Title
Authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute Amendment No. 4 to the Interlocal Agreement with the Dallas County Hospital District dba Parkland Health and Hospital System for BioTel/EMS System Social Work and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)/Paramedic Support for the Southeast Alliance Community Care Team for a total amount not to exceed $554,288.00, and renewing the agreement through September 30, 2026, subject to annual appropriation of funds.
Body
The Cities of Balch Springs, Mesquite, Seagoville, and the Town of Sunnyvale were awarded a Dallas County New Directions in Public Safety grant in March 2021 for a multi-jurisdictional mental health response team to provide both proactive and reactive mental health services within the participating jurisdictions. On August 16, 2021, Council approved Resolution No. 44-2021 authorizing the City Manager to enter into an Interlocal Agreement with Dallas County Hospital District dba Parkland Health and Hospital System for staffing for one mental health response team consisting of one social worker and one EMT/Paramedic for Fiscal Year 2022. On April 18, 2022, City Council approved Amendment No. 1 to the Interlocal Agreement adding a second team and extending the agreement through FY 2023. Amendment No. 2 to the Interlocal Agreement added a third team and was approved by City Council on September 5, 2023. Amendment No. 3 to the Interlocal Agreement was approved by City Council on September 3, 2024.
The three teams have staggered hours allowing for an increase in the number of overall hours a behavioral health response team is available. Behavioral health response team coverage is 07:00 a.m. - 02:00 a.m., Monday-Saturday.
The only change reflected in Amendment No. 4 is a three percent increase in the annual cost.
Each member City shares the cost of expenses incurred by the Community Care Teams. Below is the breakdown of each City’s contribution for FY26. This is calculated by comparing each City’s calls for service to the total number of calls received in the previous year.
• Mesquite 87% = $482,230 per year / $40,186 per month
• Balch Springs 6% = $33,257 per year / $2,5771 per month
• Seagoville 4% = $22,172 per year / $1,848 per month
• Sunnyvale 3% = $16,629 per year / $1,386 per month
Financial Implications
The Dallas County New Directions grant for the Southeast Alliance Community Care Team ended on April 30, 2024. Currently, the participating jurisdictions share the costs as outlined in the Southeast Collaboration Interlocal Agreement as authorized by the Mesquite City Council through Resolution No. 34-2021, approved on June 21, 2021. The shared costs allocated to the City of Mesquite have been included in the FY 2026 budget.
Recommended/Desired Action
Staff recommends the City Manager be authorized to finalize and execute Amendment No. 4 to the Interlocal Agreement with the Dallas County Hospital District dba Parkland Health and Hospital System for BioTel/EMS System Social Work and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)/Paramedic Support for the Southeast Alliance Community Care Team.
Attachment(s)
Amendment No. 4
Drafter
Anthony V. Cao
Head of Department
Anthony V. Cao