4B Sales Tax Corporation Minutes - 06/30/1998r
4B Sales Tax Corporation Board Meeting Minutes
City Council Conference Room
June 30, 1998
Members: Present:
Rick Boone, President
Ikard Smith, Vice - President
Tommy McCulloch, Jr. Sec - Treasurer
Benay Ayers
Ray Gonzales
Leon Mallonee
Arnold Oliver
City Officials: Kay Yeager, Mayor
City Staff: Jim Berzina, City Manager
Greg Humbach, City Attorney
Robert Powers, Assistant City Manager
Ronnie James, Fire Chief
A meeting of the 4B Sales Tax Corporation Board of Directors was held on
Tuesday, June 30, 1998 in the City Council Conference Room, Memorial
Auditorium. President Rick Boone called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m.
Mr. McCulloch moved and Mr. Smith seconded that the minutes of the May 20,
1998 be approved as read. Motion carried unanimously.
The next item of business was a public hearing to consider future projects.
President Boone declared the public hearing open and invited Fire Chief Ronnie
James to make a presentation on the fire station consolidation program.
Chief James gave the Board a brief history of the station consolidation program
which dated back approximately ten years ago with an analysis by the Fire
Department of whether a tenth fire station in the Tanglewood subdivision area
was warranted. Based upon the analysis, the conclusions reached by the
Department were that, in general, the existing nine fire stations were poorly
designed, too small, not in the right locations and staffed with too few personnel.
A tenth station would not correct these deficiencies and would add approximately
$500,000 to the department's operating budget.
Chief James stated the although the average response time for the department
is under four minutes, which is the desired standard, there are some areas
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where the response time may be between seven and ten minutes which is
unacceptable. Stations should not be more than three (3) miles apart, but for
example, current stations No. 5 and No. 8 are only 1.5 miles apart. The new
station configuration would re- position three stations and reduce the total from
nine to eight.
The advantages to the consolidation program would be the construction of three
modern, energy efficient stations; supplement personnel staffing requirements by
eliminating two -man companies; have stations in proper positioning for future
growth of the city; and generate operational savings by reducing maintenance
and utility costs as well as reducing the required fleet of equipment.
Mr. Berzina added that the four minute response time is especially critical since
the department is also a medical first responder. He also mentioned that SAFB
has its own department and we only provide mutual aid if needed.
Mr. McCulloch asked what is the estimated impact on the budget? Chief James
responded that he would recommended reducing the fleet from 14 engines (nine
front line and five reserve) to 11 (eight front line and three reserve). That alone
could save on average $100,000 to $150,000 per year in terms of capital outlay
for new equipment. The estimated savings from station maintenance and utilities
is not quantified.
President Boone asked whether there would be a manpower reduction and if so
how would it be handled. Chief James responded that if there were a reduction,
it would be through attrition. However, his concern is that staffing be such that
NFPA and OSHA guidelines of "two -in, two -out" be accommodated, i.e., no fewer
than four personnel on the initial attack. He anticipates that the firefighters
association will protest a reduction in the number of officers assigned to the
department. However, with fewer station companies, the number of officers
would have to be reduced.
Mr. Berzina added that internal discussions have centered around the right size
of additions to the training section and secretarial support.
Mr. McCulloch stated that the program makes sense from a response standpoint
as well as being good economics. He thought a pro forma would prove there to
be a short payback.
Mr. Mallonee asked about the number of medical calls and Chief James
answered that there were about 4,000 last year.
Mr. Berzina mentioned that the staff had just completed interviewing seven
architectural firms and that staff is ready to proceed with this project as soon as
funds are made available. Mr. McCulloch asked whether a decision has been
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made to build all three. Chief James and Mr. Powers responded that the
architects were each asked that question and that, in general, the answer
appeared to be that the bigger the construction project, the better will be the bids
and that several local firms could bond and build the project.
President Boone asked if there were any other comments or projects to be
discussed during the public hearing. Ms. Brenda Jarrett stated that she did not
have a particular project in mind, but was attending to learn as much as she
could about the proper procedures for future reference.
Ms. Ayers moved and Mr. Mallonee seconded that the public hearing be closed.
Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Mallonee moved and Mr. Oliver seconded that
the fire station consolidation project be recommended to the City Council for
approval. Motion carried unanimously.
Next order of business was the financial report. Mr. Powers reviewed the status
of funds received through June as well as expenses.
Next order of business was consideration of the Budget for FY 1998 -99. Mr.
Powers reviewed the preliminary budget with the Board noting that the handout
did not include the figures for the fire station consolidation program, but that
those figures could be included to reflect the project now that it has been
approved. He also mentioned that further down the agenda, there was an item
to amend the bylaws to reduce the public officials bond for the president and
secretary- treasurer from $100,000 to $25,000 which is the amount carried by the
City Manager and Finance Director.
Mr. McCulloch moved and Mr. Mallonee seconded that the bylaws be amended
to change the amount of the bonds from $100,000 to $25,000 (Art. III, Sec. 7).
Motion carried unanimously.
The Board discussed the preliminary budget. Ms. Ayers raised the question of
whether the Board wanted to allocate nearly its entire available funds or, using
the library as an example, split between cash and short-term borrowing. Mr.
Powers responded by stating the design phase could take six to nine months
and construction twelve to fifteen. The consensus of the Board was that this
financing decision could be made at a later date and the budget amended
accordingly.
President Boone asked Mr. Berzina what other projects he could envision that
might be presented to the 4B Board, such as the police /fire training center,
during the next fiscal year. Mr. Berzina responded that the training center could
be a possibility. He doubted that the radio project would impact this next year's
budget, but that the Coliseum project could as well as the Maplewood reliever.
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Mr. McCulloch moved and Ms Ayers seconded that the preliminary budget be
approved with the following changes, $157,059 estimated for architectural fees
be approved in the current FY 1997 -98 budget and that the beginning fund
balance be reduced accordingly; that the balance of the project's total cost be
moved from reserve for future projects into the line item, "public facilities," and
that the amount budgeted for insurance (public officials bonds) be reduced to
$200. Motion carried unanimously.
Next item was to consider a project application form. President Boone stated
that a "return to" should be added as well as a cover sheet provided when
distributing these to citizens to reduce its potentially intimidating appearance.
The Board also discussed briefly the question of citizens who approach the
Board for drainage improvement projects. Mr. Berzina stated that it was
important for the Board to remember the millions which the City has spent on
Holliday and McGrath Creeks, and soon -to -spend on Plum Creek, which was
required before many of these other projects could even be considered.
Moreover, many of the proposed drainage projects are not insignificant. Mr.
Oliver stated that 4B's role could be to fund the eligible projects that the City
must have accomplished so that City funds could be freed up to address
drainage problems.
Mr. Oliver moved and Mr. Smith seconded that the project application form be
approved. Motion carried unanimously.
There being no other business, Mr.
seconded that the meeting be adjourned
adjourned at 9:40 a.m.
Tommy McCulloch, Secretary- Treasurer
Gonzales moved and Mr. McCulloch
. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting
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