Assemblymember Papan Presents $100,000 for Public Safety Communications Equipment to the City of Belmont

BELMONT – Today, Assemblymember Diane Papan presented the Belmont City Council with a State Budget Grant of $100,000 to support the replacement of Communication Center consoles used by police dispatchers that will improve emergency response.

“Providing consistent and reliable emergency public safety services to residents is perhaps the most important function of local government,” said Papan. “This grant will help the City of Belmont maintain the quality services it has always provided.”

The Belmont Police Department has been utilizing outdated communication infrastructure for many years in anticipation of making the investment to upgrade local systems. The Communication Center within the police department operates on equipment from the 1990’s which is now beyond the projected service life and will soon be unable to meet evolving requirements for use.

“We are extraordinarily grateful for this State grant as it will pay for the majority of the costs related to replacing these aging consoles supporting public safety,” said Belmont Mayor Julia Mates. “All cities must contend with changing technology and ensure that timely investments are made to keep pace.”

This replacement provides for the Communication Center’s ability to work within the City while maintaining the ability to work seamlessly across San Mateo County with other departments for quicker emergency response.

“When the community calls 9-1-1 in an emergency, the ability to dispatch emergency personnel without technical limitations is essential and critical,” said Belmont Police Chief Ken Stenquist. “And having a system that can work in coordination with surrounding agencies is paramount in sustaining safety.”