HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.13.2005COUNCIL WORK SESSION
June 13, 2005
4:40 p.m.
Council Chambers
Members present: Mayor Hurley, Kincaid, Greenwood, Clark, Schmitt, Gunder son, Welper.
Members absent: Cole.
Moved by Welper, seconded by Kincaid that the Agenda, as proposed, be app oved. Ayes: Six.
Absent: Cole. Motion carried.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss an application to the U.S. Depa
Security for 2005 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFE
Ned DeBerg, Fire Rescue Chief, reviewed Program Guidance for the SAFER
is for five years with a total funding cap of $100,000.00 over five years for
for each newly hired firefighter. The funding is on a sliding scale of 90 perce
80 percent for the second year, 50 percent for the third year, 30 percent for the
federal share for the fifth year. The Fire Department would use the grant to
chief drivers and one training officer, which have been eliminated in the FYO
Department would have to maintain the number of authorized and funded p
the time of the application, plus the new firefighter positions through the fi
during the five years, the staffing level falls below the staffing level at the t
the city would have to reimburse the portion of the grant for the funded posit
award.
Chief DeBerg reviewed the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 17
Organization The 1710 Standard suggests that for safe, effective and efficie
each responding fire department needs a minimum of four firefighters. The
says the fire department should establish the objective of four minutes or les
the first arriving engine company at the fire suppression incident and/or eight
the deployment of the full first alarm assignment at a fire suppression incide
of people required falls between 15 and 17, depending on if an aerial is
pumpers are being used. The NFPA 1710 standard says the Battalion Chief
aide deployed to them for purposes of incident management and accountablity at emergency
incidents.
ent of Homeland
) grant.
rants. The grant
alary and benefits
t for the first year,
fourth year and no
nd three battalion
budget. The Fire
sitions in place at
e year period. If
me of application,
on under the grant
0, Standard of the
t fire suppression
PA 1710 standard
for the arrival of
inutes or less for
t, and the number
sed, and/or if two
hould have a staff
Chief DeBerg reported that he is eliminating three Battalion Chief position • and one Training
Officer position to meet the Fire Department's FY2006 budget, which he oped to gain back
with the $1 million the city is receiving from the Isle of Capri.
Mayor Hurley stated he contacted 13 Iowa cities and all but Waverly hav: a Battalion Chief
position with only two cities having a driver for the Battalion Chief.
Michelle Weidner, Chief Financial Officer, stated that the level of sta ifing for any city
department is a policy decision that is ultimately made by the city counc'1, and she is only
making the council aware of the financial implications of the grant applica ion. The grant is
restricted to hiring new, additional firefighters. The grant pays for a decli ing portion of the
firefighters' salaries and pays nothing for the fifth year of the grant. The city ould be making a
commitment to pay the remaining portion of the salaries for the next four yers and 100 percent
for the fifth year. The grant also requires that the entire Fire Department be maintained during
the five-year period. Ms. Weidner stated that for the FY06 budget, the additional resources
required to continue to fund the same level of services provided for the FY05 budget was $1.8
million. This does not include the additional resources that have been co itted to the Youth
Pavilion or Riverfront Renaissance maintenance. Ms. Weidner reported if e assume health,
pensions and raises will increase at the same rate for the years FY07 through Y10, the city will
need to identify an additional $7.2 million for the city's staff as it exists tod, y. The additional
firefighters covered by this grant would cost an additional $558,527. By ihat time, both the
Youth Pavilion and the Riverfront projects should be open, so there would be additional
expenses for both those that could be as much as another $500,000.
Council Work Session
June 13, 2005
Page 2
Ms. Weidner stated that state law limits how much a city can raise taxes and we are currently at
those caps. That means we can only pay for additional services based on the amount that our
valuations increase annually. Taxable valuations have increased an average of 2.6 percent the
last five years. If they continue to increase at that rate, that would create an additional
$190,342,648 in taxable valuation by FY2010, resulting in approximately an additional
$2,740,553 in property taxes that can be used for operations, including employee benefits.
Gaming revenue could potentially add another $1,500,000. Property taxes on the gaming facility
itself may add $1,400,000 for operations. This is a total of $5,640,553 in new revenue to support
approximately $8,258,527 in additional expenses. Ms. Weidner stated if the city accepts the
grant and then find ourselves in a position not able to meet the requirements, the city would not
only have to lay off the additional staff in that year, but would also have to lay off enough staff
to be able to repay the grant funds received in the prior years.
Councilperson Welper stated it sounds to him that the city cannot afford the grant.
Councilperson Welper asked if the city cannot afford the grant and cannot replace the four
positions would the next option be closing a fire station. Chief DeBerg responded they would
lose the Battalion Chief drivers, but the next year it might mean closing a fire station.
Councilperson Gunderson stated he wants the firefighters and this sounds like a good grant, but
his concern is the city takes on an obligation and if we can't fulfill it we would burden future
administrations. Councilperson Gunderson stated we don't know what the legislators will do
with the police and fire pension.
Councilperson Greenwood stated he feels this would be a good, short term plan, but there would
be too many long-term consequences. Councilperson Greenwood stated he doesn't see this grant
as being the solution for our problems.
Councilperson Gunderson asked if any portion of the $1 million gaming funds would be
available for public safety. Mayor Hurley responded he has met with each council member and
will continue to look further. Mayor Hurley stated that it looks like it will be July before the city
receives the $1 million from Isle of Capri.
Councilperson Kincaid stated the city already has a problem with the budget, and this grant will
lock us in for five year and could put us further in the hole. Councilperson Kincaid stated Chief
DeBerg and the city want more people, but if you don't have the money then you must do the
best you can with what you have.
Chief DeBerg reported that the FY05 budget has 115 firefighters and the FY06 budget has 111
firefighters. If the city applies for the grant, the Fire Department could hire four firefighters for
five years which would give the Fire Department 115 firefighters. Chief DeBerg stated it is
critical for him to have 115 firefighters so he doesn't have to close a fire station. Chief DeBerg
stated that one-half of his overtime budget is for holiday pay, and he will not have overtime
funds to cover the shortage of people.
With no further business before the council, it was moved by Welper, seconded by Gunderson
that the meeting be adjourned at 5:25 p.m. Ayes: Six. Absent: Cole. Motion carried.
Nancy Eckert
City Clerk
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