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RESOLUTION NO. R-1314-37: A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, APPROPRIATING $14,812 FROM THE STATE SEIZURES AND RESTITUTION FUND BALANCE TO ACTIVATE A SUBSCRIPTION FOR BLACKBOARD CONNECT SERVICE THROUGH THE END OF THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
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BACKGROUND: The primary mission of the Norman Police and Fire Department is to protect the lives and property in the City of Norman. In some instances, critical emergency events occur when critical or emergency notification may be necessary to carry out this important mission. A goal of all City of Norman departments is to keep citizens informed about issues critical to the quality of life in our city.
DISCUSSION: The appropriation requested would be to purchase a subscription for access and use of the services from Blackboard Connect. This company provides an internet accessible service which can be used to make thousands of notifications in just a few minutes. Notification can be made to residential phones, cell phones, and text message services. The use of Blackboard Connect will allow the Police and Fire Departments to make emergency notifications in large areas in a short period of time. Examples when this service would have been extremely useful include during the recent wildfires in east Norman, for notifications to affected areas following the recent tornados, and for notifications of temporary street closings when serious or fatal collisions are being investigated.
This subscription would not be limited to use just by the Police and Fire Departments. All City departments would be able to use the service as we expand its use. There is no limit on the number of notifications that can be sent out. Some common examples for use by other City departments could include the following: the City of Norman Water Utility could make notifications to specific areas which may be affected by a water main break; the City of Norman Street Division could make notification for road repair closings and detours; Municipal Court can use the system to send reminders to those persons who have upcoming court dates or warrants; the City of Norman Parks and Recreation Department could use the system to send out notices of cancellation of events due to weather issues; and the City Clerk’s office could send out a notification of a Ward meeting or other area type events. In addition, the University of Oklahoma is currently using this same service to make its mass notifications for students and faculty. Citizens can opt out of all notifications, except for notifications flagged as emergency notification, which would be issued by the Police or Fire Department. This will allow citizens to only receive those notifications which may impact them.
This action is to activate the subscription for the Blackboard Connect service through the end of the current fiscal year. The initial activation will be purchased by use of state seizure funds through the Police Department and an additional year’s funding from the state seizures funds is being requested in the FY15 budget process. By doing the prorated and full year subscription it will allow all the City’s Departments to use and evaluate the service. Staff will then be able to provide knowledgeable input during the FY16 budget process about the use and effectiveness of the service, the demands placed upon City Information Technology network and other support functions by the service, continuing costs related to the service, and future budgetary considerations for renewing the service through General Fund budget resources.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the subscription to this service be approved and that $14,812 be appropriated from the State Seizures and Restitution Fund balance (account 025-0000-253.20-00) to Other Business Services (account 025-6035-421.41-99).