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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-14-12 WS EN HILLS Approved: June 25, 2012 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS,MINNESOTA SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MAY 14,2012 6:00 P.M. -ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor David Grant called to order the Special City Council Work Session meeting at 6:00 p.m. Present: Mayor David Grant, Council Members Brenda Holden, Fran Holmes, Nick Tamble, and Ed Werner Absent: None. Also present: Director of Finance and Administrative Services Susan Iverson; Mike Pintar, Allina Medical Transportation; Tim Boehlke, Fire Chief of the Lake Johanna Fire Department; and Eric Nordeen, Assistant Fire Chief of the Lake Johanna Fire Department 1. ADOPT AGENDA MOTION: Councilmember Holmes moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to approve the meeting agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). 2. AGENDA ITEMS A. Allina/Fire Department Fire Station#1 Update Mayor Grant stated it has come to his attention from residents living near Fire Station#1 that the Allina Ambulance Service is working from this location. Oftentimes, the response from the ambulance involves lights and sirens and happens at all hours of the night. He requested additional information from Allina and why they have chosen to locate the ambulance at the fire station. He recalled that eight months ago, Allina told the City they were moving to Mounds View. ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—MAY 14, 2012 2 Tim Boehlke, Fire Chief of the Lake Johanna Fire Department, explained that Allina is the primary responder for all three cities in the Lake Johanna Fire Department. He stated Allina had its base in Arden Hills for many years. He indicated Allina approached the Fire Department two years ago about the possibility of placing an ambulance at Fire Station #1. This was not their ideal location, but was the only location available in the southern portion of the City. He stated this current situation is a trial period and the location would be evaluated to see if it assists in response times. Fire Chief Boehlke commented that Allina would be paying rent or reducing training expenses in the future if this becomes a permanent location. Mayor Grant questioned why this information was not provided to the Council in September when the City was told response times would not be jeopardized with the move to Mounds View. Mike Pintar, Allina Medical Transportation, commented that response times have not gotten worse. He explained that he was working to preserve response times in the City of Arden Hills. He indicated Fire Station #1 provides a positive partnership allowing staff to use facilities and to get out of the vehicle in between calls. Mr. Pintar stated the Mounds View location was also adequate but considering the numerous road closures planned for this summer, the ambulance was moved to not affect response times. Fire Chief Boehlke explained the ambulances are located at numerous fire stations, not just Fire Station#1 in Arden Hills. He indicated there were ambulances located at the Anoka Fire Station, Fridley Fire Station, Blaine Fire Station and the Vadnais Heights Fire Station. Mayor Grant asked if the fire station on Victoria could be used for the ambulance location. Mr. Pintar stated this was the Fire Department's smallest location. He explained the facility would be used by the paramedics along with the fire crew. Councilmember Holden indicated it wasn't new to have lights and sirens coming from the fire station when there was an emergency. She understood that ambulances have been parked at this location in the past. Mayor Grant understood that ambulances have been parked at Fire Station #1 in the past, but now they were using the facility as a post. He questioned what hours of the day an ambulance would be located at Fire Station#1 Fire Chief Boehlke commented that an ambulance would be located at Fire Station#1 24 hours a day, or be within a several mile radius from this location. He noted routine calls did not require lights and sirens. This happened for 35% of the calls. Mr. Pintar stated this would vary depending on the call level in the City. He explained there were 92 emergency calls in April that required lights and sirens. He noted the drivers did not have to use lights and sirens to clear traffic in the overnight hours. Mayor Grant asked how many complaints have been made to the fire station. ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—MAY 14, 2012 3 Fire Chief Boehlke had received four complaint calls to date. Each of the complaints were from homeowners on Glen Paul and New Brighton Road. This was a tough intersection that required lights and sirens. Councilmember Holden questioned the reason or purpose for this meeting. Mayor Grant stated he was looking to represent the concerned residents and evaluate if the ambulance has to be located at Fire Station#1 or if another location should be selected. Mr. Pintar commented the dispatch centers are working to identify life threatening injuries from more routine calls. There was a trend towards fewer lights and siren calls. Councilmember Holden was not in favor of moving the ambulance to Fire Station #2 given the traffic in that area. She was concerned the ambulance response times could be hindered. Mayor Grant stated the City was assured response times would not be changed last September with the move to Mounds View. Councilmember Holmes understood that Allina did not make Arden Hills aware of the new ambulance location, but this information may not have been available in September. Fire Chief Boehlke agreed that this was the case. In September of 2011, Allina did not make the City aware they would be locating 24 hours a day at Fire Station #1. However, this has been discussed for the past two years with Allina as they have been searching for good geographic locations in the City. He understood that the fire station was located in a residential area and would affect these residents. In turn, the City had to understand that Allina needs to have satellite locations in Arden Hills to meet the needs of the community. Not every call could be taken from the Mounds View location. At this point,this has been a trial at Fire Station#1. Mr. Pintar stated he has been reviewing response time information and calls taken from Mounds View have not altered the ambulances timeliness. However, the location of Fire Station #1 was also being considered as it would assist Arden Hills residents. He understood the location could be disruptive to the surrounding residents and Allina would have to continue to work to minimize the disruption. The paramedics' first response was to respond quickly and to save lives. He commented the paramedics were aware of the children playing in this area and further education would be offered to staff. Councilmember Holmes questioned if it would be possible to locate the Allina ambulance at the New Brighton Fire Department. Mr. Pintar indicated this may be a possibility, but was extremely close to the Fridley Fire Department. Fire Chief Boehlke commented the initial complaints were about the truck idling in the Fire Department parking lot. Later calls were from residents that lived closer to County Road D, which was the point when the lights and sirens were turned on for emergency response calls. He ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—MAY 14, 2012 4 explained that the paramedics were advised to leave the vehicles turned off in the parking lot. The siren noise could not be avoided in emergency situations with heavy traffic. The lights and sirens provided safety to all parties. Councilmember Holden understood the pitch of the sirens differed between the fire engines and ambulances. Mayor Grant explained the homeowners would be noticing the sirens more in the summer months. Mr. Pintar stated even if the ambulance were to locate in New Brighton, it would be driving down Arden Hills streets with lights and sirens. He commented the number of response calls was rising each year and Allina was offering timely response services to Arden Hills residents. He stated this location offered a great deal of benefits while keeping response times low. Mr. Pintar indicated the co-location benefited the Fire Department as it was building a relationship between the fireman and paramedics. He hoped the residents would come to appreciate the asset that was sitting at this fire station. Mayor Grant questioned the percentage of calls in Arden Hills that were routed to Presbyterian Homes. Mr. Pintar did not have any exact numbers. He noted a number of the calls were routine and involved transferring patients to the hospital for care in non-emergency situations. Councilmember Holden asked how many times the ambulance responded to Arden Hills residents from Fire Station#1. Mr. Pintar explained Allina responded emergently 123 times in Arden Hills in 2011. Councilmember Tamble inquired where the ambulance could locate if it was not allowed at Fire Station#1. Mr. Pintar stated this would have to be further evaluated by Allina to find the proper location. The area could possibly be covered by County Road F and McMenemy. Mayor Grant questioned when the study would be completed and asked for the future of Fire Station#1. Fire Chief Boehlke indicated this would greatly depend on the desires of Arden Hills. The Fire Department was hoping to have 24 hour staffing by 2016. This could mean the elimination of Fire Station#1, unless some large investments were made in the facility. He anticipated the study would not be complete until further conversations were held between the Fire Department and the City of Arden Hills. Councilmember Holmes requested further information on the complaint calls. ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—MAY 14, 2012 5 Fire Chief Boehlke noted two calls were made regarding the trucks idling and two calls were made regarding the lights and sirens. Mr. Pintar stated he would continue to speak with his staff to assure the vehicles would not idle in the parking lot. He wanted to minimize the impact on the neighborhood while keeping the residents safe. He indicated Allina would like to be located in the community. Mayor Grant was interested in reviewing the information and response times from Allina further. He requested Allina provide this information to the Council in September. Mr. Pintar explained he would gather this information for the Council. He commented that no accidents have been caused by the paramedics from Fire Station#1, but he understood there were disruptions from the lights and sirens. He indicated that an averaged three emergency calls were made each day from this location with lights and sirens. Allina would continue to work with the City to find the best location in the City to meet the needs of the community. However, having an advanced life support vehicle in the community had its advantages. Councilmember Tamble recommended a newsletter article be written to inform the public of the ambulance location at Fire Station #l. He understood that the road construction this summer would have impacts on response times. Mayor Grant suggested the data provided from Allina be included in the newsletter article. Mr. Pintar commented he would continue to gather information for the Council and looked forward to reviewing it with them in several months. 3. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REQUESTS None. ADJOURN Mayor Grant adjourned the City Council Work Session meeting at 6:57 p.m. Sue Iverson David Grant Director of Finance &Administrative Mayor Services