Loading...
01/16/2007 BUDGET TASK FORCE MEETING MINUTES CITY OF CLEARWATER January 16, 2007 Present: R. Nathan Hightower Chair Herbert W. McLachlan Vice Chair Joseph W. Evich Task Force Member Isay M. Gulley Task Force Member Robert L. Longenecker Task Force Member – departed 7:19 p.m. Joyce E. Martin Task Force Member Charles J. Rutz Task Force Member Jesse Sherman Task Force Member James E. Strickland Task Force Member Douglas J. Williams Task Force Member Absent: Martin L. Altner Task Force Member Also Present Tina Wilson Budget Director Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter The meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m. at the Main Library. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. 2. Approval of Minutes – January 8, 2007 Concern was expressed that minutes from the January 8, 2007, meeting did not reflect statements related to staff numbers. Staff will review and report on this issue. Task Force Member Evich moved to approve the minutes of January 8, 2007, as motion submitted in written summation to each board member, subject to revision. The was carried duly seconded and unanimously. 3. Questions/Discussion regarding January 8, 2007, meeting: Detail of the replacement schedule for Police Department marked vehicles was requested. Staff will review and report. Copies of the City Manager’s letters, reporting on 11 Police Officer positions for FY (Fiscal Year) 2001/02 and 2002/03 budgets, were distributed. Police Chief Sid Klein reported that the City was required to retain 11 grant positions for one year, following the end of the grant. All 11 positions were eliminated the next year due to attrition. The City Manager said for one year, positions not absorbed by the Police Department were paid for with retained earnings. Staff will provide annual counts of sworn officer positions during the previous decade. In response to questions, Police Chief Klein said program positions would be eliminated if Americorps grant funding ends. While an average of 40 to 50 patrols are on duty during peak Task Force – Budget 2007-01-16 1 hours, between 20 and 30 patrols are on duty during slower times. The number of patrols varies from hour to hour as shifts overlap. Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest. Assistant City Manager Garry Brumback said the Jolley Trolley had paid the City a surcharge for its fuel. 4. Staff Presentation: Fire & Rescue Fire Chief Jamie Geer provided a power point presentation. The City’s Fire & Rescue Department has three Divisions: 1) Support Services; 2) Fire Prevention; and 3) Operations. The department has eight fire stations: 1) Fire Station 44 - 950 Gulf Boulevard – one ALS (Advanced Life Support) Engine company with three personnel; 2) Fire Station 45 – 610 Franklin Street – one BLS (Basic Life Support) Engine company with three personnel, one Ladder company with four personnel, one ALS Rescue with two personnel, and one Assistant Chief; 3) Fire Station 46 – 534 Mandalay Avenue – one BLS Engine company with three personnel and one ALS Rescue with two personnel; 4) Fire Station 47 – 1460 Lakeview Road – one BLS Engine company with three personnel and one ALS rescue with two personnel; 5) Fire Station 48 – 1700 N. Belcher Road – one ALS Engine company with three personnel, one Ladder company with four personnel, one ALS Rescue with two personnel, and one Assistant Chief; 6) Fire Station 49 – 565 Sky Harbor Drive – one ALS Engine company with three personnel, one Squad company with two personnel, one ALS Rescue with two personnel, and one Paramedic Supervisor (Fire Medic Lieutenant), 7) Fire Station 50 – 2681 Countryside Boulevard – one BLS Engine company with three personnel and one ALS rescue with two personnel; and 8) Fire Station 51 – 1720 Overbrook Avenue – one ALS Engine company with three personnel. Forty-nine staff are on-duty and work 24/hour schedules and 53 hour weeks. During calendar year 2006, the department received 24,778 calls for service. (Countywide there were 154,711 calls.) The department serves 40.7 square-miles and a population of 133,000, which includes unincorporated areas of the County. On a scale of one to ten, with one being best, the City’s ISO (Insurance Services Office, Inc.) rating is three. The department has 186 uniformed line personnel, who are shift workers, and 22 uniformed staff personnel, including prevention staff. With a civilian staff of 13, the department has a total of 221 FTEs (Full-Time Equivalents). The total department budget for FY (Fiscal Year) 2006/07 is $22,734,580, which includes $1,267,220 for the old pension program. Personnel costs of $19,037,480 equal 83.8% of the department’s budget. The department receives $6,411,468 from Pinellas County: 1) $2,556,770 for the Fire Contract and 2) $3,854,698 for the EMS (Emergency Medical Services) contract. Fire Chief Geer reviewed department upgrades resulting from recommendations made in March 2000 by the Fire Task Force related to facility improvements, additional stations, increased training, the shop/supply, staffing, and fleet upgrades for engines and ladders. On January 16, 2007, staff submitted the task force’s recommendation to the City Council to adopt Fire Prevention User Fees. The Fire Chief reviewed departmental changes related to March 2004 recommendations by MGT of America: 1) Adopt three Divisions; 2) Replace District Chiefs with Assistant Chiefs; 3) Fire Captains; 4) Safety/Training officers; 5) Rescue units; and 6) Increase paramedic positions. Task Force – Budget 2007-01-16 2 Budget Director Tina Wilson reviewed increases during the last 10 years to the Fire & Rescue budget, which increased more quickly than the CPI (Consumer Price Index) due to the adoption of Fire Task Force recommendations. 5. Task Force Questions/Discussion It was questioned if the department will allocate the $1.46-million currently used to fund the old pension plan to increase personnel levels as recommended by the Fire Task Force. The City Manager said the City Council had declined to adopt Fire Task Force recommendations to increase the size of engine crews but did commit $17-million in Penny for Pinellas funds to construct additional Fire Stations. The old pension plan contribution was actuarially determined. The plan, with 37 current members, is fully funded. Human Resources Director Joe Roseto said the Supplemental Plan is funded, by State Statute, from insurance premiums, not the City. Supplemental Plan benefits are based on years of service, are finite, and are paid by lump sum at retirement. Mr. Roseto reported that the Department of Labor adopted an overtime exception for firefighters due to their unique schedules. Firefighters qualify for overtime pay only when they are on duty for more than 56 hours per week. Firefighters work 53-hour shifts. Administrative Support Manager Dan Carpenter said while Police Officers work 2,080 hours a year, firefighters average 2,762. Fire Chief Geer said more than 80% of fire calls are for emergency medical services. Not all of the remaining calls are for fires. Concern was expressed that sending fire trucks to vehicular accidents is wasteful. Fire Chief Geer said the distribution of resources was considered carefully. The closest unit responds, regardless of its size. If an ALS vehicle is not available, a BLS engine is dispatched. The Fire Department was complimented for doing a great job and its professional and caring attitude. Deputy Fire Chief Robert Dube said of 11 officers with take-home cars, two live in the City. Officers with take-home cars are on call at all times while off-duty. The department has 64 vehicles, 41 engine vehicles and 23 staff/support vehicles. Staff vehicles are not rotated among personnel. All 11 officers are not on duty at the same time. In response to a question, staff will report on the costs to operate the department’s Suburban sports utility vehicles. Deputy Fire Chief Dube said as calls are rotated, he does not receive more emergency calls than officers who live outside the City. All officers respond to significant fires. It was suggested that take- home vehicles may be an unnecessary expense. In response to a question, Fire Chief Geer said he was instructed to maintain current staffing levels when he arrived. Discussion ensued regarding City costs to provide County EMS and fire services. Fire Chief Geer said the City’s 10-year contract with the County will end in October 2007. Fire Department and City Attorney representatives are in the early stages of negotiating a new contract that more accurately reflects City costs, and subsequent increases. City and County opinions differ on the actual cost of providing these services. The City’s budget outpaced the current contract’s 3% annual COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) and fuel adjustments. It was recommended that the new contract’s duration be less than 10 years, as unknown variables could occur during that long time period. The City Manager said the County’s subsidy of fire services for jurisdictions that cannot afford to meet area standards creates a burden on municipalities with the economic wherewithal. While the County has increased the MSTU Task Force – Budget 2007-01-16 3 (Municipal Services Taxing Units) for fire coverage for unincorporated residents, the increase was not sufficient to cover City costs. It was recommended that the City provide the County with information regarding its cost to provide EMS and fire services to County residents. In response to a question, the Fire Chief reviewed the department’s organization. The Deputy Fire Chiefs and Administrative Support Manager report to the Fire Chief. Second in command positions are interchangeable. Fire Chief Geer reported that 92 department employees had left the City since 2002 due to retirement, termination, and resignation. Mr. Roseto said the eight firefighters who retired last year averaged 26 years of service. Of the other eight firefighters who left, three were terminated due to discipline issues, one, with six years experience, moved to another career, and the remainder did not successfully complete their probationary period. Mr. Carpenter said 180 frontline Firefighters and 9 inspection positions are members of the IAFF (International Association of Fire Fighters) union. Nine civilian employees are CWA (Communications Workers of America). In the last two years, the inspection positions were converted from CWA to IAFF, as they now are required to possess fire certifications. Mr. Roseto said while the number of staff represented by the IAFF had increased, the number of staff represented by CWA decreased by the same number. Concern was expressed that staff salaries average $58,000 each and benefits are nearly half of payroll. Higher pension costs related to the 20-year retirement provision were noted. Mr. Roseto said benefits average 25% to 30% of payroll, including overtime costs. Mr. Carpenter said new firefighters receive a base pay of $35,300. Mr. Roseto said new firefighters receive step increases plus general wage increases. Fire Chief Geer said it takes firefighters 17 years to reach their maximum salaries of $52,000 to $62,000. Management salaries range from $60,000 to $75,000. They are not paid overtime. Managers, who are not members of the Pension Plan, receive an 8% contribution to their 401. In response to a question regarding differences in overtime costs, Mr. Roseto said Police Officers starting pay is higher than firefighters. John Lee, President of the local IAFF, expressed concerns related to safety, as the City does not meet all standards recommended by the National Fire Protection Association. He said department staffing levels remain below those recommended by the Fire Chief when he arrived at the City. He expressed concern the City could face liability issues if recommended standards are not adopted. He will distribute additional information. He said staff turnover also is a problem and suggested that exit interviews would help determine why firefighters resign. In response to a question, Mr. Lee said few firefighters are able to hold second jobs, as 53-hour workweeks cause them to spend significant time away from their families. He said the City would have to hire another shift of workers if firefighters were scheduled for 8-hour shifts. He said mandated overtime is necessary because of staffing shortfalls. He recommended the City determine the maximum number of hours that staff can safely remain on duty. Mr. Roseto reviewed City limits on outside employment, noting that approval by the Fire Chief and Human Resources Director is required. Staff is not permitted to work for other fire departments. . In response to a question, Mr. Lee said the perception is incorrect that firefighters “hang out” when not responding to calls. He reviewed firefighter responsibilities including schooling, Task Force – Budget 2007-01-16 4 . . . training, fire station, vehicle, and breathing apparatus maintenance, etc. He said while Police Officers have down time, they are not required to perform janitorial duties. Fire Chief Geer said each fire station averages eight calls per day, with each call averaging between 25 and 30 minutes. Fire suppression calls last longer. It was suggested that a ladder company be moved from downtown to the beach due to the large number of high rises located there. In response to a question, staff stated that workers' compensation costs for the entire department are captured in the Support Services Division budget, which accounts for that division's significant personnel costs for four positions. 6. Information for next meetino For discussion on January 22,2007, Ms. Wilson requested that Task Force members review the distributed packet of information on the Parks & Recreation Department and review the related section in the budget. 7. Adiourn Q."V/ '/J Chair + Budget Task Force journed at 8:03 p.m. Task Force - Budget 2007-01-16 5