HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/15/2000 Adjourned Meeting 266
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
FEBRUARY 15, 2000
ADJOURNED MEETING
The City Council met in session on this date at 7:30 a.m., in the
2nd Floor Training Room, at the Police Station /Legal Center, 200 South
3rd Street, Yakima, Washington. Mayor Mary Place, presiding, Council
Members Clarence Barnett, John Puccinelli, and Bernard Sims were
present. Council Members Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Buchanan, and Larry
Mattson were absent and excused. Staff members Dick Zais, City
Manager; Glenn Rice, Assistant City Manager; Marketa George Oliver,
Administrative Assistant to the City Manager; Helen Harvey, Assistant
City Attorney; Al Gillespie, Fire Chief; Gene Martin, Deputy Fire
Chief, were present. Also present were Gene O'Dell and Melody
Westmoreland, AMR.
Mayor Place called the meeting to order at 7:35 a.m.
1. REVIEW OF DEFERRED FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET POLICY ISSUES REGARDING
EQUIPMENT PROCUREMENT
Al Gillespie, Fire Chief, gave a brief overview of some Fire
Department policy issues that had been deferred from the 2000 budget
discussions. First, he spoke about the rescue vehicle. Gene Martin,
Deputy Fire Chief, provided the specifications of the vehicle the Fire
Department would like to replace. He said that maintenance on the
vehicle was showing wear and tear as if it had 100,000 miles on it,
instead of 25,000. The option of using a sports utility vehicle was
researched and rejected because it would not meet the needs of the
Fire Department as it was not sturdy enough. Staff also considered
hauling a trailer, but that did not prove to be feasible. City
Manager Zais commented that although the Fire Department does not
intend to provide ambulance service, it might be called upon to
provide ambulance service in the future in an emergency.
Melody Westmoreland, AMR, asked a question about the vehicle, how it
would be staffed and in what situations it would be used for response.
Chief Gillespie said that the City normally runs a crew of two or
three on this vehicle. With the apparatus the Department is
proposing, more staff could be transported from scene to scene.
Mr. Barnett said that one of the tasks listed for the Committee was
reviewing Emergency Medical Response vehicles and he asked what they
would be reviewing, if not ambulances. Chief Gillespie responded that
it referred in general the Fire Department vehicles.
Gene O'Dell, AMR, said the City is in a cash crunch and wondered if
any consideration had been given to refurbishing the current unit or
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FEBRUARY 15, 2000 - ADJOURNED MEETING
looking at a unit more economically priced. Mr. Martin indicated that
the specifications were revised after the policy issue was written.
Discussion ensued about the Department's intended use for the
ambulance, the Fire Department's current and future functions and
vision, and its responsibility to the former Fruitvale Fire District
area from which the ambulance was inherited.
Gene O'Dell said that City Manager Zais had alluded to insurance
rating and asked if it was staffing or equipment that is needed to
raise the rating. Chief Gillespie said it is a combination of the two
and described a national standard that is gradually coming into
existance.
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Mayor Place asked if there were other questions about the vehicle
purchase. Council Member ,Sims asked when Council would make a
decision. City Manager Zais said it could be scheduled on the Council
agenda any time, however, there were three Council Members not present
and they would want a chance to ask questions and receive a briefing.
Further, if it is the decision of the Council not to replace the
vehicle, the Fire Department would need to show the Council how staff
would be re- deployed. Council Member Sims said that to him, it looks
like a service is being expanded. He also stated he thinks it is a
good idea to not necessarily deploy a Fire truck on every call,
considering the majority of calls are medical in nature.
2. FIRE DEPARTMENT'S CITIZEN ADVISORY GROUP
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Chief Gillespie discussed the composition of the Citizens Advisory
Group. He said the Fire Department's intent was for the group to help
the Department to plan for future operations and make recommendations
to Council. City Manager Zais said the people on the Committee to date
are primarily volunteers as opposed to people being selected by Fire
staff or Council. Ms. Westmoreland said she felt as if the members
were handpicked and by handpicking a group, it was unlikely that City
staff would truly receive an objective group. Council Member
Puccinelli pointed out a few names on the list that he thought were
very independent thinkers. Mr. Zais emphasized that the Committee is
not limited to who is on the list and anyone is welcome to serve.
Mayor Place said she would really like to see someone from the
ambulance company on the Committee. Council Member Barnett said that
many of the objectives listed for the group are really Council policy
issues, such as determining Fire Station location, service provision,
etc. He said the focus of the Committee is too broad and gets into
areas that should be left to Council or staff. Mr. Zais said it was
not the intent for the Committee to be vested with any Council
authority. Council Member Puccinelli said agreed with Mr. Barnett,
saying it could be misleading to the members of the Committee.
Mr. Zais said the intent of the Committee was to advise and recommend
and the wording could be reworked to reflect Council's concerns.
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FEBRUARY 15, 2000 - ADJOURNED MEETING
Council Member Puccinelli said he would like to see a sunset on this
Committee. Chief Gillespie said that staff's intent was to convene
the Committee for one year.
Ms. Westmoreland asked who was going to facilitate the Committee.
Mr. Gillespie said he was planning to do that and had been a
facilitator in the past. He said he and his staff would present as
much information as possible to enable good, objective decisions and
recommendations. Mr. Zais said the Committee was planning to meet on
Wednesday and suggested the Committee's first meeting be delayed until
staff could visit with the Public Safety Committee about it.
Mayor Place asked Chief Gillespie if he understood the direction of
the Council clearly. Chief. Gillespie said he would postpone the
meeting, revise the report and bring it back to the Public Safety
Committee. She then asked what the pleasure of the Council is with
regard to the vehicle issue. It was agreed that the issue would be
brought back after the three absent Council Members could review it.
Mayor Place adjourned the meeting at 8:33 a.m.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: y ,,r 1.r1 ?/ `.1 7 l/
sUNCIL MEMB ■ • D• E
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COUNCIL MEM:ER DA E
ATTEST:
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City Clerk ry Place, Mayor
Minutes prepared by Marketa George Oliver. An audio and video tape of this meeting
are available in the City Clerk's Office
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