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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, September 24, 2012 Page 14 allocated for the parks portion of the bond issue had been designated for path- ways to improve connections in the community, including the long-needed area along County Road B-2. Regarding difference in response times for one (1) versus three (3) fire stations, Mayor Roe advised that information on those response times had been provided at the beginning of the fire station project through the Facility Study Group. As a member of that Study Group, Councilmember Johnson concurred that the City originally had three (3) fire stations, but that it was during a time when the City was served by a volunteer fire staff; with volunteer time to respond to inci- dents double the current response time of only one (1) station, which had been successfully proven with operation of Station #3 as the sole station serving the entire community over the last few times and response time cut well in half. Mayor Roe noted that the faster response service was facilitated by on-site shift staffing versus volunteer response time from their individual homes; as well as the Fire Department researching the best routes to incidents throughout the community to avoid congested areas or higher traffic volumes. While no one appeared to be available from the Fire Department tonight, Mayor Roe advised that they could provide information to the public after the meeting. Recess Mayor Roe resumed responding to those questions brought forward by the pub- lic during tonight's public comment on the bond issue. In response to the perception of an additional 15% increase to taxpayers, Mayor Roe clarified that the City's 2013 Preliminary Levy adopted earlier this month, provided for a 15.8% levy increase over 2012, with the final round of bond debt service not coming through until 2014; but certainly not representing an addi- tional 15%on top of the previous 15%. Mayor Roe clarified the City's Port Authority, noting that Roseville did not have a Port Authority, but had been granted the ability to use Port Authority powers, delineated by State Statute, for the specific purpose of redevelopment or economic development and only under those certain established powers adopted in the 1980's. Mayor Roe noted that this was significantly different than the Port Authority granted New York City, which was under an entirely different set of rules. Mayor Roe asked individual Councilmembers to respond to allegations that they would be benefiting from any park improvements; and to specify their location to parks in their immediate vicinity.