Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin 07-20-06 wks fire mplanCITY OF UKIAH CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING - MINUTES FIRE DEPARTMENT MASTER PLAN WORKSHOP CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 300 SEMINARY AVENUE UKIAH, CA 95482 July 20, 2006 5:30 p.m. le m e ROLL CALL: Councilmembers Present: Crane, McCowen, Rodin, Baldwin Councilmembers Absent: MayorAshiku Staff Present: City Manager Horsley, Fire Chief Latipow, recorder Cynthia Stanford PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Fire Chief Kurt Latipow led the Pledge of Allegiance PRESENTATION OF THE "FIRE PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY SERVICES MASTER PLAN: FOR THE CITY OF UKIAH FIRE DEPARTMENT" Fire Chief Latipow gave an opening statement regarding the Fire Department's participation in the process of preparing the Master Plan and then introduced the presenters; Ronny J. Coleman and associate Bob Marcucci of Emergency Services Consulting, Inc. Mr. Coleman discussed the purpose and process of what is contained in the Fire Protection/Emergency Services Master Plan 2006 document. During the preparation of the Master Plan Mr. Coleman and Mr. Marcucci reviewed historical data, spoke to over 100 citizens, Councilmembers, staff, and stakeholders, made 3 trips to Ukiah as well as held a workshop. The intent of the Master Plan is to provide a general direction for the Fire Department's present and future role in the community as outlined below. PURPOSE OF THE MASTER PLAN: · Give general direction · Identify risks, hazards, and values present in the community that require fire protection · Budgetary actions · Where the Fire Department is today, what is at risk in the community, and goals to accomplish · assemble resources, determine types of services and whether they are linked with the needs of the community: · look at options/alternatives and formulate decisions P~el Mr. Coleman gave a description of the layout of the Master Plan, discussed various sections and how the Master Plan is organized, and what assessments were used to arrive at the options and alternatives presented. Mr. Coleman pointed out Section IX which has suggested recommendations and an action plan. In preparing the Master Plan Mr. Coleman considered 10 points as follows: · governance · risk · financial implications · management direction · program activities · infrastructure including station and apparatus · training system · staffing system · internal management system · relationship to the community Mr. Coleman went on to discuss the remainder of the Master Plan including contemporary issues, setting standards, financing the Department, the Department's vision and recommendations for the future of the Fire Department. In Mr. Coleman's interview process he was presented with numerous perspectives of the mission of Ukiah Fire Department. The following is representative of his discussions and observations. What should the Fire Department be doing? Protection of life and property from natural and man made disasters. What do you believe is a reasonable expectation of the types of services that should be provided? Fight fires, respond to medical emergencies, public education, fire prevention, disaster preparedness, fire investigations and general public assistance. What are the challenges and opportunities that you see for this Department? Staff turnover, full-time staffing level, preservation of the volunteer program, apparatus & equipment replacement, dealing with growth, changing community expectations, policy decisions regarding Emergency Medical Services, and overall assessment of EMS Program Activity. How long do you think it would take the Fire Department to respond? Most expectations were a 5-6 minute response. Everyone is programmed to call 911 when they have any kind of an emergency. What individual needs does this community have that the Fire Department could help with? Deal with growth in the areas of responsibility and growth in cost of providing service, training and response coverage, balance between revenue and tax base. Mr. Coleman explained that the Master Plan discusses in great detail where the Fire Page 2 Department is today and where does it want to be in 5 years, in 10 years. He went on to discuss EMS services, structure fires, mutual aid, and response time performance. The following are the recommendations of the Master Plan: MISSION/GOALS: Short Term Recommendations: Adopt specific goals and objectives · Adopt specific performance measures · Automate the fire prevention bureau · Add a fire inspector to the bureau · Adopt official levels of service - suburban environment based on population density · Obtain consensus on capital items · AEDs in public buildings · Develop officer training capability- invest in training · Improve upon volunteer recruitment and retention · Improve upon volunteer support · Improve upon pre-fire planning efforts- economic infrastructure Lon~ Term Recommendations: · Reestablish Ukiah Valley Regional Fire System · Convene a committee to rewrite the Section on Fire and EMS in the General Plan for submittal later · Appoint transitional Fire Chief · Contract with Howard Forest for Dispatch (or be a part of the Regional Study by PD) · Allow the Fire Chief to "over hire" once a year to improve upon the overtime situation. Mr. Coleman went on to state that we need to strike a balance while we plan for the future. The future consists of 1) costs/consequences- costs will continue to increase, so plan for cost/consequence avoidance and 2) core competencies- The Master Plan proposes that Ukiah Fire Department remain a suburban fire department, continue with the current format, and consider becoming part of a regional system. Councilmember Baldwin asked if there were any questions from the Council and there were none. Councilmember Baldwin asked if there were any public comment or questions at this time and there were none. A general discussion ensued with the Council, Mr. Coleman and Fire Chief Latipow which included the following topics: · smart growth movement/densification (going above 2 story height limit) · changes in traffic circulation · urban/wildland interface problems, i.e., defense level for western hills - response level and time · Brush Street Triangle · regionalization - growth potential outside City limits Page 3 · population increase · residential development · tax/revenue agreement between the City and County Councilmember McCowen asked for clarification regarding the chart on pg.7, Recommendation 1, "Anticipated Benefits" and whether cost containment was the most likely anticipated benefit of reunification when he was thinking the greater benefit might be increased efficiency and delivery of service. A discussion ensued regarding how to contain costs, increase effectiveness/response time, cost savings, safety and efficiency. Mr. Coleman went on to state that Regionalization creates greater efficiency, cost containment and a better delivery system. Councilmember McCowen referenced pg.47, ISO recommendations made in 2003 and questioned to what degree those recommendations had been implemented. Mr. Coleman deferred to Fire Chief Latipow to answer. Fire Chief Latipow commented on the following: The Fire Department has adopted the recommendations within the ISO reports as much as possible given staffing and fiscal constraints including · implementing the pump testing program · the OES pumper on loan from the State is included in the annual ladder and pump testing · improved training program and structuring the training program in such a way that it is tied to specific goals and objectives · the Department anticipates the launching of our pre-fire planning as soon as we get the new Fire Prevention Captain · Fire Marshal is working with Public Works Department and new construction developers to upgrade hydrant outlets per ISO recommendation · potential to resurrect hydrant testing program with Public Works Department, however current call volume is too great and staffing is not adequate to permit this now Fire Chief Latipow estimated that about half of the ISO recommendations have been adopted at this point. Councilmember McCowen raised the issue of dispatch services. A discussion ensued regarding dispatch issues, built-in delays, contracting with Howard Forest, interagency dispatching with the Sheriff's Office, dispatcher training, and that the current dispatch system is topping out on call volume. City Manager Horsley relayed information from her meeting with Sysco Systems. Mr. Coleman stated that the purpose of a regional fire dispatch center would be to ease the burden on the current police and fire dispatch center. Benj Thomas from the audience asked Mr. Coleman to discuss the issue of difficulties posed by mandated training requirements and the impact on fire departments that are largely volunteer. Mr. Coleman explained that these mandates pose hardships on all departments in the state in that they required more training hours than firefighters have available. The average firefighter receives about 2 hours of training per shift day and a volunteer firefighter receives about 2 hours of training per week. There is constant slippage between requirements and number of hours available leaving departments to Page 4 take care of more critical mandates and letting the less critical ones slip by the side. Coleman stated that the best thing to do was to maintain an ongoing comprehensive training program with complete documentation. Mr, Councilmember McCowen asked for Mr. Coleman's recommendation to address current situation of training/duties. Mr. Coleman stated that insufficient training is not the problem for the Fire Department, it is the workload vs. lack of daily training. Councilmember McCowen brought up the issue of the integrity of our Communications Center uninterrupted power supply (pg. 94) A discussion ensued regarding whether we could assess the back-up system or test it. A general discussion ensued regarding dispatching EMS calls and whether dispatchers are thoroughly trained for EMS/Fire dispatching. Councilmember Crane questioned whether it may be appropriate for ambulance charges to reflect more of the dispatch costs. Discussion ensued regarding currently undervaluing the ambulance service and fees, responding to 911 calls, call volume vs ambulance fees. Councilmember McCowen commented on the finding (pg. 100) of the high level at which Ukiah Fire Department functions. For the Department's small size this represents a great deal of work on the part of staff to provide such a high level of service. Councilmember McCowen stated he though this was outstanding. Mr. Coleman stated that Ukiah Fire Department has a broad based comprehensive way of running their department and that he was impressed with the level of production by staff. A discussion ensued between the Councilmembers, Mr. Coleman and Fire Chief Latipow which involved topics of consolidation/regionalization, LAFCO involvement, a new JPA, EMS response/transport, funding/revenues, staffing levels, per capita fire costs, fire prevention fee schedule update, equipment replacement costs with staggered purchases and long range plan/amortization issues. Councilmember Crane and Mr. Coleman discussed volunteer firefighter involvement and retention. Councilmember Crane and Mr. Coleman discussed sprinklers, classifications, benefit to community vs cost of sprinklers and the effect of the City's sprinkler ordinance in reducing fire risk to a moderate level. Councilmembers Crane, McCowen, Rodin, and Baldwin offered suggestions for corrections and clarifications to be incorporated into the final Master Plan. (See Attachment for specific suggestions.) Further comments and questions by the City Council may be submitted by phone or in writing to ESI. In response to a question from Councilmember McCowen, Fire Chief Latipow stated he agrees with the recommendations contained in the document and believes the document is a place to build the foundation and move on from regardless of how controversial some of the recommendations are. Page 5 4. REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION OF MASTER PLAN ADOPTION Revisions to the Master Plan will be made as discussed above and the Master Plan will be presented to the City Council at a later date. . AUTHORIZATION TO EXPEND FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $307000 TO HI-TECH EMERGENCY VEHICLE SERVICE FOR REPAIRS TO THE FIRF DEPARTMENT'S FIRE TRUCK. MIS Baldwin/McCowen that Council authorize the expenditure of funds in an amount not to exceed $30,000 to Hi-Tech Emergency Vehicle Service for repairs to the Fire Department's fire truck. Carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Crane, McCowen, Rodin and Baldwin. NOES: None. ABSENT: Mayor Ashiku. ABSTAIN: None. 6. ADJOURNMENT OF WORKSHOP The workshop was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Recording Secretary was Cindy Stanford. P~e6 Attachment to Master Plan Workshop Minutes of 7/20/2006 Suggested corrections and/or clarifications PAGE # COMMENT RESOLUTION 10, Change "Establish an acceptable level of service" Phrase will be changed in the 4th bullet to Master Plan (MP) "Establish a definition of acceptable level of service". 11, The word "new", what is meant? Answer: Each N/A line 2 year you exPect a department to have incremental improvement in performance- continuing process of renewal. 14, "review by client" please define. Answer: The Final document will be Object 5 Client is the City of Ukiah presented after this review 42 "(3,000 gallons per minute)" - should be 3,500 Will correct this typo in the MP 43, 35' or greater -is this correct? This is an estimate line 9 44, "lesser" - this should state "greater" Will correct this typo in the Distribution MP 47 "lower classification"- should it state "higher" - Wording will be changed in 3rd line Answer: there is not difference if it is anything MP other than 4. It should state "lower number" 53, "Airport Blvd." - should it be Hastings Road? - Wording will be changed in line 3 Answer: City Manager Horsley said Airport Road MP is the correct wording 73-77 Would like years on these tables Will clarify this in the final MP 107, Benefit that is "unfounded" - should be "unfunded" Will correct typo in final MP bottom 168 "Reinstitute Pre-Fire Program" - Could this This section will be expanded description be broadened? Would like this portion in the final MP expanded. 171 "Over Hires"- Depth of personnel- more depth in This section will be expanded personnel- would like suggestions/process in and suggestions included in implementation final MP