Loading...
10/26/1999FIRE TASK FORCE MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER October 26, 1999 Present: Bill Horne Chair (non-voting) Fran Briskman Task Force Member Joe Calio Task Force Member Joe Evich Task Force Member Russ Kimball Task Force Member George Krause Task Force Member John Lee Task Force Member Bill Schwob Task Force Member William Sherman Task Force Member Doug Williams Task Force Alternate Jean Stuart Task Force Alternate Absent: Duke Tieman Task Force Member Rowland Herald Task Force Member Scott Nall Task Force Member Also Present: Craig Pare Pinellas County EMS/ Fire Administration Programs Mgr. Dwaine Booth Pinellas County EMS/ Fire Administration Assistant Dir. Jack Callahan Assistant Fire Chief Margie Simmons Finance Administrator Tina Wilson Budget Director Cyndie Goudeau City Clerk Brenda Moses Board Reporter The Chair called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. at City Hall. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEM 2 – Approval of Minutes Member Calio requested that page 6, paragraph 3, sentence 2 read “It was noted only $167,000 of those fees remain to beautify Gulf Boulevard after widening.” Member Evich requested that page 6, paragraph 4, sentence 1 read “… to recommend that the Chief submit a budget amendment to reallocate $3.4 million for construction …” Member Evich moved to approve the minutes of October 19, 1999, as amended. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM 3 – County Fire Officials’ Perspective on Fire Service Needs (cont’d from 10/12/99) Dwaine Booth Pinellas County EMS/Fire Administration Assistant Director, said he monitors other cities’ fire department services. He said it is important to compare similar demographics. The ICMA (International City and County Manager’s Association) recommends 3 firefighters per 1,000 population. Eight years ago, the ICMA indicated that the nationwide average, is 1-½ fire fighters per 1,000 population. Mr. Booth said there are less than 400 working fires in Pinellas County annually. He reviewed maps indicating response and travel times, position of fire stations throughout the County, and station call activities. He said the average call time is 26 – 28 seconds. The average time for a unit to leave the station is 45 seconds to 1-½ minutes. Peak times and traffic affect travel and response times, particularly to outlying areas. Assistant Fire Chief Jack Callahan said the County used different assumptions than the City for response times, etc. City assumptions include scramble times. He said risk assessments consider initial response times and second unit response times. In response to a question, Mr. Booth said if a fire station is located on Sand Key, the closest units will respond, from the Clearwater Fire Department or a mutual aid department. He said the County and City work together. The largest area of concern is response time. The structure and density of buildings also is a concern. In response to a question, Mr. Booth suggested the City contact local homeowner’s associations regarding retrofitting buildings with sprinkler systems. The sprinklers are relatively inexpensive compared to costs associated with tax dollars for fire stations, etc. It was commented a 12-minute response time is not acceptable for any area of the City. Mr. Booth said in the past, condominium associations successfully fought legislation requiring retrofitting existing structures with sprinkler systems. The City requires that new construction include sprinkler systems. In response to a question, Mr. Booth said the County has the contractual right to review City proposals for new fire station construction. The City can construct stations regardless of the County’s opinion. In response to a question, Mr. Booth said if a structure and a medical call are received simultaneously, both are handled with equal response. Multiple units respond to calls. In response to a question, Mr. Booth said FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Association) designates the elevation required for fire station living quarters. The City is responsible for evaluating risk issues for stations in flood plains. The meeting recessed from 4:05 to 4:15 p.m. ITEM 4 – Discussion of Fire Plan Needs & Budget Assistant Fire Chief Callahan reviewed FY (fiscal year) 2000 – 2005 fire department preliminary enhancements including: 1) apparatus; 2) facilities; 3) personnel; and 4) equipment needs. He said some items are not included in the CIP (Capital Improvement Project). In response to a question, Assistant Fire Chief Callahan said a Sand Key station is being recommended in addition to Station 46. The Coast Guard is interested in a joint venture for a Sand Key fire station. The Coast Guard will benefit by City paramedic participation in search and rescue missions. They will train City Fire Department employees in water safety and rescue. The Commission has approved one aerial apparatus for delivery after October 2002. Firefighters will be hired prior to construction of a new station to train them for efficiency. Facility costs do not include site acquisition. Assistant Fire Chief Callahan anticipates design of a new station will take 6 months to design and one year to build. The City proposes construction of a fire station to the rear of proposed development at the Clearwater Mall site in exchange for its current prime property. It was remarked that the aerial replacement unit should be included in the apparatus proposal for FY 2003, increasing the budget by $1,350,000, and reducing the FY 2005 budget by $1,350,000. In response to a question, Assistant Fire Chief Callahan said the 12 fire fighters proposed in FY 2001 will be assigned to the new Northwest station; some of the 12 firefighters proposed in FY 2002 will be assigned to Sand Key and the remainder will increase staffing levels. The goal is 4 firefighters per unit. A major portion of equipment costs in FY 2004 are for radio upgrades that communicate with the County’s new system. He said since efforts are being made to work with the Coast Guard, the Fire Department can probably use the Coast Guard’s dive boat when necessary. In response to a question, Assistant Fire Chief Callahan said the cost to refurbish stations is similar to new construction costs. Refurbishing does not move stations to more practical service areas. In response to a question, Assistant Fire Chief Callahan said the Fire Department does not intend to request budget amendments for this fiscal year. Differences between the budget originally proposed and the Fire Department’s recommendations were discussed. In response to a question, Deputy Chief Jerry Worsham said staff can only estimate land acquisition and design costs. It was suggested the City save money by considering other cities’ architectural design. The $158,000 budgeted for apparatus in FY 2000 was last year’s money. The apparatus were not delivered until October. Budget Director Tina Wilson said the apparatus were approved for purchase in FY 1999. The Fire Department was given approval to order the equipment and enter into a lease purchase agreement for that equipment. She said Fire Department staff can provide the board with information regarding operating impacts. In response to a question, Deputy Chief Worsham said the City has no mandatory retirement requirements. Estimated retirement costs for Fire Department employees as of January 2, 2000, are $1.5 million. Costs will vary depending upon retirement dates, vacation, sick leave, and floating holidays. The Premium Stabilization Fund has been used to pay retirement costs. It was requested the Fire Department incorporate projected land acquisition costs, maintenance costs, and retirement costs into a complete document indicating the current status of the department and what enhancements will mean. It was questioned if facility costs should be validated. In response to a question, City Clerk Cyndie Goudeau said the City has a person who actively seeks and applies for pertinent grants. It was requested Fire Department staff provide a financial scenario regarding the relocation of the Clearwater beach fire station to a more central location. It was noted that Mr. Booth’s presentation confused travel time with response time. If the beach fire station remains in the Mandalay Avenue area, Sand Key will not receive a five-minute response time. ITEM 5 - Miscellaneous Discuss Future Agendas Member Krause moved to cancel the November 23, 1999, meeting. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM 6 – Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 5:23 p.m.