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11 and by restaffing Station 9. <br /> <br />Chief Tallon provided demographic information that indicated call volume had increased over 400 percent <br />since 1981, while the population increased 14 percent; he attributed that to the City's assumption of EMS <br />(emergency medical service) transport service. The number of firefighters increased by only two percent <br />and actually decreased in terms of fire fighters per 1,000 persons due to community growth. He emphasized <br />that the department was busy but the community was safe because the department was covering the risk that <br />existed. <br /> <br />Chief Tallon reviewed the recommendations in the report: <br /> <br /> · Restaff Station 9 <br /> · Continue to staff ambulances according to demand <br /> · Retain current number of firefighters (plus Engine 9) <br /> · Continue analysis of EMS transport system and firefighter staffing <br /> · Continue to evaluate Eugene 10/Medic 10 Company <br /> · Continue to measure department's deployment goals and performance against the "1710" <br /> standard <br /> · Plan for the infrastructure to support response in underserved areas <br /> <br />Chief Tallon reviewed the next steps the department would take in implementing the recommendations of the <br />report, which were to update the report on a four-year cycle, and secure accreditation from the Commission <br />for Fire Accreditation. <br /> <br />Chief Tallon invited questions. <br /> <br />Mr. Meisner commended the presentation. He asked if different geographic areas of the City varied in <br />intensity and frequency in terms of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) calls. Chief Tallon said yes, noting <br />there were more calls for service in the core of the city because the population was denser and there was <br />more industry than in the less dense outer areas. He noted the move of Station 1 would improve call <br />availability in downtown and the area south of the fairgrounds. He confirmed, in response to a follow-up <br />question from Mr. Meisner, that the data had an impact on how stations were sited. For example, many <br />nursing homes and senior care facilities were concentrated in Santa Clara and near Valley River, and that <br />was a concern to the department. Chief Tallon said that over 90 percent of calls received were responded to <br />within five minutes, so stations were located in the right area, but the department was so busy that staff <br />might not be in the station when the next call for service arrived. <br /> <br />Mr. Meisner asked how often the City reviewed Fire Med rates, and if rates could be raised to pay for the <br />entire provision of service, not merely the cost of a specific ambulance trip. Chief Tallon indicated he would <br />provide that information regarding that topic during an upcoming presentation to the Budget Committee, as <br />well as in writing. Mr. Meisner wanted to ensure that the broader costs of providing the service were <br />covered. <br /> <br />Ms. Bettman expressed appreciation and admiration for the City's professional staff and said she wanted to <br />ensure that the City had sufficient resources to provide citizens with the quality of protection they had come <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council December 3, 2003 Page 2 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />