MESA seeks new staff and technology funding as agency aims for 9-1-1 accreditation

Metropolitan Emergency Services Agency Director Tom Selleis told the council that two staffing analyses produced different recommendations: an APCO tool recommends adding 71 telecommunicators systemwide, while an internal study suggests adding 30 positions as an incremental approach. "The APCO study recommends adding 71 telecommunicators," Selleis said during the presentation, and MESA staff said the agency had requested personnel in coordination with the Office of Finance and Management to address hiring and training timelines.

MESA also described infrastructure priorities: replacement of at least 32 outdoor warning sirens with the first six scheduled for October and another six in November, upgrades to CAD and radio systems for redundancy against outages, and plans to pursue accreditation of the 9-1-1 center by the third quarter of 2027. The agency presented a proposed 2027 budget increase (roughly 12.5% overall) that would fund 15 positions tied directly to improved call-response objectives and modest contract and technology increases.