HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2021-07RESOLUTION NO. R2021-07
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS, IN SUPPORT OF GREATER
HARRIS COUNTY 9-1-1 LEGISLATION.
WHEREAS, for over 37 years, since its establishment in November 1983, Greater Harris
County 9-1-1 Emergency Network's (GHC 9-1-1) has provided a highly reliable, accurate,
technologically advanced and effective 9-1-1 system to the jurisdictions it serves within the counties
of Harris and Fort Bend; and
WHEREAS, today, GHC 9-1-1 administers service for 49 cities, two counties, and over
150 police, fire, and emergency medical agencies with 39 fully equipped 9-1-1 answering points
within GHC 9-1-1's service area; and
WHEREAS, GHC 9-1-1 has maintained, without incurring debt, a high level of service to
an expanded service area and population at the same fee level set over 23 years ago and this fee level
is no longer sustainable in such a rapidly growing area; and
WHEREAS, on behalf of the citizens served, GHC 9-1-1 strives to implement the latest
life-saving emergency communications technology commonly known as Next Gen 9-1-1. Next Gen
9-1-1 promises to bring further enhanced capabilities for quick and accurate determination of a
caller's location, more reliability and redundancy across the GHC 9-1-1 territory, and the ability to
receive critical emergency event data in multi -media formats, such as text and video to 9-1-1; and
WHEREAS, GHC 9-1-1 Board of Managers recognizes that the decades old funding
mechanism set by the Texas Legislature in 1997 for wireless devices will not fully cover the cost of
implementing Next Gen 9-1-1 to meet a high consumer expectation of 9-1-1 capabilities on
wireless devices; and
WHEREAS, it is a major challenge to maintain the current system and keep up with
current advancements with a fee level adopted more than two decades ago; and
WHEREAS, GHC 9-1-1 will seek legislation during the upcoming 87th Session of the
Texas Legislature to provide for technology improvements of its system by allowing its Board of
Managers to set the 9-1-1 wireless fee in the same manner as the Board currently sets the wireline
fee as part of the annual budget; and
WHEREAS, GHC 9-1-1 requests the support of its legislative effort allowing for flexibility,
local control, and ability to maintain the lowest 9-1-1 fee possible;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS:
Section 1. That that this Resolution be adopted in support of the Greater Harris County 9-1-
1 Emergency Network's legislative effort to continue the technological enhancements and operational
advancements of the 9-1-1 system to better serve the 9-1-1 emergency needs in Harris and Fort Bend
counties.
Section 2. That this resolution shall take effect immediately.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND RESOLVED, this the 1st day of March, 2021.
R2021-07 2
ATTEST:
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Melinda Welsh, TRMC p U0*
City Secretary
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R2021-07