Page 35 - Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council

Fire Support Unit (ACFSU); an additional part-time position is scheduled for elimination in January 2019.

The Budget includes the use of $920,000 in General Fund reserves to purchase an improved and upgraded
communications system that is compatible with the City of Fort Worth’s system.

CodeRED and CodeRED Weather Warning are available to Benbrook residents, businesses, and schools; a Benbrook
street address is required for the system to issue the proper notices. These programs provide an additional layer of
communicating warnings to Benbrook; the City’s emergency warning sirens serve as the primary system for
emergency and crisis alerts.

The City of Benbrook instituted the CodeRED Emergency Notification System – an ultra-high-speed telephone
communication service for emergency notifications. The CodeRED system allows the City to telephone all or targeted
areas of Benbrook in case of an emergency situation that requires immediate action (such as a boil-water, missing
child, or evacuation notice). The system is capable of dialing 60,000 telephone numbers per hour to deliver a pre-
recorded message describing the emergency situation to a person or to an answering machine in the affected area
and can include instructions on the action required of the recipient. Once the situation is remedied, another call is
placed to signal that the issue has been addressed and that normal activities can be resumed.

Benbrook also offers the CodeRED Weather Warning program; this system automatically calls residents when severe
weather (tornado, flash flood, and severe thunderstorm) warnings are issued by the National Weather Service. The
CodeRED Weather Warning calls only when specific warnings are issued and only if a registered home, business, or
school is in the path of the storm.

The Benbrook Police and Fire Departments work with the Drug Enforcement Administration in conducting the National
Take Back Initiative. This program provides a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposal of unused, expired,
and unwanted over-the-counter or prescription medications. The program also educates the general public about the
potential for abuse of these medications.

POLICE DEPARTMENT

New Equipment and Continued Special Programs

Funds are included in the Police Department’s Budget to replace five patrol cars with five sport utility vehicles. Funds
are also included for new light bars for vehicles. All purchases are funded through the General Fund. Funds are
CITY OF BENBROOK 2018-19 ANNUAL BUDGET
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