CC Minutes - 12/03/03WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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to expect. Ms. Bettman noted the proposed privatization of the firefighting crew at the airport and asked for more information. Chief Tallon clarified that the proposal was still in negotiation. He said the department had indicated that whoever secured the contract must train with the department and operate on the same radio frequency. In the case of an incident, the fire department would send as many resources to the incident as necessary. Ms. Bettman asked if the City's cost in meeting an emergency at the airport would be recoverable. She questioned if there was actually a savings from privatization because one or two events would eliminate the savings. Chief Tallon acknowledged Ms. Bettman's concern. Ms. Bettman asked if the manager would recommend that the City restaff Station 9 in the next budget. City Manager Taylor did not think he would be able to make that recommendation in fiscal year 2005 due to budgetary constraints related to the status of the Emergency Medical Services Fund and how the City was going to pay for paramedic costs. Ms. Bettman thought it crucial to restaffthe station soon, and looked to those councilors whose wards were impacted during the next budget review to champion the issue. Chief Tallon anticipated staff would seek funding to restaff Station 9 in 2006. Responding to a question from Ms. Bettman, Chief Tallon clarified that Lane County had responsibility for water rescues; Eugene had no dive component in its budget, which had essentially been body recovery. He said that the Eugene water rescue team rescued numerous people on the river each year. He estimated that the department received 50 calls in summer 2003 to assist people stranded on the river. Ms. Bettman asked how much money could be saved if the County provided the service, suggesting the savings could be directed toward restaffing Station 9. Chief Tallon explained the personnel in question were cross-trained firefighters at Station 1 rather than a separate crew that performed water rescues. Ms. Bettman asked where the water rescue function would be located when Station 1 moved. Chief Tallon said it would still be at Station 1, which would continue to be the closest station to the river. Mr. Kelly also commended the department and expressed pride in those who served in it. He noted declines in firefighters per capita over the past 20 years and the increase in response time. He was pleased with the restaffing recommendation for Station 9. He suggested the council needed to pay attention to the increased risk in that area. He recalled discussion of funding the costs of the station with a serial levy but he did not believe that was the way to fund ongoing government services. Mr. Kelly said that all the recommendations in the report would cost real money, and for that reason he believed the council would need to consider the topic of revenue restructuring or tax reform. The City could not continue to fund services while continuing to face the ramifications of property tax limitations measures and increasing health care and other personnel costs. He hoped that would be a central topic of discussion at the council's February retreat. Mr. Poling thanked the chief, deputy chiefs, and all members of the department. He said that it did a wonderful job doing more with less. He commended the department's willingness to consider improvements to its processes and to work with other agencies. He preferred to see the restaffing of Station 9 with the engine company occur earlier than was proposed. Mr. Poling recalled that he had initially opposed the reassignment of the engine company at Station 9 but had accepted it after discussing the issue with Chief Tallon. The chief's reasoning and concerns about coverage in Santa Clara had been valid. He thought the chief continued to be on the right path and called on the council to support the chief and the department. Chief Tallon thanked Mr. Poling for his remarks about the department. Mr. Pap~ determined from Chief Tallon that the department's response time included 60 seconds for turnout and four minutes for the first unit to arrive at the scene of an incident. MINUTES--Eugene City Council December 3, 2003 Page 3 Work Session