11/01/2016 MinutesCITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
November 1, 2016
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Study Session of the City Council of the City of Grand
Island, Nebraska was conducted in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 100 East First Street, on
November 1, 2016. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on October
26, 2016.
Council President Linna Dee Donaldson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following
Councilmembers were present: Mitch Nickerson, Mark Stelk, Chuck Haase, Linna Dee
Donaldson, Michelle Fitzke, Vaughn Minton, Roger Steele, and Mike Paulick. Mayor Jeremy
Jensen and Councilmembers Jeremy Jones and Julie Hehnke were absent. The following City
Officials were present: City Administrator Marlan Ferguson, City Clerk RaNae Edwards,
Finance Director Renae Griffiths, City Attorney Jerry Janulewicz, and Public Works Director
John Collins.
Council President Donaldson introduced Community Youth Council member Addisyn Dupler
and board member Zach Shultz.
INVOCATION was given by Community Youth Council member Addisyn Dupler followed by
the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
SPECIAL ITEMS:
Presentation and Discussion re�arding the Grand Island Fire Department. City Administrator
Marlan Ferguson stated the Mayor and City Council had determined to have a balanced budget
for Fiscal Year 2018. It was the administrations intent to review each department's operation
activities to determine the level of service provided versus the cost of the service. The Grand
Island Fire Department was the first of several departments to inform the council and public of
what they do.
Fire Chief Cory Schmidt reviewed the history of the Grand Island Fire Department (GIFD). The
fire department was organized in 1874 as a volunteer department. In 1921 GIFD changed from a
volunteer fire department to a paid fire department. In 1980 ALS ambulance services started, in
2000 paramedics were assigned to engine companies, and in 2002 fire stations and crews began
to specialize.
Currently there were 3 shifts which were 24 hours long. There were 21 personnel on each shift
assigned to 4 stations with a minimum personnel staffing of 17 per shift. Total personnel for the
Fire Department were 70. The reason for the 24 hour shifts was to reduce overtime costs and/or
number of personnel.
There were four stations strategically located throughout Grand Island:
• Station 1, 409 E. Fonner Park Road (2007)
Page 2, City Council Study Session, November 1, 2016
• Station 2, 1720 North Broadwell Avenue (1956)
• Station 3, 2310 South Webb Road (1987)
• Station 4, 3690 West State Street (1996)
Chief Schmidt explained the personnel changes over the years. In 1985-87 they added 6
firefighters when Station #3 opened. Another 9 firefighters were added in 1996 when Station #4
was opened and in 2000 they added 6 firefighters. Discussion was held concerning the number of
employees over the last 10 years. In 2006 there were 69 employees.
Response times were reviewed with the average travel time of 3:34 for Fire and 2:57 for EMS.
Explained was the rolling stock which included 7 ambulances and 7 fire/pumper trucks. The
vehicle replacement plan for fire engines was 20 years of total service; aerials — 25 year service
life; and ambulances — purchase one every other year, the goal was to have units not older than
14 years. Chief Schmidt stated they would need a fire engine within 3 years and an ambulance
every other year.
There were three major divisions — Fire Operations and Training; Emergency Medical Services
(EMS); and Fire Prevention, each under a Division Chief. Division Chief Tim Heimer explained
the Fire Operations and Training division which consisted of fire suppression, hazardous
materials, technical rescue, severe weather response, aircraft rescue and firefighting, medical
responses (including vehicle accidents), service calls, public education, structure fires, motor
vehicle crashes, automatic alarms, vehicle and grass fires, and medical calls. Training and
recruiting were explained.
Division Chief Russ Blackburn explained the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) paramedic
and EMT training. Explained were types of calls such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, severe
trauma, stroke, and ST segment elevation myocardial infraction along with response times.
Discussion was held concerning private ambulances and staffing.
Division Chief Fred Hotz explained the Fire Prevention Division which consisted of code
enforcement, arson investigations, and public education. He commented on the importance of
fire prevention and the difference it makes. Explained was what they don't inspect, such as
single and two family dwellings, multifamily residential property if no commons areas are under
11 units, buildings and structures on private residential property. What they do inspect are
commercial buildings new and existing which includes: factories, mercantile stores, businesses,
body shops, malls, restaurants, strip malls, hospitals, adult care, health care, child care, home
child care, state fairgrounds, etc.
Mentioned were inspections of health facilities, liquor licensures, corrections facilities, and
underground storage tanks which were delegated by the State Fire Marshal's office. In 2015 the
Fire Department collected $92,000 in permits such as commercial buildings to build andlor
occupy, new occupancy permits in existing buildings, open burning, and fireworks
stands/trailers. This division also does arson investigation, public education, and fire prevention
education in the public schools.
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Chief Schmidt stated the Insurance Services Office (ISO) evaluates fire departments and helps
determine the fire insurance premiums for property owners in the department's jurisdiction.
Currently GIFD has a rate of 3 on a scale of 1 to 10. The next scheduled evaluation was
November 29, 2016.
The following issues for a volunteer fire department were mentioned:
• Recruitment and retention is very difficult
• Availability of volunteers during business hours
• Number of personnel available can vary
• Amount of time required substantial
• Level of proficiency is hard to maintain
• Trend in Nebraska, as cities grow, they tend to transition from
departments
• Response times are critical
• Insurance rates
volunteer to career
Reviewed were the personnel and operating budgets. Due to minimum staffing, terms of
contract, rising insurance costs, and increased call volume in the personnel budget it made cost
reduction difficult. Covered was the increased call volume since 2011. In order to meet future
demands there was a need to staff an additional ALS ambulance.
Presented were cost recovery options such as fees for service, increased EMS transports, and the
contract with Hall County which currently was $196,200.
Discussion was held regarding the number of calls for EMS for each station. Station #4 calls
were growing, but most of the EMS calls came out of Station #2. Comments were made
concerning cost recovery such as long distance transfers, 24 hour shifts, peak staffing, and billing
collection rates.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:18 p.m.
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RaNae Edwards
City Clerk