HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/05/2013 (2)JEFFREY R. SMITH
Clerk to the Board
February 5, 2013
EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT
MEETING MINUTES
The Board of Commissioners of the Emergency Services Distnct of Indian River County,
Florida, met in Regular Session at the County Commission Chambers, 1801 27th Street, Vero
Beach, Florida, on Tuesday, February 5, 2013. Present were Chairman Joseph E Flescher, Vice
Chairman Wesley S. Davis, and Commissioners Peter D. O'Bryan, Bob Solari, and Tim Zorc.
Also present were County Administrator Joseph A. Baird, County Attorney Alan S. Polackwich,
Sr., and Deputy Clerk Maureen Gelfo.
Chairman Flescher called the meeting to order at 2:20 p.m.
15.A.1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MEETING OF DECEMBER 4, 2012
ON MOTION by Vice Chairman Davis, SECONDED by
Commissioner O'Bryan, the Board unanimously approved
the minutes of the December 4, 2012 meeting, as wntten.
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15.A2. APPROVAL OF PHASE 3 WORK FOR FIRE RESCUE FLEET OPERATIONS SITE
(4'N STREET AND 43RD AVENUE)
Administrator Baird explained that this item pertains to the former State Forestry site on
4th Street, where the County is constructing a fleet maintenance facility for Fire Rescue.
Assistant Fire Chief Brian Burkeen provided background on the additional improvements
that were proposed for Phase 3 of the fleet maintenance building, as outlined on pages 182.1
through 182.23 of the Agenda Package.
ON MOTION by Vice Chairman Davis, SECONDED by
Chairman Flescher, the Board unanimously approved the
Phase 3 improvements with Barth Construction for the Fire
Rescue fleet maintenance facility being constructed at 4th
Street and 43M Avenue (the site of future Fire Station 13),
for the cost of $61,345.00, as requested in the memorandum
of January 15, 2013.
AGREEMENT ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK TO THE BOARD
(Clerk's Note: The Chairman called a recess at 2:21 p.m., and reconvened the meeting at 2:30
p.m. with all members present).
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15.A.3. UPDATE OF THE EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT FIRE/EMERGENCY
SERVICES (EMS) CONSOLIDATION AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
ANALYSIS OF THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSOLIDATION PLAN
Director of Emergency Services John King stated that pursuant to Board direction on
October 23, 2012, he was returning with an update regarding the consolidation of the former Fire
Rescue and Emergency Services Divisions into one division. Using a PowerPoint Presentation
(copy on file) and recap of his January 27, 2013 memorandum, he provided a comprehensive
review of Emergency Services District (ESD) operations, past and present, and of the
consolidation plan, which was initiated in 2005. He relayed management s intent for the plan,
and stated that one key aspiration is accelerating emergency response time from 5.33 minutes to
the national recommendation of 4 minutes. Director King conveyed that the Department is
falling behind on capital replacement projects and needs operational and funding improvements.
NEAR-TERM STRATEGIC PLAN
Director King continued the PowerPoint presentation to outline the five-year goals and
objectives for the Fire Rescue/EMS Department, which include implementing a comprehensive
training program; replacing equipment; and maintaining the fire rescue stations. He spoke to the
need to accommodate growth in the County, and relayed that the construction of Fire Station 13
at 43rd Avenue and 4th Street has been planned since 2005, but delayed for financial reasons. He
noted that staff also proposes to construct future Fire Station 14 at 26th Street and 66th Avenue.
Director King conveyed that there is a critical need to replace the aging fire engines and
ambulances; special operations vehicles and brush trucks; and the cardiac monitors and other
apparatus that the vehicles are equipped with.
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FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
Concluding the PowerPoint Presentation, Management and Budget Director Jason Brown
gave a financial analysis of the Fire Rescue/EMS consolidation (effective September 18, 2006)
from Fiscal Year 2005-2006 through Fiscal Year 2011-2012. He discussed the historical tax
rates for the Emergency Services District (ESD) and the reductions in the millage rates and
revenues. He mentioned that a number of cost -savings measures have been employed by staff,
including reduction of administrative personnel, but deemed that further decreases were not
feasible. He advised that the ESD has had to utilize fund reserves and that in order to maintain
the fund balance, staff estimates that it will be necessary to raise the millage rate by
approximately 18.5% which would increase the current millage of 1.72 to 2.03 mills. He pointed.
out that a homeowner's ESD taxes would still be less with the increase than they were in Fiscal
Year 2000-2001. Director Brown added that an additional millage increase will be needed after
Fire Station 13 is opened.
Commissioner Solari wanted staff to return with more information on the consolidation
process; the organizational structure and training/promoting staff; and what impact additional
resources would have on the desired increase to the emergency response time. He also wanted to
see a long-term strategic plan to clarify what the citizens would be getting with the proposed
higher millage rate.
Commissioner Zorc, after questioning staff about the breakdown of' service calls and peak
demand times, suggested that the EMS Department consider a flex vehicle for use dunng peak
times to save the cost of setting up a whole new full-time position. He also sought and received
confirmation that should taxable values increase, the millage rate could "float" in accordance
with revenue demands.
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Vice Chairman Davis posed questions about the possibility of reducing fire rescue
personnel once an emergency patient is stabilized; however, staff informed him that the level of
care at that point needs to be maintained or increased.
Commissioner O'Bryan voiced his support for an increase in millage rates to improve the
District and deliver the best service possible, and spoke about making the County's ESD the
finest in the state or country. He also requested that staff explore the cost of purchasing 2
ambulances and 1 engine per year; and that they calculate a 5 -minute and a 4 -minute radius
around each fire station, with the goal of accelerating emergency response time.
Chairman Flescher extended kudos to the Emergency Services Director and staff for their
work and community involvement. He pointed out that no one wants to see the millage rates
increase, however, there is an obligation to put safety first. He also observed that any
Commissioner who has not done so, should take Fire Operations 101 (sponsored by the
International Association of Firefighters) to gain a better understanding of what is involved in
saving fives.
Administrator Baird advised that staff's recommendations had inadvertently included a
request for the Board to approve the proposed millage rate, which action can be taken only at a
budget hearing. Therefore, the Board was being asked today solely to approve the portion of
staffs recommendation dealing with the Fire/EMS Consolidation Report.
MOTION WAS MADE by Commissioner Solari,
SECONDED by Vice Chairman Davis, to accept the
Fire/EMS Consolidation and Financial Analysis Report.
Chairman Flescher asked whether the Motion included the anticipation of staff giving
another report on this matter before the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 budget hearings.
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Administrator Baird confirmed that staff would return with another update before the
fiscal sessions.
Chairman Flescher inquired of Commissioner Solari whether his Motion included the
directive for staff to provide additional analysis to the Board.
Commissioner Solari assented, recalling other requests for staff to return with updates
when this matter was discussed in the past. He advised that he would specify the Board's
directive by incorporating it into today's Motion.
MOTION WAS AMENDED by Commissioner Solari,
SECONDED by Vice Chairman Davis, to direct staff to
return with another report on the Fire/EMS Consolidation,
prior to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 budget hearings.
The Chairman CALLED THE QUESTION, and the
Amended Motion carried unanimously. The Board* (1)
accepted the Fire/EMS Consolidation and Financial
Analysis Report; and (2) directed staff to return with
another report on the Fire/EMS Consolidation, prior to the
Fiscal Year 2013-2014 budget hearings.
ALL BACKUP DOCUMENTATION, RESOLUTIONS, AND ORDINANCES ARE ON FILE IN THE OFFICE
OF THE CLERK TO THE BOARD AND ARE HEREBY MADE A PART OF THESE MINUTES
There being no further business, the Chairman declared the Emergency Services District
meeting adjourned at 4:06 p.m.
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ATTEST:
Jeffre R ith,
Clerk • the Circuit Court and Comptroller
Minutes Approved: APR 0 9 2013
BCC/ESD/201 3 Minutes
February 5, 2013
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osep E Flescher, Chairman.
X43 PC 474