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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-02-19 Finance and Safety MinutesCity of Tukwila Finance and Safety Committee FINANCE AND SAFETY COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes February 19, 2014 — 5:30 p.m.; Hazelnut Conference Room PRESENT Councilmembers: Verna Seal, Chair; Joe Duffie, Kathy Hougardy Staff: David Cline, Chris Flores, Peggy McCarthy, Vicky Carlsen, Mike Villa, Laurel Humphrey CALL TO ORDER: Committee Chair Seal called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. I. PRESENTATIONS No presentations. II. BUSINESS AGENDA A. Fire Department Pipeline Staffing Proposal The Fire Department is seeking Council approval to create up to three pipeline positions which would allow for the recruitment, hiring and training of new employees when vacancies are known in advance, as with retirements. This would help ensure continuity of service as well as reduce the high overtime costs incurred when staff at current levels must cover vacancies. There are currently 10 Fire Department personnel eligible for retirement within the next two years, and the Police Department has successfully used this strategy to reduce overtime costs for several years. Councilmembers asked clarifying questions, including how the City will measure the financial impact of this practice. Staff indicated that measures are included in the normal budgeting processes. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO FEBRUARY 24, 2014 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. B. Grant Application: 2014 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters The Fire Department is seeking Council approval to proceed with an application to FEMA for the 2014 Assistance to Firefighters Grant in the amount of $391,272.00 for replacement of radios and operating system. The current radios and system will be obsolete in five years, and the cost to replace them is approximately $412,000.00. If the grant is awarded, the City will be required to contribute $20,593.00 in matching funds, which are available in the Fire Department's equipment budget. Staff will continue to pursue this particular grant if it is not awarded in 2014. Councilmember Hougardy noted that a radio system overhaul such as this should be planned for through the budget process by use of a replacement schedule. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO FEBRUARY 24, 2014 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. C. Ordinance and Resolution: False Alarm Fees Staff is seeking Council approval of an ordinance and companion resolution relating to updating the fees charged for false alarms. Police false alarm fees have not been adjusted since 1985 and fire not since 2004. Because significant City resources are required to both respond to and bill for false alarms, staff is proposing an increase to the fees to offset the costs to the City as well as to act as a deterrent. False alarm statistics in Tukwila as well as fees assessed by neighboring jurisdictions were reviewed. Under the proposal, the first two false alarms within one calendar year will not be assessed a fee, which is not a change from the current practice. The third false alarm in the year would be $150, an increase from the currently charged $25, and the fourth and subsequent false alarms would be charged $200, up from the current $50. The fees Finance & Safety Committee Minutes February 19, 2014 - Page 2 would be the same for police and fire responses, and the same for residential and commercial properties. This will keep the billing process streamlined and manageable. Finance staff provided additional statistics showing that just 5% of the 814 billable false alarms during 2010- 2012 were from residences, and 587 for both residential and non-residential were repeat offenders (two or more bills). Staff is also recommending amending the Code to remove the civil infraction for failing to make timely payment of false alarms fees. This is not currently enforced, as nonpayment is pursued by the City's collection agency and business licenses are withheld for businesses with outstanding fees. Finally, the proposed ordinance would remove the fees from the Code and the companion resolution would adopt them instead. This is part of a City-wide effort to remove various fees from the Code. If approved by the Council, information about the new fee schedule will be communicated to the public starting with an article in the Hazelnut. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO FEBRUARY 24, 2014 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. D. Finance and Safety Committee 2014 Work Plan Committee members and staff reviewed the preliminary 2014 Committee Work Plan. The plan lists anticipated or tentative items that will be reviewed by the Committee this year, and the plan itself will be reviewed periodically. Committee Chair Seal noted that there will be further discussion ahead regarding any specific requests from Councilmembers. INFORMATION ONLY. E. Police Department 2013 4th Quarter Report Chief Villa shared a presentation that updated the Committee on Police Department items of significance that occurred during the 4th quarter of 2013. The information included highlights, crime statistics and crime reduction strategies. He also played a recruitment video that was recently produced by his staff. INFORMATION ONLY. III. MISCELLANEOUS Meeting adjourned at 7:23 p.m. Next meeting: Tuesday, March 4, 2014 - 5:30 p.m. - Hazelnut Conference Room —Committee Chair Approval Minutes by LH