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Home My WebLink AboutCC 09-08-1976 . .... . Minutes of Special Council Meeting Village of Arden Hills Wednesday, September 8, 1976 - 7:30 p.m. Shorevlew Village Hall Ca II to Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting was called to order by Acting Mayor Charles Crichton at 7:35 p.m. Roll Call Present - Acting Mayor Crichton, Councilmen Wingert and Woodburn. Absent - Mayor Crepeau. Also Present - North Oaks Mayor Johnson, Councilmen Bjorklund, Bondus, Fritze and Launder. Shorevlew - Mayor Olson, Councilmen McGraw, Newbold, Wedell, Weyandt. Mayor Olson noted the purpose of the meeting was to review directives and assignments from the last meeting concerning fire protection services for Arden HI lis, North Oaks and Shoreview. Report of Shorev I ew Attorney 'F III a Statutory cities have the authority to establish their own fire departments and several cities could establish a Joint fire depart- ment using a Joint powers agreement. Cities can also contract with private corporations with broad or specific terms. Generally cities can't require disclosure of financial records from private corporations, but could be a re- quirement In the contract. Cities do not have vested Interest In equipment unless by special contractual clause. Contract can also have formula determining annual payment. Use of replacement cost Instead of depreciation for equipment Is not a common practice, may affect tax status of tax exempt corporation. Contract could specify purchase and use of city-owned equipment. Present contract with Lake Johanna Fire Department Is very broad. As cities become more Involved, It can be argued that department Is no longer an Independent contractor. A Joint Powers Agreement cannot include a private contractor. Enabling legislation to establish taxing authority for fire pro- te~tlon Is only available to rural areas, It Is doubtful that le~lslature would extend such authority to metropolitan areas. The Joint Powers Agreement has been prepared which formalizes the group presently In existence, Shorevlew has passed agreement. Woodburn asked about tort liability If cities get Into large purchases and leases. Filla felt If cities do this they are opening up for liability exposure. . Report of Shorevle" Manager Dickson The creation of a fire department to serve the three cities Is a feasible obJective. Approximately a year would be enough time to make a reasonable transition from present service to a trl-clty fire department. Amount of money available to purchase equipment would affect quality of service. Ideally, a smooth transition could use present members of L.J.F.D. to staff new trl-clty depart- ment, with possibility that volunteers receive some compensation. Fire stations would have to be geographically located to enable good response time to communities. There would be a definite Increase in cost. However, one advantage would be the accountabl11ty of the department to the cities and creation of an equity Interest In equipment and buildings. - Dickson estimated cost for fire apparatus at $250,000 - $300.000. Report of North Oaks Clerk Administrator Rozycki SprlngL:ake Park -Blaine - Mounds View Fire Department at one time served part of Shorevlew and Arden Hills, Is very busy, might be able to serve part of Arden Hills and Shoreview. Vadnais Heights Department Is five years old. not looking for addi- tional service areas. might be able to serve North Oaks. -1- . Minutes of SpecIal Council Meeting Page tl~O September 8, 1976 Written request was sent to White Bear Lake but no report received as of this meeting. Report of Arcen Hills Clerk Administrator McNlesh New Brighton Manager felt service to three cities would not be feasible, might be able to serve all or part of Arden Hills, have volunteer department whose membership would have to be consul- ted. . Roseville ~taff would be willing to meet with representatives of some or all cities. Considerable ground work would be necessary to discuss problems of increased service area, effect on Rosevllle volunteer firemen, pensions, equipment requirements, etc. lake Johanna Fire Department Alternate Proposals - Fire ChIef Dave Koch f'OTfowing the August 26th meeting, members of the Fire Department reassessed their poi.t of view regarding the proposed 1977 budget and otfer cities option of three types of contracts. I. Five year contract for fire ~rotection, first year (1977) $94,123, budgets for succeeding years to be submitted by July 30th of each year. 2. Under trl-city Joint Powers Agreement cities would purchase l.J.F.D. existing equipment at a price agreeable to mem- bership and citIes. Cities would purchase all future equip- ment, operation of Fire Department would continue much the same as now, Fire Dpeartment to submit detallad budget by July 15th of each year. Fire Department would be reimbursed for time and expenses as follows: Probationary membe rs: 1st 6 months- 1.50 call &1.50 hr. 2nd 6 months- 2.00 call &2.00 hr. After I year same as a fire f I ghtl)r as fol lows: fi ret i ghter 3.00 call &3.00 hr. Engineer 3.75 ca II &3.75 hr. Chief Engineer 4.00 ca II &4.00 hr. Lieutenant 4.50 call &4.50 hr. Captain 5.00 cali &5.00 hr. District Chief 5.50 call &5.50 hr. Deputy Chief 6.00 eel II &6.00 hr. Chief 6.50 ell II &6.50 hr. 3. l.J.F.D. equipment would be sold to cities for one dollar, firefighters to be reimbursed for time and expenses as follows: Probationary 1st 6 months 3.00 e~11 &3.00 hr. 2nd 6 months 4.00 call &4.00 hr. After I year at the rate of Firefighter. Firefighter 6.00 call &6.00 hr. . Englnser 6.75 ca II &6.75 hr. Chief Engineer 7.00 ea II &7.00 hr. LI eutenant 7.50 ca II &7.50 hr. Captain 8.50 call &8.50 hr. District Chief 9.50 ell I I &9.50 hr. Deputy Chief 10.00 call &10.00 hr. Chief 10.50 Celli &10.50 hr. Under options 2 and 3, rates would be adjusted according to cost of living index. Hourly rate would apply to drills, schools, main- tenance of equipment and buildings, and extra duty by officers as well as fire fighting time. Mileage (15ft/mi.) would be paid to Chief, Deputy Chief and District Chiefs. Relief Association would remain the same as now, governed by Its own Board of Directors elected by membership, members active at time of agreement could stay until eligible for retirement. -2- s . ,--.. Minutes of Special Council Meeting Page three September 8, 1976 Koch noted that under option 2, membe~sh!p wouid have to decide what to do wIth monies rocelved for equipment. Koch agreed to provide data on hours for firs runs und training for first six months of 1976 by September 23rd. Since members presently are not paid for services, no records are kept on hours spent for maintenance. Option 2 Is closest to surrounding cities. independent appraiser would be called in to determine value of equipment. Crichton queried whether Option I could be tied to assessed valuation. Dickson reported that mathmaticat formula for cost of fire service was reviewed in "Fire Chief" magazine. . Counc I I members exp ressed apprec i at I on to la ke Johanns Fire Depart-. ment for presenting the three alternatives. ladder Truck Bids Bids opened on September 7th were referred to lake Johanna Fire Department for recommendations. It was noted that cities must act on bids received within 30 days. Next meeting tor the three Councils was tentatively set for Tuesday, September 28th at 7:30 p.m. Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m. rJk~ Charlotte McNlesh Clerk Administrator . -3-