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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-14-2005COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA November 14, 2005 5:30 P.M. The meeting was called to order by Council President Ron Grooms. On the Call of the roll, those members present were: Councilpersons Grooms, Keith Fetz, Ed Zastawny, Phil McCauley, Barbara Wilson, Connie Sellers, and John Perkins. Also present were Mayor Waiz, Attorney Merkley, and Chief Deputy Suzy Bass. The motion was made by Councilperson Fetz to approve the agenda as presented second by Councilperson Perkins, passing on a 6-0 vote. Agenda Item 1. Additional Appropriation for Health Insurance Council President Grooms said that he talked to Clerk Treasurer Wilder conceming a shortage of funding in the health insurance fund. Deputy Bass told the Council that we had seven persons who had reached the stop loss maximum for the year. We have yet to recover all of the overage back from Humana. She is not sure that we will need the full $200,000.00 that was requested we advertise but we will at least be prepared if we do need the funds. After further discussion, the motion was made by Councilperson Perkins to approve 2005-R-42, a resolution to advertise for $200,000.00 additional appropriation from the General Fund to the Council Health Insurance appropriation, second by Councilperson Sellers passing on a vote of 6-0. Agenda Item 2. Fire Station Study Mr Bob Zickler appeared before the Council with an update on the attached fire station study. Eric Hedrick, representing the Firefighters Union voiced his support of the study. The union feels the 4t~ station is needed. He asked that the Council approve the expert recommendations and proceed as soon as possible. It is a project that is past due. He also presented the Council with Article 3 of their contract, which states that the City will not seek privatization of firefighter and rescue services. Mr Zickler met with the Fire Station Committee and they suggested he bring his finding before the Council. He discussed his finding with the Council. He has three recommendations. 1. Build a new fire station located such that a 4-minute travel time providing fire/EMS apparatus at the scene. It is recommended that a new fire station be built in the northern portion of the City. 2. Establish a minimum of 8 firefighter positions 24/7 to staff Station 3 and the proposed new Station 4 bring the total minimum daily firefighter staffing up to 16 personnel. 3. Keep Station 2 location within their current 4-minute high-risk, high emergency incident response zone. Councilperson Sellers said that she thought the real intent of the study was strictly to determine if the fire stations were actually in the correct locations. She has already talked to Mr. Zickler and he was not aware of this but will go back and do as requested. Councilperson McCauley said that he would like to get the best protection for the resources that we have available. He feels that location is the most important thing that we can deal with. He also agreed with Councilperson Sellers as to the intent of the study. Mr. Zickler feels the biggest risk at this point is not sufficient staffing. He did not address the funding for the staffing. Mr. Zickler said that the conclusion to build station 4 was driven by the need to lower response time. He feels that station 3 would not need to be moved. He based his report on the assumption that the City would not be moving the current stations any great distance. Councilperson Sellers said that unfortunately the Council wanted to know if the current stations should be moved or not. Mayor Waiz said that Mr. Zickler was not aware of this. Councilperson Fetz said the committee was formed to decide whether there was a need for a 4th fire station. Council President Grooms said that he thinks that the general challenge to Mr. Zickler was to find out how we can best serve the City with a 4-minute response time. Councilperson McCanley said that he doesn't feel that it was communicated correctly to Mr. Zickler what the Council was looking for. In the study. He would like to see some strategic planning done to get the maximum out of our resources. He said that 70 % of the City's resources are spent on public safety. Council President Grooms said that he feels what the Council wanted from the study was adequately conveyed to Mr. Zickler and he is satisfied with what he did do in the study. Councilperson Zastawny said that he shares Councilperson Sellers concern. He does feel that the Council probably didn't convey what they wanted in the study. Assistant Chief Decker said that the City needs to look at the availability of land. Is it justifiable to move it ¼ mile to cut down 20 - 30 seconds. So the City is pretty limited as to where the fire stations can be put. Decker said that quint 3 would be moved. He said that the two engines are coming up on 10yrs and maintenance on them would be costly. The lease for each is $68,000.00. Decker said that the committee had recommended pursuing Kovert and Hawkins to render a architectural design for station 4. Equipping the whole station would cost about $100,000.00, including cascades and furniture. This is a rough estimate. Discussion was then held on different location possibilities for a 4th station. Chief Miles said that he would like to phase in staffing over a few years to help with the cost. Each additional firefighter would cost about $45,000.00. He thinks it will cost about $15,000.00 for utilities for an additional station. Mayor Waiz asked Mr. Zickler if nothing is done to the stations, would this affect our ISO ratings. Mr. Zickler replied that it won't affect it too much. Council President asked the Council if it is the desire of the Council to have Mr. Zickler continue with the study to include possibly moving the existing stations only. Councilperson Zastawny said that the ISTA Study recommended moving firehouse 2 to a more central location. Councilperson McCauley presented the Council with a resolution Supporting the Enhancement of Public Safety. Mayor Waiz asked Mr. Zickler if this resolution contradicted anything he has presented. Mr. Zickler replied that the Resolution was a business plan and his plan doesn't address finances as the Resolution does and therefore does not contradict. Councilperson McCauley also feels that the City needs to put a time line on it. Councilperson McCauley made the motion to pass resolution 2005-R-43, seconded by Councilperson Sellers. Councilperson Fetz said that he thought we hired an expert to provide a solution as to what avenue the City needs to pursue for less money than what Councilperson McCauley is proposing. Councilperson McCauley said that Mr. Zickler does not address finances. He presented this resolution to move things along. Mayor Waiz feels that this resolution goes completely against what this resolution proposes. The report says that station 2 needs to stay close to where it is and this wont help out the north end of the City. Mr. Zickler said that Councilperson McCauley proposes a business plan and his doesn't. Councilperson Perkins said that he supports Councilperson McCauley. Councilperson McCauley said that regardless of what happens with annexation, that station 2 needs to be relocated. Discussion was held on possible funding avenues. Councilpersons McCauley and Perkins both said that this process would start immediately if this resolution passes. Councilperson McCauley said that the firefighters should lead this immediate search. Councilperson Fetz said that he won't go against what Mr. Zickler proposes and he thinks the Council should go with his proposal. Councilperson McCauley said that Mr. Zickler did not say that his findings contradicted the proposed resolution. Council President Grooms feels that this resolution is a good start. Councilperson Sellers called for the question. Council President Grooms explained that this means you vote to continue the discussion. Council President Grooms asked that anyone in favor of ceasing the debate signify by saying aye. The vote was 5-1 with Councilperson Fetz voting no. Since it was not unanimous, the debate continued. Mayor Waiz asked how far north station 2 can be moved to stay within the 4-minute response time. Chief Miles said that if you don't move the station past Springdale, then you could stay within 4 minutes but there is nothing available in this area. Mayor Waiz asked the Council if they still wanted Mr. Zickler to continue with the study. Council President said that whatever it takes to find a suitable place for engine 2 and he would like Mr. Zickler involved in the process. Assistant Chief Decker said that he would like to bring the staff up to at least the minimum recommendations before annexation. There being no further discussion Resolution 2005-R-43 was passed on a vote of 6-1 with Councilperson Fetz voting no. CouncilPerson McCauley made the motion to have Mr. Zickler include in his study to help the Council develop the level of community service that we are going to have for fire protection and public safety and help the Council prepare a resolution to that effect. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Sellers and passed on a vote of 7-0. There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned. RONALD ?/ROOMS, COUNCIL PRESIDENT ATTEST: