CC Min 1998-06-29 Bdgt - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Member Claire said he didn't know if the Council, except Council Member Ira who works with computer programs, fully understood the complexities of the City's system. He said that when the formal proposal was presented to Council it would probably exceed the $1 million estimate. 5) Fire - Fire Chief Ed Montez; Fire Chief Montez described the significant changes and cost impacts that have taken place over the last two years, including: the loss of revenue from Service Area 8; the opening of Redwood Shores Fire Station No. 20; the new MOU; new minimum staffing policies; the Citywide Paramedic Services with its training costs; and updated computer costs. He said Station 11 would be renovated in December, 2000. Fire Chief Montez said the Department was requesting a half time Plan checker to be assigned to the Permit Center to improve turn around time from four weeks to two weeks, and the position would be funded from plan checking revenues. Fire Chief Montez said the Budget was fashioned to "prevent and minimize the impacts of fires and other natural disasters to the community' provide a quality service that best serves the community by focusing on public education and enforcement of life safety codes and City standards; and continue to seek improvements in how best to serve the public." Fire Chief Montez described the new Emergency Medical Service Division to implement fire based Paramedic service, to provide a better accounting of the costs of the City's Advanced Life Support Program and Basic Life Support Program in place. Fire Chief Montez described an incident that occurred last Thursday, which related directly to the Council's decision in 1996 to implement the Paramedic Program. Fire Chief Montez said that Engine 10 was dispatched on an EMS call, and upon arrival they were told that a child had found his father, dead in his bed, and he couldn't open the front door. They forced entry into the house and found a man unconscious and in cardiac arrest. Fire fighter/Paramedic Chris Cottle began advanced life support care assisted by Fire fighter Daryl Liggins and Captain Dave Raymaker, and continued with assistance from AMR 25. Fire Chief Montez said that before the patient reached Sequoia Hospital he had a heart rate, a blood pressure and was breathing on his own. Engine 10 made repairs to the door jamb, and with the Redwood City Police Department helped locate the child's relatives. He said, "On behalf of that child, I would like to thank this Council for... our Paramedic program." BUDGET STUDY SESSION MINUTE BOOK NO. 57 JUNE 29,1998 MINUTES Page No. 018 PAGE 14