Scotts Valley announces $682,000 federal earmark to replace police dispatch consoles

At the Feb. 4 meeting the city manager told the City Council that a federal budget included $682,000 earmarked for Scotts Valley to replace police dispatch consoles.

The manager said the funds, obtained through Congressman Jimmy Panetta’s office and slated to come via the Department of Justice, will help the city replace aging consoles and upgrade technology to be compatible with a countywide interoperable radio system currently entering its construction phase. The countywide radio project kickoff was described as beginning this month with a roughly three-year construction schedule.

City staff also reported operational steps tied to dispatch and public safety: the city and the Police Officers Association agreed to a side letter to the MOU to create a career ladder for dispatchers; the police department is recruiting two officers (one lateral hire and one new hire that will attend the academy); and staff submitted grant applications for traffic/DUI enforcement and bike/ebike safety and education programming.

City officials characterized these items as part of broader public-safety and technology upgrades; no formal council vote was recorded on the earmark itself during the meeting.