Mayor Betsy Smegal Andersen was joined by several city councilmembers, Public Safety Committee members, and current and former city staff and leadership to celebrate the official opening of city’s 911 dispatch center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday.
The $3.1 million, 18-month project, was completed on budget and leveraged $2.1 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding, the city said last year. While the new dispatch center is the most visible outcome, the bulk of the project focused on strengthening the underlying infrastructure required to support modern public safety operations.
Previously, the nearly 80-year-old Police Department building was powered by a 200-amp electrical panel — a capacity more typical of a single-family home than a 24/7 public safety facility — and lacked dedicated backup power. This project delivered a modern electrical core designed for today’s public safety operations, including secure, independent backup power, ensuring the police department and dispatch center can remain operational during extended power outages or major emergencies.
Dispatch Supervisor Mercedes Bolds with Police Chief Shavies 
Before and after photos displayed at the dispatch center site 
New city Finance Director Kiran Bawa talks with former mayor Jen Cavenaugh 
City employees, committee members, and city council members join to celebrate the facilities upgrade milestone.