Council working group advances prehospital study, seeks dispatch oversight changes
Loading...
Summary
Councilors received an update on a working‑group review of prehospital services and 9‑1‑1 dispatch, including an awarded contract to Public Consulting Group for a two‑phase study and a request for on‑site engagement.
Councilors received an update on the prehospital community health working group and next steps for a consultant‑led review of the 9‑1‑1 and alternative‑response system.
Councilors said the working group’s trip to observe best practices informed its recommendation to bring an outside consultant on site. The mayor’s office and working‑group members reported the contract for a two‑phase study was offered to Public Consulting Group (PCG) and that the city requested on‑site engagement rather than an all‑virtual review.
Staff and councilors emphasized dispatch oversight and staffing as priorities. The Tulsa Fire Department currently receives fire dispatch from Tulsa 9‑1‑1 (under police administration); working‑group members said they are pursuing two positions to increase fire dispatch capacity and alignment with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. Councilors asked that the city expedite hiring for those positions and noted that the project manager will coordinate community engagement and data collection with the consultant.
Councilors also flagged potential technology investments—systems that enable live video and remote assessment at the 9‑1‑1 table (examples discussed included GoodSAM and other vendor tools used elsewhere)—and asked staff to compare capabilities, costs and operational tradeoffs. The working group expects the consulting engagement to run several months and said early indicators should be available in time to inform the FY27 budget process.
