EOC/911 Dispatch PD0121

Project Overview

In 2019, the City of Port Angeles began working with Clallam County to pursue the construction of a Joint Public Safety Facility (JPSF). The proposed facility would house the County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the City’s 911 emergency telephone answering system and public safety dispatching facility, known as Peninsula Communications (PenCom). In the future, the JPSF may also house a City-operated westside fire station. 

To date, both entities have focused on developing a preliminary design and selecting a site for construction. Several potential sites have been evaluated and eliminated due primarily to location, inadequate infrastructure, and/or seismic unsuitability. Additional siting criteria includes access, utility infrastructure, stormwater discharge, security, parking, and proximity to the airport. 

In late 2021, City staff identified City-owned property, located at West 18^th & South L Street, as a potential location that appeared to meet all siting criteria. In February 2022, City Council approved funding to allow for geotechnical and environmental evaluation of the potential site. In April 2022, City Council moved to stop the technical evaluation of the potential site, and move forward with due diligence for an alternative site located at 19th and O Streets. However, other properties may be considered. 

Project Benefits

Since the project’s inception, the City and County have strongly agreed that a joint 911 and EOC facility would be highly beneficial to our residents. Such a facility would provide the most efficient and cost-effective lifesaving emergency services to a population of approximately 80,000 people in Clallam County. 

In disaster situations, Emergency Management and 911 Dispatch are critical operations. Current EOC and 911 dispatch facilities are not suitable for sustained emergency operations. The current communications room, located at the Fire Department, houses EOC communications equipment, emergency phone system communications, and data servers. With the planned addition of significant hardware and software assets, controlled heating/cooling and fire suppression capabilities are required. Additional emergency power and battery backup capabilities are also needed. The current 911 operation, located in the Police Department, is inadequately size to meet future demands. Additionally, the location of the current facility is not seismically suitable, or, not expected to survive a significant earthquake. 

A Joint Public Safety Facility (JPSF) would allow for EOC and PenCom facilities to be co-located. The two entities would be able to easily and quickly communicate in the event of an emergency. The proposed JPSF would be conveniently located nearby the airport runway, where aid and relief would be brought into Clallam County in disaster situations. This modern facility would allow for innovative technologies, such as solar power and satellite communications. In the future, the JPSF may house a much needed westside fire station.