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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/20/2010 04B Minutes 07-06-2010 Council Public Safety Committee 0 ( #k °I a ° a Cit, C o u fnci N o>tn Me - 5r ''� ° Counci ( Pu6Cic Safety Comm Second Floor Conference mom City Marl July 6, 2010 MINUTES Council Members Present: Kathy Coffey, Maureen Adkison and Bill Lover Staff Present: City Manager Dick Zais, Deputy Chief Bob Stewart, Director of Finance Rita DeBord, Asst. Deputy Director of Finance Cindy Epperson, Sr. Asst. City Attorney Helen Harvey, Fire Administrative Assistant Connie Mendoza The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Coffey at 10:05 a.m. 1. Redirection of fire apparatus replacement plan Dick Zais cited the reason for calling the special meeting was to explain an issue that was discovered in the original proposal for funding new fire apparatus. 4 While conducting the legal research for the legislation, it was determined that the City can't move forward with a levy lid lift or a bond issue as planned at this time since there cannot be a tax overlap. The idea was to transition to a new 15 year tax seamlessly. The thought behind the plan is still supported for the `long -term' however, the earliest either proposal can be brought before voters would be November 2014. The Committee will need to regroup to plan for the next couple of years and try to come up with a way to replace one or two of the apparatus' in the 'short- term'. The goal is to purchase at least one apparatus and then bridge them into the other options, either the levy lid lift or new bond. A few options staff is researching are: 1: Strengthening the maintenance side. 2. Potentially purchasing used apparatus from other departments that are downsizing and consolidating. 3. Reviewing total resource options that might be available and are not related to REET funds. . Helen Harvey confirmed that the options discussed at the June 16 meeting were not viable at this time and that the earliest date they could be pursued would be November 2014. They are looking at other Cities and their methods for 0 funding Fire apparatus replacements. Olympia is proposing an increase of 25 cents per thousand versus our proposal of 5.6 cents per thousand. Maureen Adkison asked about purchasing mothballed equipment. Dick Zais explained some advantages such as depreciation in cost and accelerating the time frame of putting apparatus into service. Coffey recommend that the issue go back to the full Council. She wants to make sure the full Council has a say and that all members are on the same page about not creating a separate tax. All of the options need to be worked through and Coffey asked Dick Zais to direct staff to research and report back to the Committee. Lover would like the City to look into the WV tiered dispatch program and asked what YFD was doing with the old ladder truck. He suggested selling or trading it and applying those funds toward a new one. Zais stated that ballot propositions need to be clean and clear on their objective and how that objective would be'reached. The Committee can not recommend one until that time. The Committee agreed that they would discuss it as 'other business' at the Council meeting later this evening and then look for a more complete report soon. II. Meeting Adjournment One a side note, Chairperson Coffey wanted to make a comment on the y t e WV /Red Zone agreement that has been in the media lately because there has been some inaccurate reporting. There was no ultimatum given by either side.. sides worked together hard to try to resolve the matter. In the end, they were unable to reach a compromise but did agree to come back to the table and reopen discussions in three months. The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m. 1 ,,►' Kathy offey , Public Safety Committee Cha Minutes prepared by Connie Mendoza