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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFire EMS 2022-01-04 MinutesCity of Tukwila Future of Fire/EMS Services Community Advisory Committee January 4, 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, Hien Kieu (Absent. Ben Oliver, Ramona Grove, Abdullahi Shakul) Citystaff& consultants: David Cline, Laurel Humphrey, Norm Golden, Jay Wittwer, Vicky Carisen, James Booth, Karen Reed, Bili Cushman 1. Welcome, Introductions, Review of Agenda Ms. Reed reviewed the meeting agenda. Review and approval of December 14, 2021 Committee meeting minutes Ms. Dohn moved approval of the minutes and Mr. Davis seconded. The motion carried and the minutes were approved. Responses to questions asked at previous meetings Ms. Reed reviewed a list of responses. 4. Recap of Meeting 2 Presentations Ms. Reed reviewed the presentations and roundtable responses. Q&A: Are the reserve accounts outlined in the financial pian just starting this year? - Half are in place and funded today Is the overtime cost reflective of recent experiences or will ongoing overtime be needed in the future? Does the strategic pian carry over the same level of overtime? - Overtime typically relates to minimum staffing levels covering people being out. Covid response (vaccinations, testing) also has impacted overtime costs, and this is reimbursable. The strategic plan reflects an increase based on historical budgets, as opposed to amendments. Is it correct that the city is only allowed to increase the tax rate a certain percentage per year? - The maximum property tax rate allowed is $3.60/$1,000 AV, but property tax collections can only grow 1% per year plus new construction. As assessed valuation goes up—typically by more than 1% per year-- the levy rate goes down. Isn't high overtime cost an indicator of understaffing? - The staffing model is 18 per shift, allowing 4 off per shift - 2 vacation, 2 "Kelly" days, leaving a minimum of 14. The Fire Department strives to find the right balance and anticipate departures. Information Requests: • What cost saving recommendations in the CPSM study have been implemented or are being considered? • Can we charge other fire agencies for responding to calls in their territory? Could this offset our costs? 5. Committee Roundtable Committee members each shared responses to "What are your thoughts about enhanced services?" and "Should all orsome be a priority to fund/provide in Tukwila, why or why not?" Responses and Q&A included: • Not clear which of the enhanced service options is more important. They seem equally important. We need to share resources with other agencies to fund this. • Q: Can we do the public education officer in some other way, with existing resource, for example through the police department? A: Not likely; it is a requirement to become an accredited department. • Q: Why were fire inspections discontinued? A: Staff were shifted to handling permits and duties with the south county training consortium • CARES units seems to be the biggest bang for the buck. • Q: What are the non- financial benefits of a CARES unit? A: It frees up firefighters to do more serious calls • Q: Is there a capacity issue in addressing CARES type calls today? A: Yes. A CARES unit would help keep our vehicles on priority calls. • We need these enhancements if we can afford them. We need to prioritize. I like the CARES unit, less interested in sharing it with other agencies. I liked having fire inspections done— would welcome restoring that. • CARES unit is a priority for me. It eliminates work for firefighters. The Public education officer is very important but could we share this with another department, including the police department perhaps? I don't know how important the fire marshal office staffing is. • All three are important. Q: Could we fund fewer additional staff for the fire marshal than the maximum 3 FTE? A: We could add incrementally to the fire marshal's office. • All three are important. Fire inspections are needed in our multi -family housing stock. Is there some opportunity for creative financing here? • CARES and Fire Marshal office staffing are my priorities—these have greatest public safety impacts. Committee members each shared responses to "How do you define financial sustainability?" Responses included: The Fire Department is over budget every year. How can we support all our services? There are many paths, but financial sustainability means sustaining what we have now—or better. We're in an economically active area. Can we handle what we have now? What will happen in the next 4-10 years? Demand will continue to increase because growth will continue. The level of service is high, and we should be able to sustain it. There will be fights over resources—you need to balance between what you have and what you can afford. 2 • The Fire Department's role has evolved over time. More specialty services are provided, homelessness and mental health crises bring the need for new skills. We need to keep the level of service without increasing debt. We need to change with the times and combine resources with others—we could facilitate a higher level of service byjoining others. • The City is evolving. I don't know how we can maintain service levels overtime. Something has to change. • Current revenues will not support growth in costs. Costs are growing faster than revenues. Fiscal sustainability question is whether you can afford the services you are providing within your revenues? Options are to find new revenues or cut. We need revenue unless we are willing to cut other departments. • We're in a tough spot. The Fire Department needs more revenue to do what they do now and there is a desire for enhanced services. • 3% increase in fire department expenditures is reasonable. We should keep funding within existing revenue and not ask the public for more money. Fire is a priority and should be funded. • 1 agree with the comment about balancing our revenues to maintain services. Is general fund support dependable? What about big projects like the Allentown bridge? We need to be prepared for the unexpected. We need to look at additional funding. • 1 agree with that—we need to sustain the level of service and understand what is critical. We need to be able to respond to current needs in a growing economy and be prepared for the unexpected. We need to be efficient within existing revenue and be strategic about asking for more. 6. State Law Options for Delivery of Fire/EMS Services Ms. Reed presented a table comparing the statutory authority for Municipal Fire Departments, Fire Districts, and Regional Fire Authorities 7. Potential Fire/EMS Service Delivery Options Ms. Reed presented an overview of potential options for future service delivery. 8. Union Comment Captain Booth expressed appreciation for the work of the Committee members. 9. Next Agenda/Adjourn Ms. Reed reviewed the February 2022 preliminary meeting agenda. The meeting was adjourned at 6:03 P.M. by unanimous consent. Minutes by LH and KR