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administrative functions included the fire marshal's office, training programs, ambulance billing, the <br />designation of a single deputy chief to oversee shift operations, and an alignment of each department's <br />special operations. He proceeded to describe the remaining elements of the proposed functional <br />consolidation. <br />Chief Groves stated that the governance evaluation of the proposed functional consolidation might be <br />performed under a metro - governance model or the formation of a special purpose district. He further <br />stated that the ESCI study had favored the creation of a special purpose district. <br />Mr. Clark thanked Chief Groves for his presentation and commended him and his staff for their efforts <br />regarding the proposed functional consolidation. <br />Mr. Clark noted that Chief Groves and other Fire/EMS staff had recently had the opportunity to review <br />the Tualatin valley Fire Department's district model and asked how the service delivery elements of that <br />district -based model differed from a municipality model. Chief Groves maintained that the service <br />delivery levels for residents from the two models were essentially the same. <br />Mr. Clark appreciated the savings that had been suggested by the personnel efficiencies that were <br />involved in the functional consolidation. He remained cautious but optimistic regarding the remainder of <br />the functional consolidation and hoped that both agencies would proceed in incremental steps toward full <br />consolidation. <br />Chef Groves clarified for Mr. Clark that the first steps of the functional consolidation of the Eugene and <br />Springfield Fire Departments would come in the foam of an intergovernmental agreement similar to the <br />one that had been used in 2007, to consolidate emergency response capabilities. He expressed that the <br />remainder of the functional consolidation would indeed be carried out using a "phased -in approach" for <br />each main element of the functional consolidation. <br />Ms. Ortiz recognized that Springfield Fire Chief Dennis Murphy was in attendance at the meeting as was <br />EwEB Commissioner Bob Cassidy and the president of the local Eugene firefighter's union. <br />Ms. Ortiz maintained that the one of the main challenges faced by both Eugene and Springfield was that <br />one part of the community often wanted "to grow faster than the other." She hoped that such a challenge <br />would be carefully considered as the functional consolidation progressed. Chief Groves recognized Ms. <br />Ortiz's concerns and noted that he and other staff had carefully considered the growth management <br />policies of communities similar to Eugene/Springfield such as Livermore and Pleasanton, California. <br />Ms. Ortiz asked if compensation for leadership positions within a consolidated fire department would <br />increase. Chief Groves responded that compensation for leadership positions within a merged organization <br />would fall in line with the wage parameters already set up by similarly sized fire departments. <br />Chief Groves expressed that a merger of the Eugene and Springfield fire departments would mean <br />significant cost savings to each organization which would result from increased efficiencies and the <br />elimination of various redundancies. <br />Ms. Ortiz thanked Chief Groves for his responses and input. <br />Mr. Pryor indicated he had been reassured by Chief Groves' presentation that overall fire department <br />service levels would be enhanced by the functional consolidation. He further indicated that the benefits <br />of further consolidation had already been demonstrated by the successful implementation of the Three - <br />Battalion System at various levels. <br />MINUTES Eugene City Council January 20, 2010 Page 2 <br />Work Session <br />