Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Workshop_06/11/1990 VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA Post Office Box 3273 • 357 Tequesta Drive Tequesta, Florida 33469-0273 (407) 575-6200 FAX: (407) 575-6203 V I L L A G E O F T E Q U E S T A V I L L A G E C O U N C I L W O R K S H O P M E E T I N G M I N U T E S J U N E 1 1 1 9 9 0 I. The Tequesta Village Council held a workshop meeting at the Village Hall, 357 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida, on Monday, June 11, 1990. The meeting was called to order at 5:30 P.M. by Mayor Joseph N. Capretta. A roll call was taken by the Recording Secretary. Councilmembers present were: Mayor Joseph N. Capretta, Vice-Mayor Ron T. Mackail, Edward Howell and William Burckart. Earl L. Collings was not in attendance. Village Officials present were: Thomas G. Bradford, Village Manager; Bill C. Kascavelis, Finance Director, and Wendy Harrison, Administrative Assistant to the Village Manager. II. REVIEW OF VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONAL MODELS OF A PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT. Gregg Spencer, Director of Pubic Safety, discussed with the public in attendance and the Village Council, what Public Safety actually is, it's various forms, and alternatives available; how to organize the Department, how to integrate it, what it costs, and how effective it is. • Mr. Spencer gave a narrated presentation using slides and overlays, citing some of the advantages and disadvantages of Public Safety. He explained that Public Safety is a system with many variations, whereby an employee is trained to perform both police and fire duties, as well as responding to emergency medical calls. Patrolling officers would have their patrol vehicles completely equipped with firefighting tools and medical equipment. Slides were shown of the Greenacres City Public Safety Service. Prior to 1985, Greenacres had separate police and fire departments. Population has increased from 7,000 in 1979 to 28,000 in 1989. This rapid growth became taxing on the police and fire departments. In 1985 Greenacres was building a new Fire Station, and there was a need for an additional fourth patrol zone. These additions would require 18 new personnel, which would have been an increase of $600,000. At that time, Greenacres had 24 total Village Council Workshop Meeting Minutes .June 11, 1990 Page 2 ------------------------ officers, and 3 patrol zones. Police Officers at that time wer single-certified only. The Fire Department had a total of 20 people. In August, 1985, the traditional police and fire departments were blended to create a combined Public Safety Department. Greenacres City provides the initial paramedic services, with a separate private ambulance company which provides transport services. The average response time for Greenacres City Public Safety Department is 3.15 minutes; the response time for the private ambulance company is approximately 13 minutes after the original call, since their area of responsibility is so wide. The Primary Objectives of Public Safety are: o Faster Response Time o Increase Patrol Strength o More Productive Utilization of Man o Control Level of Service o Manage Future Costs o Improve Police/Community Relations o Foster Crime Prevention, Fire Prevention Programs o Centralized Dispatch will Optimize Hours Prevention and Accident Response Time Village Manager Bradford stated that community health programs would be very valid for Tequesta. Mayor Capretta asked if the riske profile would be the same in Tequesta as it is in Greenacres City? Mr. Spencer explained that Greenacres City is 90% residential with a developing downtown commercial district, whereas Tequsta is 75% residential, with little industry, and a railroad track. Good Code Enforcement and Inspections are an asset to the community in keeping fire levels relatively low. How much the communityis going to grow will effect the overall advantage to going to Public Safety. A surplus of personnel may be needed to ensure minimum proficiency. Contracting outside services could offset some of the cost. As far as fire protection is concerned, it needs to be remembered that the age of the homes in the Tequesta Country Club is 25 years or more, leaving a change that, in time, these will deteriorate, the wiring will need updating, leaving chances of fires. The tendency for crime in Tequesta is relatively low. A Public Safety Program needs to be adopted to community characteristics. Every community is unique, and therefore, no Public Safety Program should be adopted exactly as developed in another community. t Village Council Workshop Meeting Minutes .June 11, 1990 Page 3 ------------------------ III. DISCUSSION RELATIVE TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY ORGANIZATIONAL MODELS BEST SUITED FOR TEQUESTA. Mr. Spencer pointed out different types of delivery systems: o Full. Consideration: A single officer provides both police and fire. o Partial Consolidation: Separate police and fire, with special Public Safety Officer patrol units. o Selectd Area Consolidation: Separate police and fire, with geographic zoned Public Safety. o Functional Consolidation: Certain functions are served by joint use of facilities and personnel. o Nominal Consolidation: Separate, individual, distinct, under one Public Safety Director. • Mr. Spencer felt that, ideally, a combination of full and functional consolidation would be best for Tequesta, evolving, through attrition, to full consolidation. It would be best, initially, to hire Public Safety Officers, and take advantage of those within the current Police Department who are both willing and capable of being cross-trained, and enhance that by having in-house Paramedics, making those Paramedics fire personnel, as well. Mayor Capretta asked how well trained the average police officer is for medical emergencies? Mr. Spencer answered that police are trained as a "first responder", which is 40 hours (8 of which are on CPR) of familiarization of emergency medical situations. It is best, under a Public Safety Program, to have all officers become Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), which is an additional 132 hours of training. Mrs. Nagey asked how Tequesta could have a faster response time to fires if the station is unmanned, and all officers are on the road? Mr. Spencer explained that having Paramedics in-house, capable of getting apparatus out on the road right away is probably the most ideal situation for Tequesta. There are also options of mutual aid with other cities that could be considered. Mayor Capretta explained that Tquesta has a tremendous advantage regarding response time, since all. the population lies within a one- mile radius, but a real concern is the integration of Paramedics • Village Council Workshop Meeting Minutes June 11, 1990 • Page 4 ------------------------ and the financial solvency of North County Ambulance. Mayor Capretta stated that one thing the Village does not want is the huge overhead induced by Chief Brice. Mr. Spencer stated cost should not be the only reason for choosing Public Safety. Mayor Capretta and Vice Mayor Maekail both responded that reduced cost is not the only objective, but that the Village also desires to be in control of its own destiny. Mayor Capretta asked Village Manager Bradford wher the Village stands on the contract with Palm Beach County. Mr. Bradford responded that Staff is waiting for a copy of the Agreement signed between the Property Appraisers Office and the Palm Beach Count3T Attorney's Office, stating that the County will hold the Appraiser's Office harmless and pay all attorneys fees if they put the MSTU on the tax bill for 1990. The contract is actually a 7- year contract with an escape clause. Mayor Capretta felt this puts the Village in the best position possible. Mr. Spencer reiterated that sooner or later, however, the Village will have to make a decision. Mr. Bradford concurred with Mayor Capretta's comment that the Village is in the driver's seat. Councilmember Howell left at 6:40 p.m. Mr. Spencer explained some of the advantages of a Public Safety program: o More Trained Manpower o A Single Heirarchy of Command o Increased Patrol, Better Fire and Police Services o More Capable Fire and Police Employees o Long-Range Economy: A Higher Standard of Service at a Lower Unit of Cost o Decreased Fire Losses o Lowered Mortality Due to Rapid Medical Assessment and Treatment o Higher Job Satisfaction After Full Consolidation Mayor Capretta asked Mr. Spencer how he expected to get the money for all this training that is being proposed, when the present Police Department does not use all the monies alloted to them for training, as it is? Mr. Spencer explained he had glanced at the current YTD expenditures of the Police Department and discovered that less than 50X of the money budgeted was spent for training. It was explained to him that the policement just were not interested in training. There is a difference between being t Village Council. Workshop Meeting Minutes June 11, 1990 .Page 5 ------------------------ interested in training and imposing a program where training is required. In order for a Public Safety Department to work, the training criteria MUST be met. Many of the training programs available would not necessarily include out-of-town travel; many take place at the Community College, South Tech., etc. The training would be in the best interest of the community. • Mayor Capretta stated the Council feels Public Safety is the route for Tequesta to go to ensure: 1) high level of service; and 2) the best cost for the money. County costs will continue to rise and willbe out of the Village's control. A Public Safety Program would give the Village the control it desires. But Public Safety will not be implemented until the Village is ready. The Public Safety Director's first task is to develop an implementation plan with timing. In May of each year, the Village will have the opportunity to re-evaluate its position with the County Agreement. If the rate goes up 35X, as is expected, the Village will implement its Public Safety Program if it is ready. It is proposed to be ready for implementation by October 1992. But, there are options open to the Village to make a decision which best suits the Village. Mr. Spencer continued with the optional programs he had projected for the Village: OPTION ONE o Train Police to Handle Fires and Medical First Response o Add Third Patrol Zone to Assure Rapid Response o Maintain Contract with County Fire/Rescue BENEFITS COSTS - Faster Response - Four New Officers, plus Rescue - Increased Patrol Equipment. $200,000, plus - May Save More Lives and Palm Beach County Contract for Reduce Losses from Fire Fire/Medical • Village Council Workshop Meeting Minutes June 11, 1990 .Page 6 ------------------------ OPTION TWO o Train Police to Handle Fires ALL and Medical First Response o Add Third Patrol Zone to Assur Rapid Response o Sign Mutual Aid Agreement with Palm Beach County o Contract A.L.S. Medical with North County Ambulance BENEFITS COSTS - Four Ne Officers, plus Equipment, $200,000 - Two Fire Engines, plus $1,500,000 Rescue - Faster Response - Increased Patrol - May Save More Lives and will Reduce Fire Losses Station - Palm Beach County Standby Contract $60,000 + Hourly - North County Ambulance $60,000/yr OPTION THREE •o Train Police to Handle ALL Firs & Medical First Response o Add Third Patrol Zone to Assure Rapid Response o Provide for Village-Run A.L.S. Services o Sign Mutual Aid with Palm Beach County BENEFITS - Faster Response - Increased Patrol - Will Save More Lives Due to Rapid B.L.S., followed by Rapid A.L.S. - Reduced Fire Losses and Lower Apparatus downtime maintained by EMS personnel COSTS - Four New= Officers, plus Rescue Equipment, $200,000 - Two Fire Engines, both ALS equipped, plus station $1,500,000 - Seven-man EMS Division, plus equipment $300,000 - Palm Beach County Standby Contract $60,000 Mayor Capretta explained: 1) By having a Public Safety Department in Tequesta, the level of service will be equal to, or better than, the present service; 2) Public Safety would be a good lever for annexation in Tequesta, which will allow the cost of Public Safety to be spread over a larger population; and 3) the Village has control of its own destiny. Village Manager Bradford explained to those in attendance that the numbers they were hearing tonight were subject to change, based upon working with the Staff, himself, and Village Council as progression was made down the Public Safety path. Village Council Workshop Meeting Minutes ~3une 11, 1990 Page 7 ------------------------ IV. V. • Respectfully submitted, Fran Bitters Recording Secretary ATTES'~ ~ ~- ~ ~~~,~ _ ,~ Bill C. Kasca'velis Finance Director/VIllage Clerk DATE APPROVED: Q~~ .~, a~ ~99~s ANY OTHER MATTERS There were no other matters before the Council. ADJOURNMENT Vice-Mayor Mackail moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilmember Burckart seconded that motion. The vote on the motion was: Mayor Capretta - for Vice Mayor Mackail - for William Burckart - for the motion was therefore passed and the meeting was adjourned at 7:40 P.M.