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01-08-87 Safety Comm MinutesSAFETY 00III3ITPEE Conference Room January 8, 1987 E • 0 The Committee met at 4:00 P.M. present were Chairman Schindler, mergers Saverud and Grainger, Mayor Kennedy, Police Chief Stefanic, Fire Chief Larson, Acting Assistant Fire Chief Waggener and Butch Larcombe, Missoulian. SAFETY SYS1UI MOATITOR FEES Chairman Schindler asked Chief Stefanic for his result of researching fees. Private company rates run around $8 to $10 per month. The Chief feels that our rate should be a 'Little over that and recommends that we adopt a monthly alarm monitoring fee between $10 and $12, with consideration of whether it should be the same for government offices as for private enterprise. Around 35 of the alarms through the Police/Fire Departments are owned by Peterson but there are other alarm services -Telco, Courtesy Services. Peterson maintains the alarms, are monitor only. C. Saverud recalled that we inherited the system when we moved into the new building and it was decided to continue the service. Anyone may use the service, there is no charge and it is now felt that a fee should be adopted. We provide a worthwhile service at no charge. We wish to make a fee for services and to discourage the number of alarms we are getting -to let the private services do that monitoring. Our only cost is for dispatch monitoring. C. Grainger asked where the easiest monitoring would be, here or elsewhere. He is also looking at our liability and asked if we or Peterson would be responsible. Peterson is responsible for malfunction, we for failure of personnel to respond. C. Saverud pointed out that the new recording system would tir.,e and log alarms. Chief Larson said that we should consider if Peterson moves out it would be a big expense to him and conversely if private firms decide to move into the police department system, that would also be costly to them. He agrees with Stefanic that there should be a monitoring charge. Discussion of instead of billing many different people that a flat monthly fee be charged for any company, for a certain amount a year and let Peterson pro -rate to his customers. Stefanic's concern was that the amount of work is directly related to the number of alarms, the work on the dispatcher's part, the level of liability directly tied to that -not equitable. We could do extended billing, however, rather than bill each subscriber. C. Grainger asked what we would gain/lose if Peterson takes the alarms out of the police department. Stefanic replied that we would gain a lower liability posture for the fact of having X number of alarms under our personal control and more uninterrupted time for dispatchers. MOTION: Discussion of a motion to recommend establishing a fee of $8 per alarm. C. Saverud expressed concern of a set fee on top of Peterson's maintenance fee and suddenly having his charges become excessive. Stefanic was concerned about a definite amount mentioned in the eventual ordinance, he would prefer a rate competitive with what is being charged on the market which can be adjusted as the market changes. C. Grainger so moved and the motion was seconded by C. Saverud. 0 Discussion followed on charging everyone, government offices with reciprocal services,etc. the same fee per alarm. C. Grainger then added to his motion: The fee will be at the discretion of the Police and Fire Chiefs. Seconded by C. Saverud. FALSE ALARM FEES A second issue is establishing a fee for false alarms. C. Schindler stated it has been mentioned that we allow 3 false alarms a year, after that the charge will be $25 for anything other than an act of God, again at the discretion of the Fire and Police Chiefs. The present charge is $1 each. MOTION C. Saverud moved that a fee be adopted for both Police and Fire Department alarms at $25 per call after the third alarm per year. Seconded by Grainger. Fire Chief Larson suggested this should again be at the discretion of each Chief. Fire alarms are not the same as burglar alarms being sounded because of human error. C.A. Neier will write resolutions on both fees. POLICE DEPAEMAENr TEMPORARY REPLACEIENI' Chief Stefanic reported that Ron Fredenoerg has been on a shoulder injury leave for about 4 months, is under Worker's Comp and has not been replaced. He is being evaluated every 2 weeks and at this point it appears that he will be off work for another 3 to 6 months at Ieast. The Chief r9bu!;ts permission to hire the next person on the eligibility list under the condition that he realizes this is a temporary position with the possibility of it later becoming permanent. There is sufficient money in the budget in Fredenberg's salary. The available replacement has been contacted and would consider the position under these terms. There is also a possibility that there may be a retirerient in the department eventually. MOTION: C. Grainger moved the Committee recommend to Council that Fredenberg be replaced on a temporary basis effective January 19. Seconded by C. Saverud. FIRE DEPARTMEWL PUMPER BIDS Chief Larson reported that Assistant Chief Waggener has reviewed the bids fairly extensively. Some items not included in the bid to make engine complete -radio, power generator, rope, etc. can be purchased better locally, prospective bidders did not want to include these in the bids. We have 3 low bidders -all Mack chassis which is pretty much what specs were built on. L.M. Curtis bid is $141,305. About $8,500 worth of items must be added to all bids, possibly through state bid. The next lowest bid is General Fire, Grumman, at $136,469 and the lowest, also General Fire, Central State, is $134, 169. Some things that will lead us away from the low bid, specs were not exactly followed, varied considerably in some areas. They have a Darley pump, we have two other brands and do not want to add a third brand because of parts, repair, etc. Also, Central States has only been in business for 5 years, Grur-van, is. an old established company. The Grum an exactly fits the bid, as does Curtis. Somers has a Central State and the workmanship is not the best. The Fire Department would like to go into complete depth in studying specs but their tentative recommendation would be the Grum an. The chassis from TTP 17ack came in $11,000 less than Coeur d'Alene (who is well satisfied with the system). It was also an additional $600 less than t;_at of Spokane Mack. The Grumman bid looks good on time frame with 9 to 11 raonths delivery time; by then all revenue will be collected on bond levy. ??ith the others we ray have to register warrants. Discussion of use of balance of levy to equip that piece of equipment followed. Based on this tax ,eriod with 5 mill assesment, we should have about $75,000, but Chief Larson was told by Clerk Halver that we only have $13,000. so far. We will have an additional pa;n ent this month and another in late THay, early June. In paying for the chassis we have 60 days fron: the time it is delivered from the factory, which will mean about $500 saved by waiting the full time as opposed to paying at delivery. Loose equipment such as ladders, hoses, fire extinguishers, breathing apparatus will be needed. Some items will be removed from other vehicles and used on the new vehicle. The foam system will not be purchased. TK7PION: C. Saverud moved that we tentatively reconreend to Council, subject to the Fire Chief's confirmation with the Safety Chairman, to go with the General Fire's Grumman model. Seconded by C. Grainger. A brief discussion of what we should start planning in the way of major equipment followed. The Superior is vintage 1973. Chief Larson has also done research into lease/purchase plans on an ambulance. The Arwlllance Fund is increasing, collections are up. We were $500 in the red on June 30 and after the $5,000 defibrillator last month, we still have a $4,000 cash • balance. One ambulance has 60,000+ miles, the other around 4C,000; we have gone way longer than ever in the past as far as replacement. Mayor Kennedy asked about the life expectancy and was told that anything over 50,000 is getting to a lot of service/maintenance costs. C. Schindler mentioned an earlier discussion of charging different rates for out of city runs. Chief Larson stated that we are not a county ambulance service and in fact, he sent a letter to the Finance Committee several months ago inquiring about that and has not yet received a reply. One suggestion in the letter was a percentage increase in the base run costs. He was told by C. Grainger that he should figure out charges to present to Council. As administrator of that department, it was felt that Chief Larson has the authority to make those decisions and bring to Council at any time. C. Schindler pointed out that this was similar to garbage assessment adjustments, department heads are to bring policies to the Council, they should know they have this authority. Ambulance rates increases, etc. go to the Safety Committee first, who will then take it to the Finance Committee. The meeting adjourned shortly after 5:00 P—M. Markie Sabol Recording Secretary