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The consultants provided the elected officials with a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the results of the <br />Cooperative Effort Feasibility Study and the consultant's range of recommendations. The presentation <br />highlighted the preferred option, which was an intergovernmental agreement between the Springfield and <br />Eugene fire departments, and suggested implementation steps. The preferred option was seen as an <br />intermediary step for a vision of a single fire agency via annexation to a fire district, with a preference for <br />those districts that already had a relationship with the two departments. Copies of the study and the <br />presentation were provided to the elected officials. <br />Ms. Leezer and Mr. Zelenka arrived during the presentation. <br />Mr. Goughnour invited questions. <br />Ms. Ortiz commended the study as thorough and commended the chiefs for the work they do. She was <br />pleased to hear the consultant's third -party affirmation of the good job the chiefs did. She indicated she <br />would have more questions later, when the Eugene council met, and thanked the consultants for their time. <br />Ms. Taylor noted that the distance that firefighters might have to travel was not mentioned as a basis for <br />cost. Mr. Goughnour confirmed that factor was not included. He said that typically, departments establish <br />station locations and equipment requirements based on an urban/suburban or rural level of service and then <br />establish a service level and response time for that area on the basis of the population served and the risk <br />involved. Ms. Taylor posited a situation where one community had a more concentrated population and one <br />community had more sprawl. She suggested that sprawl would add to the expense of providing services, and <br />asked if that would be considered. Mr. Goughnour said that population density could be a factor. He said if <br />a community's population was very dense, that would likely result in a higher number of calls and the <br />community would need more resources in terms of equipment and personnel to match that. That required a <br />depth of resources so that when resources were out, backup resources were available. <br />Mr. Caldwell said that demographics and human activity were other factors to consider. He suggested that a <br />high concentration of people that required many EMS calls would be an area of concern. In terms of human <br />activity, he cited Autzen Stadium on a Saturday afternoon and said that it represented a risky situation. <br />Each city had its own variable and it would be difficult to pick them apart given that they were also a region. <br />Mr. Clark said he had been struck by the fact that both departments, compared to the median, had fewer <br />employees and resources. He said he was impressed by both departments. Regarding the potential of the <br />savings from a merger or district, he noted the $850,000 savings in administration and support services cited <br />in the study, and asked the savings to be realized on the 30 interim steps. Mr. Goughnour did not think he <br />could estimate those savings. He pointed out there were some intrinsic values, such as the logistics involved <br />in implementing a step; for example, in some cases, a captain might have to do some purchasing and the <br />question was, did that take a unit out of service? Could the cities achieve efficiencies through joint <br />purchases? He said there was a cost - avoidance factor to consider as well. Mr. Clark said he was looking <br />for comparative figures that helped him evaluate the options available and whether there were substantial <br />savings to be found; for example, in individual intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) with other districts or <br />other cooperative agreements without the need to merge departments. Mr. Goughnour said that there were <br />not savings to the individual organizations. <br />Mr. Poling thanked the consultants for their report. He looked forward to more discussion. Mr. Poling <br />believed that the councilors were likely aware of the information presented at some level but it needed to be <br />brought out for that "ah ha" moment. He commended the dedication of the two chiefs and their entire staffs. <br />MINUTES —Joint Elected Officials — Springfield and Eugene July 21, 2009 Page 2 <br />City Councils <br />