WHEREAS, the Seattle Police Department 911 Center is responsible for responding to emergency calls for help in serious and life threatening emergency situations from persons with a wide range of communication capabilities, including Deaf and hard of hearing individuals; and

WHEREAS, emergency calls for assistance by Deaf and hard of hearing individuals must be made to the 911 Center through special technologies including tele-typewriters (TTY); and

WHEREAS, it is desirable to establish a mechanism to enhance the 911 Center's provision to TTY users of effective and direct access to 911 emergency services, to enhance the relationship between the Deaf community and the 911 Center, and to promote training, procedures, and policies at the 911 Center to enhance the 911 Center's ability to directly and effectively handle TTY emergency calls, and to assist the 911 Center in reviewing and evaluating emerging and evolving communication technologies for its operations, including the provision of services to the Deaf and hard of hearing; and

WHEREAS, the City has special obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and state law to provide direct and equivalent services to all users of its 911 emergency communications system, including Deaf and hard of hearing individuals;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING;

I. The establishment of an advisory committee to the Seattle Police Department 911 Center is hereby approved and directed. The goals of the advisory committee are as follows:

A. Establish a mechanism which enhances the 911 Center's provision of effective and direct access to 911 emergency services to TTY users.

B. Enhance the relationship between the Deaf community and the 911 Center.

C. Promote training, procedures, and policies at the 911 Center to enhance the 911 Center's ability to directly and effectively handle TTY emergency calls.

II. The advisory committee to the 911 Center shall hold meetings, make recommendations, issue reports, and seek consultation and have duration as follows:

A. Meet at least twice a year to work with the police department and the Deaf community in a variety of ways to enhance the relationship between the Deaf community and the 911 Center and to enhance the directness and effectiveness of 911 services for TTY users.

B. If necessary, make informal recommendations to the 911 Center to improve emergency services for TTY users.

C. Work with the police department to determine whether any recommendations should be incorporated into the 911 Center's operations.

D. Prepare semi-annual written reports which may include recommendations for improvements or changes to the 911 Center.

1. Reports may also reflect majority, minority, or individual comments. The reports may include issues on which the police department and advisory committee, or members of the advisory committee, do not agree.

2.. The reports of the advisory committee will in the first instance go to the Chief of Police. After the Chief's review s/he will then forward the report to the Mayor's Office, and to the City Council's Public Safety Committee, (or its functional successor) for review. The Mayor's Office and/or the police department will review recommendations made by the advisory committee and will issue a response, if necessary.

3. The City Council will review recommendations of the Public Safety Committee and the Executive and may take actions as necessary.

4. If, in the advisory committee's discretion there is a dispute as to whether a particular recommendation is necessary to maintain compliance with the American with Disabilities Act in the 911 Center, the advisory committee may through appropriate channels request an opinion on that issue from the Department of Justice.

E. The advisory committee will exist for three years from its initial meeting. It will terminate at the end of three years unless members of the committee make a recommendation stating detailed grounds for extending the life of the committee and requesting that the City Council authorize extending the life of the committee by further Resolution, in which case the City Council will review the issue.

III. Functions and obligations of the advisory committee and its members will include:

1. Establish its procedures for its operations consistent with this Resolution.

2. Maintain an ongoing working relationship with the 911 Center to maintain and/or improve 911/TTY technology, training, and procedures.

3. Meet at least twice a year in the 911 Center and have the opportunity to tour the 911 Center.

4. Review documentation of all training materials, TTY complaints, TTY training, TTY test calls, and TTY procedures, twice a year.

5. Conduct informal meetings with the 911 Center and the Deaf community to strengthen the relationship between the two and help establish education for the Deaf community and/or the 911 Center on relevant 911/TTY topics.

6. Provide the police department with information about new TTY technologies, or new developments in the Deaf community that are relevant to 911/TTY issues.

7. Conduct meetings that are accessible to the Deaf community and solicit feedback from the Deaf community as to 911's effectiveness.

IV. Members of the advisory committee shall be selected and have responsibilities as follows:

A. At least one of the members shall have demonstrated competency in technical issues and applications relevant to the committee's work. Members shall be selected as follows:

1. One member appointed by the Abused Deaf Women's Advocacy Services.

2. One member appointed by the Community Service Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

3. One member appointed from the Deaf or hard of hearing community by procedures to be adopted by the advisory committee at its initial meeting.

4. One representative of the 911 Center appointed by the Chief of Police.

5. One representative of the police department appointed by the Chief of Police.

6. One "ex officio" member from City Council staff to serve as liaison between the City Council and the advisory committee.

7. One "ex officio" member from the Mayor's Office or OMP or its functional successor.

8. One "ex officio" member from King County E-911 shall be invited to participate.

B. Confidentiality or Member Responsibilities:

1. Members of the committee who may have access to confidential information will be required to sign confidentiality agreements.

2. Members of the committee will agree not to use any information obtained as part of the advisory committee review of the 911 Center in any claim or cause of action against the City or any employee of the City.

3. The City will provide interpreters for the advisory committee's meetings.

4. The police department and advisory committee members will protect confidential information to the extent permitted by law.

Adopted by the City Council the _____ day of _____________, 1998, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this _____ day of ________________, 1998.

________________________________________

President __________ of the City Council

THE MAYOR CONCURRING:

______________________________

Paul Schell, Mayor

Filed by me this ______ day of _________________, 1998.

________________________________________

City Clerk

(Seal)

February 24, 1998 29709.DOC