HomeMy WebLinkAboutFire EMS 2021-12-14 MinutesCity of Tukwila
Future of Fire/EMS Services Community Advisory Committee
December 14, 2021
Virtual Meeting due to COVID-19 Emergency
4:00 p.m.
MINUTES
Present
Committee members: Jim Davis, Katrina Dohn, Jovita McConnell, Peggy McCarthy, Andy Reiswig, Dennis
Robertson, Verna Sea[, Sally Blake, Ben Oliver, Hien Kieu (Absent. Ramona Grove, Abdullahi Shakul)
Citystaff& consultants: David Cline, Laurel Humphrey, Norm Golden, Jay Wittwer, Vicky Carisen, James
Booth, Jake Berry, Karen Reed, Bili Cushman
Welcome, Introductions, Review of Agenda
All attendees introduced themselves. Ms. Reed reviewed the meeting agenda.
Review and approval of November 9, 2021 Committee meeting minutes
Ms. Dohn moved approval of the minutes and Mr. Davis seconded. The motion carried and the
minutes were approved.
Confirming 2022 Meeting Dates
Committee members reviewed and confirmed the proposed 2022 dates: 1/4, 2/1, 2/15, 3/8, 3/22, 4/5,
4/19, all from 4-6 PM. City staff will send meeting appointments; at this point, it is anticipated that all
meetings will be conducted via Zoom.
4. Responses to questions asked at previous meetings
Staff provided the station call data and an overview of the Center for Public Safety Management
Report on the Tukwila Fire Department presented to City Council on March 8, 2021.
Q&A:
• Is the 2019 data in the CPSM report stili good?
- The biggest change is the call distribution between Stations 51 and 52 due to the
new locations. Out of service agency calls have also increased due to a new Zone 3
policy as of March 2021.
Does the City track com merciai vs. residential caiIs, and if so what is the ratio?
Only alarms and fires are tracked, although the City does track where EMS calls
happen. This results in response types by district but sometimes multiple units go
to these calls, not actual #s per unit.
How can we compare numbers back to 2016 or 2019 when the response areas have
changed?
- This is the most accurate representation we have since the stations moved. Station
52 moved in February 2021, Station 51 in September 2020.
Does the graph represent the respond ing un it or the location of the incident?
- The location of the incident.
5. Nominations for Committee Chair
Ms. Reed reviewed the roles of Chair and Vice Chair and called for nominations for Chair. Mr.
Robertson nominated Ms. Seal, who is willing to serve. No other nominations were made, and Ms.
Seal's nomination will be presented to the City Council in January for appointment.
Recap of Meeting 1 Presentations
Staff summarized the presentations on the City's budget and Fire Department.
Q&A:
• What is in the 2021 budget amendment for the Fire Department?
- $110K in contracts includes consultant work on Fire/EMS Comm unity Advisory
Committee; the $920K for overtime involves all four stations and includes daily
operations, vaccination support and contract with Westfield.
• Do all City Departments rebalance their budgets?
- The General Fund must be rebalanced everyyear and includes all departments.
Highest priority services get funding.
Information Requests:
• Provide information on how much general fund budget/property tax the cities of Renton &
SeaTac were expending on fire before they joined a regional effort.
Enhanced Services Deeper Dive
Staff provided an overview of three potential service enhancements that would be prioritized if
funding were available: Public Education Program, participation in South County CARES, and
expansion of fire inspection/investigation staffing.
Information Requests:
• How many inspections can one inspector provide in a year on average?
• Does the Fire Department and/or City have an order of preference for enhanced services?
• Would additional fire investigation and permitting/inspector staff pay for themselves
through fees? What is the estimated annual revenue?
• Where would the money come from to fund enhanced services?
• What is the staffing model for CARES?
Committee Roundtable
Committee members each shared responses to "What is important to you about the Tukwila Fire
Department?" and "What is your perception of services provided by Tukwila Fire Department?"
Responses that emerged included the importance of life safety, engagement with diverse community,
public education, response times, community trust, adequate coverage in case a unit is outon call,
appropriate tools and funding. Participants shared thatTFD are highly skilled, well trained, prompt,
respectful, caring, professional, and part of the community. One area mentioned as needing
improvement is in permitting/staffing; others mentioned concern aboutthe ability to maintain and
sustain the Department's services.
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Fire Department Financiai Forecast/Strategic Pian
Mr. Cushman presented the Strategic Financia[ Pian for theTukwiia Fire Department 2021-2028.
Q&A:
With the mode[ showing that the Fire Department currentiy expends 82%of aii City
property taxes, what happens to the remainder?
All property tax and sales tax, business tax, all other general City taxes are
deposited into the City's general fund and used to support general fund
departments (parks, police, streets, administration, fire, etc.). The 8296 number is
intended to help benchmark the Fire Department's funding level in comparison to
other fire agencies which are reliant on property taxes for their funding.
Expiain what is meant by Fire Depts/RFAs needing to ask for more money. Has every RFA
done this?
- Fire agencies must ask voters to increase or restore their property tax levy rates
periodically because they are extremely dependent on property taxes the
collection of which can only increase 196 per year plus the value of taxes on new
construction—this limit means their primary revenue source fails to keep up with
the cost of doing business. Yes, every RFA and Fire District has had to ask their
voters for more money.
Is the goat to keep fire expenditures within the confines of property tax revenue?
- Property tax is one example but not the only way to fund fire services in the City.
Information Requests:
• Provide financial planning spreadsheet
10. Union Comment
Captain Booth offered no additionai remarks.
11. Next Agenda/Adjourn
Ms. Reed reviewed the January 3, 2022, preliminary meeting agenda.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 P.M. by unanimous consent.
Minutes by LH
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