CC Min 1996-04-15 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

In response to Council questions, Fire Chief Fink presented the staff report and advised that fire protection was about the community's desire and the community's ability to pay for that desire. Chief Fink said that studies show there should never be fewer than four personnel to a truck, and therefore a minimum daily staffing level of nineteen personnel was recommended. He said it was true that the cost difference between eighteen and nineteen was significant, but the drop in efficiency was just as significant. Chief Fink said "there are many cities larger than Redwood City that provide fire protection services through volunteer fire departments, and many that use part paid and part volunteer; but Redwood City like most cities in California, prefers to have all paid fire fighters, and I think that is good....You will have less efficiency at eighteen than at nineteen, and you pay for efficiency in dollars." In response to Council questions, Fire Chief Fink described the staffs cost figures contained in the staff report, and explained the cost of personnel citing the cap from South County as the major difference between staffs and Firefighter Anderson's figures. The replacement cost of fire apparatus from the staff is listed at $96,059 and Anderson's cost is listed at $42,000. Chief Fink advised that the cost of a temporary station was established by the engineering department. In response to Council questions, Fire Chief Fink said the difference between eighteen and nineteen personnel would be a savings of $160,174 per year, but "you would lose efficiency in that savings." Councilwoman Buchan said she was surprised to learn at this meeting about the impending closure of Holly Street. Fire Chief Fink said he had not been informed either, and added that a meeting was scheduled with Menlo Fire Protection District on April 17, 1996 at 11 :00 a.m. to look at the response patterns of all the apparatus in South County, Redwood City, Woodside and Menlo Park, to see if their alarm plans were appropriate. Chief Fink said the Holly Street situation would be discussed at that meeting by the Fire Chiefs and personnel from each station. In response to Council questions regarding differences in cost estimates between staff and the Firefighters, Fleet Manager Barwacz and City Manager Everett described the City's apparatus replacement policy and how the City calculates replacement costs. Engineering Manager Patterson described how the City's engineering division calculated the costs of a temporary fire station utilizing their expertise with construction costs and construction techniques needed to build on bay mud, drainage systems and establishing utilities costs. Patterson advised that the total for site preparation would be around $80,000 and these would be only minimum improvements, which would not actually meet the construction requirements in Redwood City. City Manager Everett said to that figure would be added $66,000 for the structure, furnishings and equipment, approximately $146,000 total. Mayor Hartnett described the options available to the Council. MINUTE BOOK NO. 54 Page No. 190 Regular Meeting Minutes April 15, 1996 Page 8