Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the 988 Outreach topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council endorses proceeding with 988 crisis-line decals on select city vehicles; staff to identify vendor and funding
Summary
Council directed staff to pursue applying 988 suicide and crisis lifeline decals to school resource officer vehicles, fire command vehicles and garbage trucks, with an emphasis on clear messaging and partner funding where possible.
Councilmembers supported a proposal May 6 to add decals promoting the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline to selected city vehicles and to pursue partners or grants to help fund implementation.
Council Member Gage, who introduced the idea, said the intent is to normalize the 988 number and place it where different demographics will see it: school resource officer vehicles near schools, fire command vehicles that travel across neighborhoods and refuse trucks that stop at every house. "The idea is just to normalize this number for folks, and make it as familiar as a 911," Gage said.
Staff clarified that police patrol vehicles currently do not display 911 on their vehicles and that available vehicle surface area is limited; the group therefore focused the decals on SRO vehicles, fire command vehicles and refuse trucks. Staff also noted a design concern for refuse trucks: the message must be clear so residents do not call the 988 decal to complain about service.
Council Member Grant noted the broader public-awareness value and Council Member Steve said many residents still do not know 988. Staff and council discussed potential funding and logistics; Ryan (staff) said a formal direction will allow staff to identify vendors, procurement processes and funding sources. One council member referenced a comparable program where 15 cars were decal-wrapped for less than $1,000 but staff cautioned that prices vary.
Council feedback: council members expressed general support and offered to pursue partner funding; no formal appropriation was made at the work session. Staff said they would proceed with vendor identification, cost estimation and potential partnership/grant outreach and return with a formal proposal or contract for council approval if funding is required.
Next steps: staff to identify vendor options and funding (including partner or grant support), prepare design and messaging guidance to ensure clarity, and return with a proposal or implementation plan. No funding was approved at the May 6 session.
