HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution - 2020-R0312 - Approval of the LECD Proposed Budget for FY 2020-21Resolution No. 2020-RO312
Item No. 8.14
September 8, 2020
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, under the authority of Texas Health and Safety Code Section 772.301
through 772.329, Lubbock County voters approved in a Lubbock County election, April S, 1986,
the creation of the Lubbock Emergency Communication District; and
WHEREAS, the Lubbock Emergency Communication District Board of Managers
approved a proposed budget for FY 2020-21 acting under the authority of Texas Health and
Safety Code Section 772.301 through 772.329; NOW THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LUBBOCK:
THAT the City Council of the City of Lubbock hereby approves the Lubbock Emergency
Communication District proposed budget for FY 2020-21. Said budget is attached hereto and
incorporated as if fully set forth herein.
Passed by the City Council this 8th day of September , 2020.
U�
DANIEL M. POP MAYOR
Al -EST:
i
Re ecca Garza, City Secretary
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
D. u Kos lich, C le none- al Officer
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Amy L s, sistant City ey
ccdocs/LECD Budget Resolution 20-21
August 26, 2020
LUBBOCK EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION DISTRICT
6032 43rd Street - Lubbock, Texas 79407-3711
806.747.6911 • www.lubbock9li.org - fax 806.747.5803
July 9, 2020
City Of Lubbock
Mayor Dan Pope
P.O. Box 2000
Lubbock, TX 79457-2000
The Lubbock Emergency Communication District Board of Managers has approved for
distribution the LECD proposed budget for fiscal year 2020/2021 commencing October 1,
2020. The proposed budget represents a fair and prudent financial plan to accomplish the
LECD mission of providing the best possible Enhanced 9-1-1 service to the citizens of the
District.
Attached is a copy of the proposed budget. Under Health and Safety Code 772.309, LECD is
required to submit its proposed budget for review to the governing bodies within the boundaries
of the District, and the reviewing entities may provide comments to the LECD Board of
Managers by September 8, 2020. Comments on this proposed budget will become part of the
record at the September Board Meeting.
Please notify us if you would like a representative from the District to attend your meeting. If
you need additional information, please feel free to contact Operations Manager, Dyanne Neill,
at 747-5163 or by email at dyanne.neill@lubbock9l Lorg.
We appreciate the opportunity to serve you and your constituents.
Sincerely,
bwlv -
Nathan Kizer, ENP
Executive Director
Attachments
"...to provide the best possible, trouble free 9-1-1 network for the citizens we serve..."
PROPOSED BUDGET
FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021
LUBBOCK EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION DISTRICT
"...to provide the best possible, trouble free 9-1-1 network
for the citizens we serve... "
LUBBOCK EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION DISTRICT
FY 2020-2021 PROPOSED BUDGET
TOTAL BUDGET TOTAL BUDGET
ITEM 2019-2020 2020 2021
service Fee $2.901,500
Interests
$17.000
TOTAL PROJECTED REVENUE
Egupment Replacement Expenditures - PSAP
Equipment Replacement Expenditures - LECD
Building Replacement/Repair Expenditures
Existing Funds _
TOTAL ALLOCATED FUNDS
PERSONNEL EXPENSE
Gompensaton - Full Time
Compensation - Part Time
Retirement Expense
Insurance Benefit _
Workers' Compensation
Unemployment
FICA Tax
Payroll Service
Em
Vorment.Expense
Accrued Benefit
$132
$141
$4
TOTAL PERSONNEL EXPENSE $1
OFFICE SUPPLIES EXPENSE
Office/Operating Supplies
Nher Supplies
Educational Supplies
Postage
Mapping Supplies
Printin
Office/Communication Equipment Maintenance
Computer EquiVment Maintenance
Tools & Equipment
RentlLease Machinery
TOTAL OFFICE EQUPMENT MAINTENANCE
BUILDING C SIM C
Contract Services
Maintenance/Repair
Utilities
Building Supplies/Tools
Building Insurance
Building Continjen.
Building Replacement/Repair Fund
TOTAL BUILDING SERVICES/MAINTENANCE
Texas 9-1-1 Alliance
Leval Services
Accounting Services
Public Education
Professional Services
Communication Services
Professional Dues and Men
Travel y
tt•3� T�•�TJi>'T�
d4=1K•,
OPERA
$2.700'
$140,000
$131.500
$4,200
$3,600
$72,000
$3,200
$3,000
$95.000
$1,297,900
$1,900
$5,800
$400
$650
$200
$1.100
$10,050
$1,500
$3,000
$16 600
$8,400
$23.000
$59,000
$37,500
$5,600
$13,500
$50.000
$125.000
_ $23,000
$25,900
$39,600
$5,200
$13,000
_ $50,000
$125 000
$281,700
$18.000
$313,600
$19,300
$6.0_00
$6,300
$11,800
$12,000
$118,5001
$18.000
$8,0001
$7,600
$4,6001
$5,106
$36,800
$31.500
$8,900
$8,700
$9,000
$9,200
$11.000
$11,000
$135,300
$130,400
$1,000
$1,000
$1,000
$1,000
$0
$1,600
$22.530
$14 325
$24,530
$17,925
$1.709.530
$1,778 275
LUBBOCK EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION I
FY 2020-2021 PROPOSED BUDGET
REM
Recurring Charges
Maintenance Charges
CPE Technician
2019-2020 2020-2021
Telsoommu_nicator Trainingfrravel
Catastrophic Contirgerx�r
Equipment Insurance
PSAP Emelgenq Response Support _
Intergovernmental Aerial Mapping
PSAP Communication Services --
Eui�rnent Replacement - PSAP
r..faf acea c........s :,
,PSAP Grant Pnoyram
PSAP Network Security_
Flexible Remote Operations
TOTAL PROJECTS
$501
$410
$20,
$100,
11
$150,1
$100,1
LUBBOCK EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION DISTRICT
FY 2020-2021 PROPOSED BUDGET
AGENCY OVERVIEW
BACKGROUND
The creation of the Lubbock Emergency Communication District (LECD) was approved
by an overwhelming vote of the public in 1986. The authority to create the District was
provided in Vernon's Texas Civil Statute 1432e. It was later codified in Texas Health and
Safety Code, Section 772.301 through 772.329, the Emergency Telephone Number Act
for counties with population over 20,000.
The District's mission upon creation was to establish 9-1-1 as the primary phone number
to be used in an emergency in Lubbock County as well as the Emergency Telephone
Network associated to provide Enhanced 9-1-1 service. All political subdivisions within
Lubbock County assisted in this mission by establishing eight (8) Public Safety Answering
Points (PSAPs) to receive emergency 9-1-1 calls. Our mission continues, but now in a
different form:
"The mission of the Lubbock Emergency Communication District is to
provide the best possible, trouble free network for the citizens we serve to
access emergency services by dialing 9-1-1; to provide the best tools
(equipment and information) to each service provider agency that will
enhance their ability to provide public safety services; and to educate the
public on the effective and appropriate use of the 9-1-1 network."
The City of Plainview joined the Lubbock Emergency Communication District through an
interlocal agreement in January 1989.
A six -member Board of Managers oversees the Lubbock Emergency Communication
District. Two appointments to the Board are made by the City of Lubbock, one by the
County of Lubbock, one by the City of Slaton, one at -large appointment made by the
other Board Members, and one ex-officio (non -voting) member representing AT&T, the
primary telephone service provider in Lubbock County.
Enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) operations started within LECD boundaries on January 27,
1989. Since that time, millions of 9-1-1 calls have been handled by the PSAPs supported
by LECD. Currently, approximately 90% of all 9-1-1 calls originate from a wireless device.
All the major wireless service providers in the District provide Wireless E9-1-1 Phase II
service. This service provides the telecommunicator with the latitude and longitude of the
caller. With the help of mapping software, this assists the telecommunicator in locating
the caller.
The District continues to be actively involved in the design, development, and
implementation of Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) in the state of Texas. NG9-1-1
changes the architecture of the network, allowing better access for current and future
communication devices, no matter what platform they use. The goal of NG9-1-1 can be
summed up in one slogan: "Emergency Help. Anytime, anywhere, any device." The
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LUBBOCK EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION DISTRICT
FY 2020-2021 PROPOSED BUDGET
transition is much more complex than any other transition undertaken to date. While in
the past 9-1-1 networks could be managed as stand-alone systems, the hierarchical
network architecture that is the foundation of any NG9-1-1 system will require cooperation
and collaboration at local, regional, state, national and, ultimately, global levels in degrees
not previously experienced.
The PSAPs in the District are connected by a fully redundant, public safety grade IP
network. All 9-1-1 traffic within the District is transported over this private IP network,
providing the PSAPs with the ability to transfer calls to various locations without having to
route through the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). This unique 9-1-1 system
also provides call takers with the ability to transfer a 9-1-1 call to multiple PSAPs at the
same time.
The District utilizes a Host -Remote system. In place of individual backroom equipment at
each PSAP, two geo-diverse Hosts process calls for the entire District. This centralized
system provides reliability and redundancy, allowing PSAP personnel to answer calls
from any of the District PSAP locations. This system is monitored and maintained by
District Staff. The software is regularly updated, and the specialized hardware is replaced
every five years.
In October of 2015, the District relocated to a new facility, which was designed and
constructed to the District's specifications. This 10,000-square foot building includes a
data center capable of housing fourteen cabinets of equipment, a six position Training
Center which doubles as a back-up PSAP, and a building -wide UPS, all housed inside an
EF5 rated structure. A diesel fueled generator, as well as connectivity for a secondary
generator, provides necessary emergency power in the event of a disaster. The data
center houses one of the two Hosts for the 9-1-1 network and serves as a primary
network monitoring location.
In 2017, the District began investigating the concept of replacing the legacy AT&T
selective router with an Internet Protocol Selective Routing (IPSR) solution. In May 2018,
the District signed a contract with Motorola to begin implementation of IPSR services for
the citizens of Lubbock County, Abernathy, and Plainview. The District data center
houses a portion of this IPSR equipment and will serve as one of two redundant IPSR
hosts for several other 9-1-1 entities in Texas. Once complete, the District will be able to
begin adopting additional NG9-1-1 functionality, such as geospatial routing and
supplemental location information sources.
As the network evolves and new technologies are adopted, the risk increases also.
Cybersecurity is vital to the health of any public facing network, especially in 9-1-1. The
District has implemented various layers of maintenance, monitoring, and alerting to
protect the 9-1-1 system. It is an ongoing effort to thwart potential attacks and preserve
the overall health of the network.
The Staff of LECD and the Board of Managers are continually looking forward,
researching new equipment, technologies, software, techniques, and training to assist the
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LUBBOCK EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION DISTRICT
FY 2020-2021 PROPOSED BUDGET
public safety telecommunicator in doing a more efficient job of providing emergency help
to people calling 9-1-1. As the District moves towards NG9-1-1, the landscape continues
to change. While there is still a need to invest in hardware and products, many facets of
NG9-1-1 are moving to a service -oriented model. These services represent both recurring
and increasing costs.
STAFF
Operations Manager
Executive Assistant
Administrative Assistant
Contract/Facility Coordinator
Executive Director
Senior CPE Technician
CPE Technician
CPE Technician I
GIS/Addressing Coordinator
Computer Network Technician
In addition to the Board of Managers, the District has a Staff of ten full time positions.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR — Has total oversight of the operation of the District. Is
responsible to the Board of Managers for carrying out the mission of the District.
OPERATIONS MANAGER — Oversees the day-to-day operations of the District, including
Human Resources, financial functions, PSAP personnel training, and other
responsibilities. Assumes the role of "Acting Executive Director" in the absence of the
Executive Director.
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT — Provides clerical and general office support to the Executive
Staff and other Staff as needed. Responsible for various areas of the operations of the
District including accounts payable and financial reporting. Serves as back-up to the
Operations Manager in all areas of financial responsibility.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT — Responsible for answering the telephone and greeting
visitors to the LECD office. Coordinates meetings and special events. Monitors supplies
and public education materials along with organizing public education events.
CONTRACT/FACILITY COORDINATOR - Manages the various contractual agreements
utilized by the District. This includes providing budgetary input and assisting other Staff as
it pertains to contracts. This position is also responsible for maintaining the buildings and
grounds, including management of vendors providing services and duties associated with
purchasing and stocking supplies for building maintenance.
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LUBBOCK EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION DISTRICT
FY 2020-2021 PROPOSED BUDGET
COMPUTER NETWORK TECHNICIAN — Administers the internal computer network,
which includes all the network switches, workstations, laptops, and software. Assists Staff
in the use of computer programs. Plans for the impact of future technologies on the
computers used internally by the District.
GIS/ADDRESSING COORDINATOR - Responsible for maintaining a county -wide
geographic information system, the Enhanced 9-1-1 database, and the Master Street
Address Guide (MSAG). Also assigns addresses for rural Lubbock County. Works closely
with local developers and other entities in the addressing of lots, naming of roads, and
provision of road signs.
SENIOR CPE TECHNICIAN - Responsible for the repair and maintenance of the 9-1-1
network components and call handling equipment and software used in the PSAPs.
Tests, evaluates, and implements new hardware and software solutions in the PSAPs.
CPE TECHNICAN - Assists with repair, maintenance, and upgrade of 9-1-1 equipment.
Also assists in the testing of new hardware and software.
CPE TECHNICIAN I - Assists with the repair, maintenance, and upgrade of 9-1-1
equipment. Due to this being a new position, this person would be training during most of
FY 2020-2021.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The following are noteworthy responsibilities and benefits the District provides the citizens
of Lubbock County and the Cities of Abernathy and Plainview:
9-1-1 SERVICE FEE — The District is responsible for receiving and tracking service fee
revenue collected from the service providers doing business within its jurisdiction. The
District directly collects a service fee on all wireline and VoIP lines. In addition, each
wireless subscriber in the state of Texas is assessed a service fee which is remitted to
the State. These funds are then distributed to LECD and the various 9-1-1 entities based
on population.
9-1-1 NETWORK — The District maintains a resilient and highly redundant network which
interconnects its PSAPs. LECD works closely with service providers to monitor and test
equipment, as well as resolve issues when they occur. Proactive monitoring, detailed
Service Level Agreements, and rapid response times ensure quick resolutions to issues
within this critical infrastructure.
CALL HANDLING EQUIPMENT — The District provides the equipment and software used
to receive and answer 9-1-1 calls at each PSAP. Mapping software displays the location
information associated with the call. Logging equipment at each PSAP records the audio
for every 9-1-1 call handled. Specialized software collects information on all aspects of
each call and stores it for daily analysis. The District also maintains an internal website
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LUBBOCK EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION DISTRICT
FY 2020-2021 PROPOSED BUDGET
which provides links to reference material, user tips, and a portal into the internal trouble
ticket system. All call handling equipment is monitored remotely by the equipment
vendors, as well as the District's CPE Technicians.
TELECOMMUNICATOR TRAINING — District Staff facilitates training opportunities for all
PSAP personnel. New call takers are trained on various aspects of 9-1-1, the call
handling equipment, mapping information, ADA requirements, and available third -party
resources, such as Poison Control and interpretation services. As new technology and
software becomes available, District Staff works to educate all call takers and provide
training materials. Throughout the year, web -based training classes are offered, and the
District provides funds for PSAP personnel to participate in other training opportunities.
MAPPING — The District maintains a Geographic Information System (GIS) of the
Lubbock area. Starting as a road centerline map, this data is used by PSAPs to locate
9-1-1 callers graphically on a map display. Other map data sources useful to public safety
are aggregated into this dataset. The District is responsible for staying abreast of any
changes and works with other entities to make sure the GIS data is as accurate as
possible.
DATABASES —The District maintains several databases important to 9-1-1 service. In
relation to addressing, the District maintains both an Automatic Location Identification
(ALI) database and a Master Street Address Guide (MSAG). The ALI database contains
address information for every landline in the District, which aids the call taker in locating
the caller. The MSAG is a set of rules for maintaining valid addresses in the District. In
addition to addressing, the District uses Management Information Software (MIS) to track
various aspects of 9-1-1 calls in an effort to improve the overall system.
RURAL ADDRESSING — The Lubbock County Commissioner's Court appointed the
District as the sole addressing authority for all unincorporated areas of Lubbock County.
LECD works with other entities to maintain accurate addressing through new
construction, the creation of subdivisions, and city annexations. The GIS/Addressing
Coordinator uses specialized mapping software to verify locations and help assign
addresses.
STREET SIGNS — Through a partnership with Lubbock County, the District pays for the
manufacture of street signs for the unincorporated areas of the County. Once ordered,
the Lubbock County Sign Crew installs the signs in the proper location. These signs
provide direction for emergency responders, as well as U.S. Postal and other delivery
services. An online road sign database provides LECD Staff and County personnel a
convenient way to work together in ordering and installing road signs throughout the
County.
SERVICE PROVIDER COMPLIANCE - LECD is responsible for contracting with
telephone service providers to ensure they are providing proper 9-1-1 service to their
customers that reside within the District. Approximately 85 service providers remit service
fees directly to the District. This includes Local Exchange Carriers (LECs) and Voice over
Proposed Budget FY 2020-2021 Page 5
LUBBOCK EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION DISTRICT
FY 2020-2021 PROPOSED BUDGET
the Internet Service Providers (VSPs). LECD also works with service providers in
implementing and testing the latest technology to facilitate in locating callers to 9-1-1 from
their respective service.
PUBLIC EDUCATION — The District is the primary supplier of educational material and
public training programs on the use of 9-1-1. LECD organizes a group of call takers
known as the Road Show Team which delivers presentations in schools and at civic
events within the community.
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER — District Staff creates an informational newsletter
published quarterly. This information is delivered to PSAP personnel, elected officials,
other Districts, and local businesses within the community and across the United States.
MEETINGS — Each month, the District hosts a Board of Managers meeting to keep the
Board abreast of project developments and the financial status of the District. LECD also
hosts a monthly User Group meeting consisting of representatives from each of the
District PSAPs. This provides an opportunity to address issues with 9-1-1 equipment and
share information between agencies. Periodically, the District holds a Legislative Briefing
designed to update elected officials on issues pertaining to 9-1-1. In addition to these
gatherings, LECD provides the facility for various PSAP-hosted training opportunities.
RESEARCH AND PLANNING — District Staff is continually researching newly available
communication technology as it pertains to 9-1-1. This new technology includes the
development of a NG9-1-1 system benefitting not only the District, but also neighboring
regions and the State of Texas. This future system will be able to deliver voice, text,
images, and video to the call taker from any device.
LEGISLATION MONITORING — District Staff monitors Federal, State, and local
legislation for any issues which may impact the provision of 9-1-1 service within the
District. Participation in the Texas 9-1-1 Alliance is especially beneficial in this area, as
the group can present a unified effort on behalf of Texas.
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LUBBOCK EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION DISTRICT
FY 2020-2021 PROPOSED BUDGET
SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES FOR FY 2020-2021
In addition to the routine duties of the District, LECD plans to continue working on the
following significant activities within the next fiscal year.
NEXT GENERATION/EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
The District continues to move towards NG9-1-1, with a focus on IP selective routing,
data management, and resource sharing.
IP SELECTIVE ROUTING
Routing is one of the core features of the legacy 9-1-1 system. This feature automatically
directs calls to the proper answering point. The legacy equipment provided by AT&T has
reached its end of life and is being retired in the near future. To replace this legacy
equipment, as well as continue moving towards NG9-1-1, the District has partnered with
Motorola Solutions to implement an IP-based Selective Router (IPSR). The IPSR
provides the same basic functionality as the legacy system but utilizes newer technology
and adds more capabilities. This newer technology will also allow for Next Generation
services to be added as they become available.
The IPSR implementation is a large undertaking spanning several years and multiple
phases. The complete transition to the IPSR will require all telephone service providers in
the area to interconnect with the new equipment. Once this migration is complete, the
next phase of the project will be geospatial routing which allows calls to be routed based
on geographic data rather than static database tables.
HOST ALI DATABASE
For the past five years, the District has utilized 911 Datamaster for database services.
The ALI information for citizens of the District has resided on servers in Houston and
Huntsville. This information is delivered for every 9-1-1 call over direct circuits which
traverse a large part of Texas. The District has installed a local ALI database server and
has worked to establish connectivity with the Amarillo 9-1-1 District. Once complete, ALI
information for our citizens will be stored locally, providing a fast, reliable connection for
this information. It will also provide other West Texas 9-1-1 entities the opportunity for a
localized connection point to use the same services.
In addition to providing ALI information to our PSAPs, it will also function as a backup to
the data for the Amarillo and Greater Harris County Districts. Currently, this ALI database
network serves the citizens of Lubbock, Greater Harris County, Montgomery County,
Potter -Randall, and North Central Texas Council of Governments.
RESOURCE SHARING
The District has provided text-to-9-1-1 service since 2015. For the last three years, texting
has been integrated into the 9-1-1 call handling equipment. This requires a direct circuit to
a Text Control Center (TCC). As more Districts begin offering text-to-9-1-1 service, there
has been interest in sharing resources to save both money and effort. The District intends
to work with other Districts to find ways to share resources and lower costs for
text-to-9-1-1 and other NG9-1-1 services as they become available.
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LUBBOCK EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION DISTRICT
FY 2020-2021 PROPOSED BUDGET
SECONDARY NETWORK STUDY
In addition to the IP fiber network, the District utilizes a broadband over wireless network
as a backup. This secondary network has been in place for more than ten years. It utilizes
Public Safety spectrum designated by the FCC. This study will assess the effectiveness
of the wireless network as we move into NG9-1-1, as well as other possible solutions for
a secondary network.
FLEXIBLE REMOTE OPERATIONS
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the work environment dramatically. The District
intends to explore flexible remote working solutions for the Staff. This will involve the
consideration of new computer hardware, telecommunication improvements, and web -
based services for teleconferencing and project management. Legal services will be used
to ensure compliance of any changes to District policies.
CPE/NETWORK MAINTENANCE
The District continues to provide 24x7 maintenance on all LECD-provided equipment
directly related to the handling of 9-1-1 calls. In addition to the two Vesta -trained CPE
Technicians, the District plans to hire an additional Technician to be able to quickly
respond to service disruptions of the 9-1-1 equipment or network. The District continues
to optimize and monitor the IP network to ensure its optimum performance.
EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT
The District utilizes specialized long-term recorders at each PSAP to record all 9-1-1
voice traffic. This audio is used for a variety of reasons, including assisting callers,
evaluating and training call takers, and as testimony in court. This equipment is replaced
routinely to provide the utmost in reliability.
The District is systematically replacing the Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) at many
of the PSAPs. These devices provide temporary battery power to the 9-1-1 equipment in
the event of a utility power outage. Several PSAPs have relocated to dedicated facilities
supported by a facility -wide UPS. Other PSAPs have announced intentions to do the
same. The District is pursuing a phased approach to replacing the remaining UPS
devices.
LEGISLATION
The District continues to monitor federal, state, and local legislation for issues which may
impact the 9-1-1 industry. District participation in the Texas 9-1-1 Alliance is especially
beneficial in this area. This legislative year, the Alliance is proposing legislation designed
to increase wireless service fees in Texas. The District also continues to participate in
both 9-1-1 Goes to Washington and 9-1-1 Goes to Austin. These events provide
opportunities for 9-1-1 professionals to interact with and educate federal and state
legislators.
Proposed Budget FY 2020-2021 Page 8