked Mayor Pro Tem Chris Moore to serve with the administration and asked Councilmember Emerson to head the committee and work quickly on a recommendation.

The mayor said the task force should include economic development experts, engineers and public safety professionals and should follow an expedited timeline. Councilmember Emerson acknowledged the request and said the task force planned to set a meeting time "within the next 2 weeks" to meet the expedited request.

Kopenhaver described the need for a consolidated 9-1-1 center as urgent to city operations: "But the fact is a 9 1 1 center is simply inarguable," he said. The mayor discussed several candidate locations in general terms, including Caraway Road and downtown, but did not propose a preferred site during the committee meeting.

Next steps: committee chairs and named participants will convene the task force and schedule an initial meeting; the task force will research pros and cons of candidate locations and report back with a recommendation to the full council.