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Regular City Council Minutes — 08/04!03 L Minutes - Page 7 I. in service levels. Councilmember Schroeder questioned why this decision was being made at a department level; and that it appeared we were initiating the proposed Fire Department Goal Plan, still not adopted by the City Council, to bring the department to a full -time EMT status. Chief Gasaway defended the proposal for increasing the service level for the City for moving to on -duty First Responders by addressing the fixed costs (i.e., station, vehicles, on -duty officers at the station) that were present, and the nominal costs to allow on -duty firefighters to act as First Responders, rather than sitting at the station, wailing for calls, or waiting to be called in after - the -fact. Councilmember Schroeder continued to express concern regarding other significant costs for hiring; and requested development of a detailed cost analysis on how three (3) additional employees would be incorporated; and again spoke to the Council policy issue. Councilmember Klausing concurred with Councilmember Schroeder's comments. Further discussion included the difference in design in this proposal, as related to the previous request for twenty -four (24) hour response, with Chief Gasaway clarifying that the responses by the Department would only be to focal vehicle accidents when there were on -duty personnel present and who held on -site authority. Councilmember Schroeder reiterated his concern that this represented a substantial policy change and was an initial step in the move to a full -time department,, a concept not fully endorsed by the Council at this time. Mayor Kysylyczyn referenced an apparent internal memorandum that directed implementation of a limited number of medical calls effective October 1, 2003; and questioned the department's authority in initiating this