Charlotte County commissioners voted 3-2 on April 8 to postpone approving consolidation of the city of Punta Gorda’s emergency 911 dispatch center with the county’s new dispatch center. The decision will allow Sheriff Bill Prummell to meet with city officials within the next two weeks.
All five commissioners indicated they will approve the consolidation at their April 22 meeting.
The city of Punta Gorda and many residents oppose the consolidation. In February, City Council voted unanimously to maintain its own dispatch center.
At that meeting, City Attorney David Levin said Council has the authority to exercise its home rule and keep its own dispatch center.
The county’s new facility in the sheriff’s office’s administration building on Loveland Boulevard in Port Charlotte is nearing completion.
The state has been moving toward consolidation of dispatch centers to be run by counties after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission recommended all public safety agencies eliminate the call transfer process to improve efficiency and enhance safety.
Prior to voting to delay their decision for two weeks, commissioners proposed tabling the vote for 60 days to allow time for meeting with officials and residents of the city. However, Prummell said new software must be purchased and delay of implementation would interfere with consolidation.
Commissioner Chris Constance said there is pending legislation in Tallahassee mandating dispatch centers be under the control of counties.
Chair Joe Tiseo said the state Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, is targeting cost-saving measures, such as consolidating dispatch centers.
Interim City Manager Melissa Reichert told the BOCC that “local dispatch is vital to the city.” She said the city’s average response time was less than the county’s response time, which was higher than the national recommendation of less than 120 seconds.
“Would we want to take the chance of increasing the response time of life-saving equipment and personnel? Every second counts,” Reichert said.
Punta Gorda Mayor Debi Lux said while cost savings of $1.2 million annually were mentioned, “The City Council made it clear — this is more than dollars. It’s about maintaining a high-quality service, timely response and public safety.”
Council member Jeannine Polk also urged commissioners not to approve the consolidation, stating there were no feasibility studies or workshops conducted.
Calling the dispatch consolidation “a complex process that requires collaboration” between multiple stakeholders, Polk said she seeks a meeting to provide information on the potential benefits of combining the dispatch centers.
Tiseo asked Prummell whether city officials would have a seat at the table, and Prummell said they would.
