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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmergency Services Committee Minutes 01.24.2005 MINUTES EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE JANUARY 24, 2005 5:30 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Dan Dart, Chairman Carl Holden Doug Poehls Charlie Pratt Pat Kimmet OTHERS PRESENT: Jan Faught Cathy Gabrian Rick Musson Chairman Dan Dart asked if there was any public input. There was none. Steve Apgar~ Wheeled Coach Steve began working for Wheeled Coach Ambulances in 1993. They are the largest manufacturer of ambulances, they provide ambulances for 28 countries and are the sole provider of ambulances for the military. In the past 10 years, he has secured 85% of the ambulance market in Montana and 60% in Wyoming. He has traveled extensively throughout Montana and it gives him a good cross section of the communities; the number of ambulance runs they are making and types of £mancing being used. Laurel currently has two ambulances, a 1992 Chevrolet and the newer one is a 1999 Chevrolet. He said with two ambulances, it would be optimum to develop a five year rotation and possibly look at a th/rd rig. He comes into a community to analyze the call nm, the call volume, the population density and the ability of the community to somehow come up with the funding to get into a rotation cycle. The average cost of an ambulance increases $1,800.00 each year. Laurel has been very wise in the use of its dollars in regard to their ambulance. You can spend a lot of money on an ambulance. Wheel Coach is so large that at any one time, they may have 28-30 tracks that are being used by salesmen, which are then sold at a reduced cost. He complimented Jan, stating she is willing to accept a standard advanced life support vehicle that will meet the needs of the federal government. The federal government passes new ambulance specifications about every six years. Our 1999 rig is legal to use, but it does not meet the federal standard and cannot be used on a federal job such as a fire. The 1992 rig seriously needs to be looked at since Laurel has 600 plus runs a year. If an ambulance gets too old, it becomes an issue of the technology that is currently available verses what is being used and how it affects patient care. Steve said you have to consider the dollars involved in keeping an ambulance rurming and still not have a rig that meets the standard. Wheel Coach developed an air purification system for ambulances that will fiker things such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, mold etc. and help protect the crew. The federal government also mandated in 1994 that the vinyl needs to be seamless. This prevents blood and germs from seeping into the upholstery. The next big push is going to be occupant protection. The back of ambulances are still extremely unsafe and they are looking at Page 2 Emgrgency Services Committee passive restraints, rubberized drop down IV holders as such things. They are also looking at changing the lighting to LED which will allow for more lighting with less power usage. He would encourage the city not to look at the mileage of an ambulance, but rather at what the operating abilities are. He feels it is critical that the city address the needs of replacing the 1992 ambulance this year and possibly the 1999 rig by 2007. Often times, cities are looking at funding either an ambulance or a fire truck. He feels it is essential that you look at the fact that an ambulance is muning far more often than a fire truck. In regard to a question, Jan said she has been asking for a five year rotation schedule since 1999. Our calls have increase tremendously and in tracking the mileage, our 1992 rig has 69,000 miles while the 1999 rig has 63,000 miles. The 1999 ambulance is our main unit but we do rotate and use the 1992 as the main unit one week of the month and it is also used for standbys. The units are different and this helps the crew stay familiar with the equipment. Discussion followed and it was stated that for-profit services, such as AMR, are sla'uggling and you see more municipalities taking back control of ambulance services and staffing them. Steve said that nationally only 54% of all ambulance runs are actually being paid with 46% being unpaid. Dan entertained a motion to have Jan come before the council workshop with some budgetary figures. Steve said the cost of an ambulance can seem high compared to police cars or other equipment but the average age of an ambulance in Montana is 13 years. When you spread that investment out over that many years, it puts it in a clearer perspective compared to the life of a police car. Steve started the world's largest internet trading site for used ambulances. He can buy used ambulances (around 5 years old) in extremely high end communities that have unlimited capital, have them reconditioned and sell them for half price. This is another option for Montana communities. Motion by Pat Kimmet to have Jan research the budget, get figures and make a presentation to council workshop, seconded by Doug Poehls. Motion carried. (Jan left at this time.) Fireworks Ordinance Dan stated the committee is trying to draft an ordinance for the use of private displays of fireworks. He hopes the committee can put together a preliminary sketch of this ordinance to forward on to council workshop. Dates and times of private displays Private displays have been discussed in regard to July 4th and New Year's Eve. The committee has discussed allowing private displays between July 2na and 5th and was looking for acceptable times. Times considered are between 11:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on July 2nd, 3rd, and 5th with the hours on July 4th being fxoml 1:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. These hours would give our police department some latitude. In regard to fireworks on New Year's Eve, Rick said it is a big thing for his department and it is something that is not going to go away. Doug suggested the same times as the 4th, from 11:00 a.m. on December 31st to 1:00 a.m. on January 1st. Page 3 Emergency Services Committee Locations where allowed In regard to location, it was stated they should be prohibited in locations where they store or handle explosive products within the city limits and also in the city parks. Discussion followed regarding people who are launching bottle rockets into Thompson Park while the firemen are setting up their displays. It was questioned how realistic it is to set a buffer zone around the park and how enforceable it would be. Rick said it would take most of his manpower to enforce this one area. He said that if something goes wrong with the firemen's display, we have a major problem that we don't want to think about. Dan said in speaking to Terry Ruff, Fire Chief, they would like a buffer zone around the park but there is the problem of enforcement. Rick said this could also cause issues of discrimination. Doug said we can eliminate it from public parks but not have a buffer zone. Discussion followed regarding whether to limit private displays to private property or allow them in the streets. Rick stated he would like to see it limited to private property but the committee felt that was not enforceable. In response to a question, Rick stated there have been no reports of vehicle damage due to fireworks and only one report of personal injury. Sale of fireworks In regard to the sale of fireworks, the Laurel Municipal Code covers it stating there will be no sale of fireworks in the city limits. Use of fireworks by minors Dan referred to the language in Manhattan's ordinance that states, "The ordinance would require parents to supervise kids with fireworks, or both children and their parents could face penalties". This puts the liability on the parents if they allow their children to use them. The committee liked this wording and what it implies. Public displays Our public display is authorized by the Mayor and comes through the city council for approval. Penalty phase Rick stated that when it comes to the penalty phase of this, we need to put some enforcement capability in it by leaving fines. A statement referring to fines would be in the ordinance with the actual fines being set by resolution. The amount of fines was discussed and it was said that we need to get the Judge involved in the penalty phase so she is in agreement and it is enforceable. It was stated that the first offense may even be just a warning, upon the discretion of the officer. The fines could start with $50.00 for the first, $150.00 for the second and so forth. (Doug left at this time.) Rick stated that every officer has a different tolerance level. One may pull you over for exceeding the speed limit by seven miles an hour while the next one may not do it until you are twelve miles over. It would be the same with these fines and if they are set to high initially, they may not issue the ticket and the judge may not enforce the fine. Page 4 Emergency Services Committee Motion b.y Pat Kimmet to forward this committee's discussion on to council workshop, seconded by Charlie Pratt. Motion carried. Mission Statement Dan passed out sample mission statements and asked the committee to look them over and come back with ideas for a mission statement for this committee. Other Items Rick reported that we have a $10,000.00 grant for the purchase of a new police car. In response to a question, he stated that it is up to the Mayor whether the department will have a third motorcycle this summer. Pat Kimmet advised Rick that the officers need to wear reflective gear for their own protection. They were not very visible at the train derailment the other night. Rick said he will check it out and they need to carry them in their briefcases so they are accessible. Motion by Charlie Pratt to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Pat Kimmet. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Cathy Gabrian Acting Secretary