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Spokane Valley police chief reports on regional dispatch talks and potential Spokane PSAP change
Summary
Police Chief Dave Ellis briefed council on ongoing regional emergency communications discussions. The SHRTC board recommended the city of Spokane establish its own PSAP; council was told that deadlines and planned upgrades make a status-quo delay problematic for shared facility planning.
Spokane Valley Police Chief Dave Ellis updated the City Council Jan. 21 on developments at the Spokane Regional 911 (SHRTC) governing board and implications for local dispatch services.
Ellis said SHRTC has grown to include all county law enforcement and fire agencies except the Spokane Police Department. He said SHRTC is undertaking three major projects: a countywide computer-aided dispatch rollout, remodeling of the newly purchased SHRTC facility in Spokane Valley and a planned phone-system upgrade. Because these projects require decisions about consoles, staffing and space, SHRTC asked member agencies for a timely commitment about continued participation.
Ellis said the city of Spokane requested a status-quo for 2025, which SHRTC and other partners viewed as problematic because of the near-term planning needs. He said state House Bill 1258 had been introduced to address regional tax revenue distribution for the region; Ellis described concern that the bill language, as drafted, could allow Spokane to pull tax revenue based on call volume and thereby affect cost-sharing and governance dynamics. Ellis said the SHRTC board voted on Jan. 16 to recommend to the county commissioners that the city of Spokane become its own primary public-safety answering point (PSAP) effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Ellis told council that member jurisdictions remain focused on ensuring equitable financial arrangements and interoperability; he said Spokane Valley’s board members will continue to advocate for fair cost and governance outcomes. Council members asked whether a Spokane PSAP would create interoperability problems; Ellis said he does not expect interoperability issues because calls are geolocated and routed to the appropriate PSAP and that other jurisdictions operate separate PSAPs without service breakdowns.
The briefing did not include any council action; Ellis’s update was provided for information and to keep council apprised of potential changes that could affect future intergovernmental service agreements and budgets.
