The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About05/20/2003 Adjourned Meeting 382 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL MAY 20, 2003 - 7:30 A.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL 1. ROLL CALL Present: Council: Mayor Mary Place, presiding, Council Members Clarence Barnett, Buchanan, Paul George, Larry Mattson, John Puccinelli, and Bernard Sims Staff: Glenn Rice, Assistant City Manager; Wayne Wantland, Public Safety Communications Manager, Dennis Mayo, Fire Chief, and Acting City Clerk Watkins 2. STUDY SESSION ON FIRE ALARM MONITORING SERVICE • City Alarm Monitoring System Overview Wayne Wantland, Public Safety Communications Manager, described the beginning and the growth of the City's monitoring services. It began in the 1960's with a hardwire network to connect and monitor the City buildings and the manual pull -boxes located on every street corner in the business core. Over time, commercial businesses elected to hook into the system to have direct monitoring by the dispatch center. In the 1980's the City abandoned the hardwire system and • went to a system that used telephone lines as the communication link to the dispatch center. In the 1990's that system was upgraded allowing the center to accept signals from any type of alarm system manufactured. They currently support 109 accounts; 21 Government and 88 commercial. They also support 10 City of Yakima accounts. In 2002 they had revenue of $22,119. He noted they provide service by request only and do not solicit for accounts. • Future Options 1) DISCONTINUE ALL SERVICE The financial impact of discontinuing all service would be a revenue reduction of $22,119 plus an additional expense of approximately $3,000 to contract with an alarm service provider for the City of Yakima departments currently supported. This could be offset by reducing the dispatch staff by one person, requiring the increase of overtime. This would be a net reduction of $23,300, but the impact of that reduction would be significant coverage loss during busy time periods. 2) DISCONTINUE ALL COMMERCIAL SERVICE The financial impact of this option would be a revenue reduction of approximately $6,659, and reducing overtime by $17,000. Double coverage for police dispatch during busy time periods would be reduced. 3) REMAIN IN SERVICE This option would have no negative effect on current operations. • 383 MAY 20, 2003 — ADJOURNED MEETING • Customer Satisfaction A questionnaire was sent to current customers asking whether the City should continue monitoring. Out of 41 responses, 40 said yes. They also asked if the customer wanted them to bill through an alarm company and received 28 "no" responses and 4 "yes" responses. They received comments complimenting the City's monitoring services and expressing their preference to continue it. • Opened up for comments In response to a question regarding City versus third party monitoring response time, Mr. Wantland explained that the City's monitoring comes right to the fire dispatcher whereas the other agencies must receive the alarm and make the phone call to the fire dispatcher. • Bob Mansfield, Mansfield Alarm Company, explained how they determine false alarms emphasizing that early detection is the best way to avoid false alarms. He also advised that they are the only alarm company in Eastern Washington that is full service and UL certified. Jerry Davis, Fire Chief of Selah District #2, is a user of the City's monitoring system and also responds to calls. As a user, the biggest plus is how quickly he is able to communicate with the crew. As to false alarms he said they document them and notify the people that have a problem with their system. Ron Anderson, Ex Officio of CWI and a board member of the Washington State Council, doesn't want the City to compete with him. He doesn't mind if a customer chooses to use the City's monitoring system but does not want the City soliciting business. Mr. Anderson also expressed concern about a City of Yakima code that said they must use a UL listed station. If that is true then they would have to use Mansfield or go out of state. There was discussion on what the Uniform Code actually says regarding the requirement of UL whether it be UL listed equipment or a UL listed station. Mr. Davis quoted the 1997 Uniform Fire Code and it does not say it must be a UL station but does require UL listed. The Code Department was requested to look up the 2000 Uniform Code and prepare a report. A copy of the report must be sent to the alarm companies as well. Joe Caruso, Supervising Fire Code Inspector, said they are coordinating a meeting with all the fire alarm companies to let them know the requirements. Council Member Sims said the biggest issue is not who does the monitoring but that there are standards for both fire and burglary monitoring. Adrian Wathen, Adrian Security Services, 111 W. D Street, spoke in favor of the Yakima Fire Department for fire monitoring. • 2 , 3 8 4 MAY 20, 2003 — ADJOURNED MEETING Richard Dameyer, 16 North 6 Street, owns three buildings, approximately 160 apartments. He has used the existing city system for many years and is very satisfied. Previously he had an out -of -state service provider and they took one hour to report a fire. Direction was given to staff to research and advise what changes there will be with the International Fire Code. 3. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m. it READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: _ , _ 1- , /- .. 7-16 '165 COUNCIL MEMBER DATE /� r �� /� /j /,yam � !6 '3 CO NCIL ME BATE ATTEST: drA z.... 4 /--4:...e ! 0 ,/,- ACTING CITY CLERK MARY PLACE, MAYOR Minutes prepared by Linda Watkins. An audio and video tape of his meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office 1 3 •