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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Miscellaneous_11/18/1992_Fire-Rescue Task Force f VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA Post Office Box 3273 • 357 Tequesta Drive Tequesta, Florida 33469 -0273 • (407) 575 -6200 3 Fax: (407) 575 -6203 r; o A 4� cols" T E Q U E S T A F I R E - R E S C U E T A S K F O R C E M E E T I N G M I N U T E S N O V E M B E R 1 8, 1 9 9 2 I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The Tequesta Fire - Rescue Task Force held a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, November 18, 1992 in the Village Hall, 357 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida. The meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Chairman Wade Griest. Task Force members in attendance were: Chairman Wade Griest, Vice Chairman Robert Mortimer, Councilmember Ron T. Mackail, Mervin Crockett, Thomas Rodth, Dr. Stanley Jacobs, and Hal Hutchinson. Staff members present were: Village Manager, Thomas G. Bradford; Joann Manganiello, Village Clerk; Police Chief Carl Roderick and Deputy Building Official, Steven Kennedy. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chairman Griest asked to make comments after Agenda Approval; comment to the public; report to the Task Force results of the recent Village Council Meeting; and under ANY OTHER MATTERS report on Mrs. Seay's letter. Boardmember Jacobs asked to comment on Mrs. Seay's letter; and give a review of the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Comprehensive Plan. Boardmember Hutchinson stated he had a Round Three Report concerning the Village Fire Rescue Report. Boardmember Crockett asked to comment on the Village Fire Rescue Report. Vice Chairman Mortimer asked to give an update on Ambulance Certifications. Councilmember Mackail moved to approve the Agenda as amended. Boardmember Crockett seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Mervin Crockett - for Ron T. Mackail - for Wade Griest - for Robert Mortimer - for Dr. Stanley Jacobs - for Thomas Rodth - for Hal Hutchinson - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted. Recycled Paper Fire - Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes November 18, 1992 Page 2 --------------- - - - - -- Chairman Griest announced there would be a slight change in meeting format: Citizens, at this meeting, who would like to speak will not be required to sign in before the start of the meeting, but shall merely raise their hand at the close of the business Agenda to be allowed their three minutes at the podium, if they have something to say that would be of help to the Task Force regarding coming up with a better fire rescue system. Chairman Griest reminded the public once again that members of the Task Force are not councilmen, have no vote, and whatever the Task Force recommendation is to Council, Village Council will make the final decision. Chairman Griest reported that at the Village Council Meeting of November 12 Councilmember Mackail suggested a one -on -one discussion between a member of the Fire Rescue Task Force and Palm Beach County Commissioner Karen Marcus and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Chief Brice. The Village Council also determined not to terminate the lease of Station 11 at the present time. Chairman Griest commented on the many adverse and negative remarks received at previous Fire Rescue Meetings and read for the record the meaning of "defamation" so that all might be cautious in their remarks. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A) Fire /Rescue Task Force Meeting - November 4, 1992: Page 5, next to last paragraph, 8th line, change Boardmember Jacobs to Vice Chairman Mortimer Page 10, # 8, 5th line, change Art Ransdale to Hart Ransdale Fire - Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes November 18, 1992 Page 3 --------------------- Boardmember Rodth moved to approve the November 4, 1992 Task Force Meeting Minutes as amended. Councilmember Mackail seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Mervin Crockett - for Ron T. Mackail - for Wade Griest - for Robert Mortimer - for Dr. Stanley Jacobs - for Thomas Rodth - for Hal Hutchinson - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted. B) Fire /Rescue Task Force Meeting - November 9, 1992: Page 4, Item IV, first bullet, last sentence, change Palm Beach County to Palm Beach Gardens. Page 4, last paragraph, last sentence changed to read: "He was in support of a Tequesta fire department with ten permanent personnel and six paramedics from North County Ambulance, contracting with..." Add at the end of that sentence: Mr. Crockett presented a study which showed estimated savings of Tequesta Fire Department/North County Ambulance vs. projection of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue for the period 1993 -99, showing a savings of approximately $1.5M, not including income from Jupiter Inlet Colony." Boardmember Jacobs moved to approve the November 9, 1992 Task Force Meeting Minutes as amended. Boardmember Rodth seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Mervin Crockett - for Ron T. Mackail - for Wade Griest - for Robert Mortimer - for Dr. Stanley Jacobs - for Thomas Rodth - for Hal Hutchinson - against The motion was therefore passed and adopted. Chairman Griest handed out to the Board a listing of Fire Departments and Fire Chiefs in Palm Beach County, stating that there appears to be more municipalities who are not interested in being covered by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue than there are those who are interested, stating further that this information all the more points towards proof that Tequesta should have its own fire /rescue department. Fire - Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes November 18, 1992 Page 4 --------------------- IV. REVIEW OF FEEDBACK FROM AGENCIES FROM WHICH FIRE /RESCUE QUOTATIONS WERE SOUGHT. Village Manager Bradford stated that he had sent out a letter to Wackenhut, Palm Beach Gardens, and Martin County, including a copy of the Tequesta Fire /Rescue Report, as well as a copy of the presentation made by Chief Iaconna to the Task Force. The letter requested a quote for providing the manpower and supervision to do fire and rescue as well as doing fire only, contracting with North County Ambulance. Wackenhut has stated they will offer a quotation which will probably reach the Village by November 23. Wackenhut has commented to the Village Manager that they will do the proposal as structured by the Village, but will also submit a proposal stating their opinion as to how it can best be done. It is also Wackenhut's opinion that they would prefer to do the emergency medical services themselves. Wackenhut felt the manpower as projected in the Tequesta Fire Rescue Report was sufficient. They did, however, have some concerns about the salaries in the Report. Palm Beach Gardens will be presenting before their City Council on November 19 a request to respond to the requested proposal to the Village of Tequesta. Mr. Bradford stated he would try to attend that City Council meeting. There has not yet been a response from Martin County. Boardmember Linnan arrived at 4:55 p.m. Vice Chairman Mortimer reported that, as Chairman of NAMAC for Palm Beach Shores, Lake Park, North Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens, he had attended on November 17, the Palm Beach County Commissioner's Meeting where an Agenda Item was Certification for Inter City Ambulance. The Commission revoked that Certification and voted to extend for two years the other three ambulance services (Atlantic, Bethesda, and North County) presently existing in those areas. Mr. Bradford stated that Chief Brice felt that part of the reason the Village Council opted out of PBC F/R was the County wanted to take over the ambulance transport. He felt further that now that it is a dead issue for at least two years, perhaps Village Council would want to reconsider. Chief Brice further suggested that Tequesta not rule out the idea of a separate MSTU for Tequesta. Fire - Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes November 18, 1992 Page 5 --------------------- Councilmember Mackail reiterated once again that it was his suggestion that the Task Force explore every avenue and at least talk with Chief Brice and Commissioner Karen Marcus. The Task Force appointed Councilmember Mackail to be the liaison for the Task Force in speaking with both Chief Brice and Commissioner Marcus. Chairman Griest stated he thought all that Chief Brice presented to the Village in the past was all he had to say. Village Manager Bradford answered that PBC still has the ability to create a separate MSTU. PBC has more power for alternatives than the Village might guess. When considering the price increases the Village has experienced over the years from PBC F/R will show that the years in which there was stability in the millage rate were primarily those years when there continued to be MSTU in the northern area. When the merge took place, making one fire rescue MSTU, is when the price started escalating radically. Boardmember Jacobs moved that Councilmember Mackail discuss the issues further with Palm Beach County Fire Chief Brice and County Commissioner Karen Marcus and report back to the Task Force. Boardmember Crockett seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Mervin Crockett - for Ron T. Mackail - for Wade Griest - for Robert Mortimer - for Dr. Stanley Jacobs - for Thomas Rodth - for Hal Hutchinson - for Sandy Linnan - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted. V. REVIEW OF PROPOSED PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE EQUIVALENT RESIDENTIAL UNIT (ERU) ASSESSMENT. Village Manager Bradford showed what it would cost Tequesta, having an ERU (Equivalent Residential Unit) assessment in place, using today's Budget. He further pointed out that: 1) Tequesta could join the MSTU - PBC F/R would assess Tequesta properties directly; or 2) through an Interlocal Agreement - PBC would assess Tequesta properties on Tequesta Is behalf, making a separate line item on the tax bill; or 3) Tequesta could adopt the ERU methodology with or without a special fire /rescue taxing district. Fire - Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes November 18, 1992 Page 6 --------------------- Councilmember Mackail left the meeting at 5:35 p.m. Through an ERU system it is possible to determine what the demand would be on the fire /rescue system from particular residences, and from that, calculate what the cost would be for an equivalent residential unit, thereby establishing a base. Village Manager Bradford reviewed with the Board an ERU assessment cost list, showing that an ERU is not necessarily a panacea for the problem. The list displayed was the result of a spreadsheet analysis based on the ERU assessment compared to Tequesta, if it had its own fire department. The analysis: 1) assumes 13.7% annual increase based upon PBC F/R historical average annual increase since 1985; 2) based on the 1990 U.S. Census. All home values extrapolated from median home value in Tequesta. Assumes home values have remained constant since 1990 and increase 3% per annum for FY 94 and thereafter; 3) assumes 7% annual increase in cost of Tequesta Fire Department with North County Ambulance for EMS and 3% rise in total annual Tequesta property value; and 4) assumes $25,000 Homestead Exemption and given millage rate. Seventy -five percent of property owners in Tequesta would initially benefit from costs to them with the implementation of ERU. Twenty -five to thirty percent of Tequesta homeowners (800 square feet to median home) will experience an increase. Mr. Bradford reported that on November 19 the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Advisory Board would meet to determine their final recommendation to the County Commission regarding ERU methodology. VI. CONSIDERATION OF SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS AND ITEMS TO DISCUSS IN RESPONSE TO VILLAGE COUNCIL TIME EXTENSION TO 1/1/93 FOR TASK FORCE. The Board discussed the Village Council's recommendation to extend the Tequesta Fire Rescue Task Force calendar to January 1, 1993. Fire - Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes November 18, 1992 Page 7 Boardmember Rodth moved that the Task Force be extended to January 1, 1993. Boardmember Jacobs seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Mervin Crockett - for Wade Griest - for Robert Mortimer - for Dr. Stanley Jacobs - for Thomas Rodth - for Hal Hutchinson - for Sandy Linnan - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted. The Board also determined to move the Fire /Rescue Task Force meeting scheduled for Monday, November 23 to Wednesday, December 2 at 4:30 p.m. VII. ANY OTHER MATTERS A) Boardmember Crockett asked Village Manager Bradford if there was anything in the Tequesta Fire Rescue Report that he would change, since his initial presentation. Mr. Bradford stated there was one thing he would change: he would suggest the possibility of using the retirement setup which the Federal Government has used since 1984 - which would save Tequesta $25,000 /year. Staffing level: Add one more firefighter per shift (i.e., four certified firefighters and EMT's per shift, in addition to the two paramedics from North County) with an annual cost of $870,000. Boardmember Crockett suggested that he felt the staff and salary structure of the Report was a little on the low side and recommended a recalculation giving a 10% higher salary structure across the board and using four men per shift as opposed to three. The Board asked Mr. Bradford to make that recalculation. B) Boardmember Jacobs reported that allegations have been made that he was once a member of the Board for North County Ambulance and answered those allegations by stating he had never served on the Board of NCA. He further commented on misleading statements which have appeared in the local newspapers and corrected those statements. Dr. Jacobs reviewed for the Board the Palm Beach County 1989 Comprehensive Plan commenting on population growth /firefighter ration and support Fire - Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes November 18, 1992 Page 8 --------------- - - - - -- functions, level of service standards for EMS, non - emergency response, personnel and equipment levels, alternative funding methods, and major capital expenditures. He stated that cost increases from the County regarding fire /rescue cannot even be visualized. C) Boardmember Hutchinson reviewed the salary survey from the Tequesta Fire Rescue Report: He felt the Village Manager had used an incorrect method to calculate average salaries. He felt that significant errors in projecting salaries had been made and that Mr. Bradford's request for salary data failed to ask how many hours per week personnel works. Mr. Hutchinson felt a firefighters' salary was reflected 14.68% below the low salary range and 35.6% below the average salary range. It was Chairman Griest's suggestion that Boardmember Hutchinson confer with the Village. Finance Director to compare figures. VIII. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Michael Mayo asked Boardmember Mortimer if he had seen any plan from the Task Force Board which shows an equal or better fire rescue service compared to Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. Boardmember Mortimer explained that the biggest asset that the County now offers Tequesta is backup. Mr. Mayo felt that if Tequesta decides to have their own independent fire /rescue service, that quality of service would drop back 8 -10 years. Village Manager Bradford asked Mr. Mayo what year, approximately, the County started its standard of three men on the pumper and two paramedics on the ambulance at Station 11. Mr. Mayo responded that it started approximately in 1985 when consolidation took place, taking Station 11 from a two - man staff to a five -man staff. Chief Fredrickson, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, stated that PBC F/R historic growth period is at ten year periods. Growth is still taking place and will probably top out in a couple more years. Chief Fredrickson explained that PBC F/R agrees it is a waste of manpower to have NCA and PBC F/R on rescue calls and that is why PBC F/R wants to take over ALS service. I Fire - Rescue Task Force Meeting Minutes November 18, 1992 Page 9 --------------- - - - - -- Richard Berube felt that the Tequesta Fire Rescue Report did not accurately reflect in its five -year projection, especially since it showed that the Tequesta Police Department was operating at a lesser cost but did not reflect that there was less manpower. Village Manager Bradford stated that while it is true that the headcount of sworn officers has been reduced by two between 1985 and today (one a lieutenant administrative; the other a detective), but it is not true that the level of patrol services has decreased - it has remained the same. IX. ADJOURNMENT There being no other matters before the Board Boardmember Jacobs moved that the meeting be adjourned. Boardmember Rodth seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Mervin Crockett - for Wade Griest - for Robert Mortimer - for Hal Hutchinson - for Thomas Rodth - for Stanley Jacobs - for Sandy Linnan - for the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Fran Bitters Recording Secretary Date Approved: L...� io , i99a ATTEST: J ann Manganiell Village Clerk