2019-08-12 Finance Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Finance Committee Minutes August 12, 2019 B. Fire Marshal Office Committee members and staff continued discussion of the Fire Marshal Office (FMO) staffing and services. Suppression crews stopped doing life -safety inspections due to the increased amount of time needed to meet training requirements of WAC and NFPA as well as a significant increase in call volume between 2014 and 2017. Staff proposes to address the workload in the FMO by transitioning the work of addressing to the Technology and Information Services Department, streamlining the business license application process, and improving the special events permitting process. In addition, the City is working with the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority on the possibility of a shared services model for inspection, and staff expects to bring an interlocal agreement forward to the Committee for review. Committee members discussed the distinction between the base legal responsibility and a higher moral responsibility when considering the provision of service and agreed that this Council has a demonstrated history of looking out for the public interest and safety. They requested more information on the types of inspections that should be provided along with a prioritization ranking. Councilmembers discussed the need to develop a cost and service model in alignment with community needs and the Council's level of comfort. DISCUSSION ONLY. RETURN TO COMMITTEE. C. Fire Department Sources of Revenue Staff presented information on how fire departments, districts and authorities are funded as well as how the Tukwila Fire Department has been funded from 2014 to the present. If departments do not submit their revenue sources to the Finance Department during the preparation of the biennial budget, Finance staff will use the historical information. Councilmember Seal asked why the Fire Department has not billed for false alarms since 2014. Chief Wittwer replied that it was a Fire Department policy decision that led to the discontinuation of this billing, but he is working with Finance on a new process to reinstate it. Chair McLeod stated his interest in understanding and pursuing available revenue sources and suggested more discussion at a future Committee meeting. He does not feel there is appetite on the Council to pursue public funding such as a levy lid lift. DISCUSSION ONLY. RETURN TO COMMITTEE. D. Fire Department Service Levels The Committee continued discussion on the Fire Department budget, staffing and service levels. Staff presented additional information on call numbers and types between 2005 and 2018 as well as average response times between Fire and EMS calls. Data shows that EMS calls have been increasing, fire calls have a slight increase, and hazardous conditions calls show a slight decrease. False alarms are trending down slightly, "good intent" calls are trending upwards, and public assistance calls are steady. Councilmember Quinn asked if the Department responds to all public assistance calls, which occur when a person does not have an emergency but calls 911 for assistance, and the reply was yes. Chair McLeod stated that he feels the Committee is going beyond its duty and the Department should be proposing a service model. He would like to see all options on the table, and he would like the Department to report to the Council on a typical month of service, which is not currently occurring. He asked if the Department is complying with the annual reporting requirements outlined in the RCW such as maintaining a written policy statement with service delivery objectives, annual evaluations, and steps necessary to address deficiencies. Chief Wittwer replied that he has published an annual report for 2017 and 2018,