HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007/11/08 - Minutes - SpecialNovember 8, 2007
CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA
CITY COUNCIUFIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
A. CALL TO ORDER `'
A special meeting of the Rancho Cucamonga City Council, Fire Protection District and Redevelopment Agency
was held on Thursday, November 8, 2007, in the Council Chambers at City Hall located at 10500 Civic Center
Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. Mayor/PresidenUChairman Donald J. Kurth, M.D. called the meeting to
order at 6:07 p.m.
Present were Councilmembers/Boardmembers/Agencymembers: Rex Gutierrez; L. Dennis Michael, Sam
Spagnolo, Mayor Pro Tem/Vice PresidenWice Chairman Diane Williams, and Mayor/PresidenUChairman
Donald J. Kurth.
Also present were: Jack Lam, City Manager/Executive Director; Pamela Easter, Assistant City Manager;
Fabian Villenas, Principal Management Analyst; James Markman, City Attorney/Legal Counsel; Mahdi Aluzri,
Deputy City Manager/Community Development; John Gillison, Deputy City Manager/Administrative Services;
Ingrid Bruce, GIS/Special Districts Supervisor; Charles Scott, Sr. Information Services Specialist; Kevin
McArdle, Community Services Director; Chief Peter Bryan, Deputy Chief Mike Bell, Deputy Chief Mark
Hartwig, Battalion Chief Don Cloughesy, Fire Marshall Rob Ball, Management Analyst II Pam Pane,
Management Analyst II Janet Walker, Fire IS Technician Robin Brock, Captain Cheryl Roberts, Rancho
Cucamonga Fire Protection District; Kathryn L. Scott, Assistant City Clerk; and Debra J. Adams, City
Clerk/Secretary/Assistant Secretary.
B. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
B1. Jerie Lee stated this is a matter of our taxes and that we need to know if we really need more stations.
She hoped to get more information from Chief Bryan before any decision is made. She hoped no more
stations would be built or personnel added until the information is obtained.
B2. John Lyons stated he was not one far fire prevention, but believed in the self-inspection program. He felt
we should be using the prevention money for suppression. He stated he would like to see a station that can
handle the north end of the City. He felt we have enough stations on Milliken.
B3. Bill McCliman asked why we are still talking about this. He stated the Fire Chief brought forth a Strategic
Plan, and wasn't sure why this hasn't been implemented. He felt the Council should be listening to the Fire
Chief and follow his recommendation. He said there are people coming forward with no experience in the fire
service telling the City how to run the Fire Department and didn't think the Council should be listening to them.
He felt the Council should implement the Chief's Strategic Plan.
C. ITEM(S) OF BUSINESS
C1. REVIEW OF FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION
The item was introduced by Jack Lam, City Manager. He stated the material to be presented might be
redundant, but it will answer some of the questions that the Council has asked.
A power point presentation was given by Peter Bryan, Fire Chief, which is on file in the City Clerk's office.
Special City Council/Fire Protection District/Redevelopment Agency Meeting
November 8, 2007
Page 2
Councilmember/Boardmember/Agencymember Gutierrez asked about the types of calls and the type of gear
or readiness that is put on to get ready for going out to a call.
Deputy Chief Mike Bell stated there are about 25 types of calls that could be called in; and depending on what
dispatch tells the station involved, it is then determined what equipment is sent. He stated they respond for
the worst case scenario when a call comes in.
Chief Peter Bryan added equipment can always be canceled in the middle of the response if it is found that all
that has been dispatched is not needed.
Mayor Pro TemNice PresidenUVice Chairman Williams asked for a status report on the San Bernardino Road
station.
Chief Peter Bryan stated the Redevelopment Agency (RDA) can assist with the funding of this station. He
stated the properties in this area are extremely high price for what the RDA felt should be paid for it. He stated
we are still searching for the right property.
Mayor Pro Tem/Vice PresidentNice Chairman Williams felt we need to pay attention to all the stations
when we are figuring where to place new ones. She asked if there has been any concern or discussion
to consolidate an old station with a new station for better efficiency. She also mentioned the expansion of the
Amethyst station.
Chief Peter Bryan stated the Amethyst station is in the plan with the 52 recommendations, but is unfunded at
this time and is not a priority one.
Mayor Pro TemNice President/Vice Chairman Williams felt all of this should be considered.
Fire Chief Bryan stated this has been analyzed and showed a map prepared by GIS for further explanation.
He added this is being considered.
Mayor/President/Chairman Kurth asked how we can achieve serving all the areas of the City within the four
minute response time.
Chief Peter Bryan stated that is the goal but right now we can't do it.
Mayor/President/Chairman Kurth asked if there are cities that can do this.
Chief Peter Bryan stated currently there are none.
Mayor/President/Chairman Kurth asked if most cities achieve the four minute response time for 90% of their
calls.
Chief Peter Bryan stated the National Fire Association does not have this statistic, and added he is not aware
of any cities that achieve this.
Mayor/PresidenUChairman Kurth asked what we achieve 90% of the time. ~ '. ~~; `
Chief Peter Bryan stated currently we are at seven minute response time 90% of the time, but added the goal
is four minute response time. He stated we will not get to this goal without the two additional stations.
Councilmember/Boardmember/Agencymember Gutierrez asked about the four minute response to the
northeast end of the City.
Chief Peter Bryan stated the extension of Wilson would help this.
Councilmember/Boardmember/Agencymember Gutierrez mentioned the 210 Freeway and how that affected
service.
Special City Council/Fire Protection District/Redevelopment Agency Meeting
November 8, 2007
Page 3
Chief Peter Bryan stated it helps them when going east and west, but it does add to the number of calls they
receive.
Councilmember/Boardmember/Agencymember Michael stated there might be a couple of neighboring cities
that come close to the four minute response time, but added they are small cities with a couple of stations
and their call volume is small. He added the key to a good response time is the strategic location of the fire
stations.
Councilmember/Boardmember/Agencymember Gutierrez asked when Wilson can go through.
Mahdi Aluzri, Deputy City Manager/Community Development, stated that portion of Wilson is in the County
and that we are working with them on this at the present time.
Councilmember/Boardmember/Agencymember Gutierrez asked if we do go forward with Central Park what is
the time frame to do this.
Chief Peter Bryan stated if we do the Hellman station it would be 2010, and if we do Central Park it would be
at least 2011.
Mayor Pro TemNice PresidenVVice Chairman Williams asked with the white patch in the middle of the City (as
indicated on the map displayed) which station is most affected by this.
Deputy Chief Mike Bell talked about all the stations that do respond to the different areas of the white portion
of the map. He stated there are five stations that serve this area where another station is needed.
Mayor Pro TemNice PresidenWice Chairman Williams asked if there is any one station that is close to
meeting the four minute response time.
Chief Peter Bryan stated they have seen the Amethyst Station is getting close, but staff has also seen a
reduction in response time over the last year. He stated that is because of the medic squad at that location.
He talked about the "pay as you go" plan and that staff will be coming to the Council asking for funds for medic
squads at other stations. He stated it is difficult to keep up with the demand and the growth of the City.
Mayor Pro TemNice PresidenUVice Chairman Williams stated she would like a graph showing the number of
calls received at all the stations.
Councilmember/Boardmember/Agencymember Gutierrez wondered if some kind of house or something could
be used for a unit to be housed until the permanent station is built in 2010, or look at EMS differently so more
could be funded now.
Chief Peter Bryan stated we don't have the funds at the present time, but as soon as we do have the revenue
he will be asking for a medic squad.
Mayor/President/Chairman Kurth stated he still feels like the City is subsidizing the Fire District and felt it
should be managing on its own. He stated he felt the District should be able to purchase the land on its own.
He felt we are trying to do something that no other City has been able to do and did not agree with that.
Mayor Pro TemNice President/Vice Chairman Williams stated she felt we have obligations to the citizens for
protection and felt we need to decide if we want a fire station at Central Park. She stated once that is decided
the discussions can go forward from there.
Councilmember/Boardmember/Agencymember Michael stated he didn't think the issue was who would pay for
the land, but if the station is needed at Central Park to provide the adequate services. He felt in order to meet
the response needs there should be a station midtown and the Council should decide this.
Mayor/President/Chairman Kurth stated he would like to see Gary Lacy's information from two weeks ago
discussed because he felt there was some good information there.
Special City Council/Fire Protection District/Redevelopment Agency Meeting
November 8, 2007
Page 4
Mayor Pro Tem/Vice President/Vice Chairman Williams stated she wants to have a decision about a station at
Central Park.
MOTION: Moved by W illiams, seconded by Kurth not to discuss a station at Central Park again and for staff to
work on another site.
Councilmember/Boardmember/Agencymember Michael felt it makes a lot of sense to take only one acre to
serve the midtown area of the City. He felt to put ii in another area of the City will cost at least $1 million to do
so. He stated he stands on the idea of the station going in at Central Park. He stated there are cities that do
this, including Fontana. He felt it provides park security for people attending there. He felt all the CHECK
information can be looked at one at a time in the future.
Councilmember/Boardmember/Agencymember Spagnolo stated public safety is public safety whether it is paid
by the Fire District or the City. He stated that is the priority and the goal. He stated if the station is not built,
we will not provide adequate service to the people. He stated he will support the Fire Chief and Councilman
Michael to build the station at Central Park in midtown. He felt the Council is willing to give up the plan,
change it and not move forward. He didn't feel this made any sense.
Councilmember/Boardmember/Agencymember Gutierrez stated he felt the Strategic Plan is a "living
document" that can change. He stated he wants to know how much it costs to run the trucks for gas
maintenance, etc. He stated the salaries and benefits of fire personnel can't be touched until 2009. He said
he does have a problem with the fire fighters using their equipment to help people get into a car where the
keys are locked inside. He said he wants information on the 24 hour shifts as opposed to an 8 hour shift. He
would like to know if all City employees pay for any of their benefits and felt this should be looked at. He
stated he wants good service in the City. He stated at this time he felt the station should be located at Central
Park because it is in the center of the City. He also felt it should be the reduced size version.
Motion failed 2-3, with Gutierrez, Michael and Spagnolo voting no.
MOTION: Moved by Michael, seconded by Spagnolo, to move forward with the design of Station 178 taking
up the smallest area of land passible (no more than one acre) and building the smallest station possible (5000
to 6000 square feet), and implementing the "pay as you go" plan. Motion carried 3-2, with Kurth and Williams
voting no.
The Council agreed to meet December 5th at 3:00 p.m. for a workshop pertaining to call triage screening
and prioritization and wildland urban interface concerns; and also on December 19th at 3:00 p.m. to discuss
Gary Lacy's (CHECK) previous presentation.
D. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
R pectfu itt ,
ebra J. d s, CMC
City Clerk/Secretary/Assistant Secretary
Approved: December 5, 2007