Fire Service Steering Committee Minutes 10/17/1989 CHIEFS/COMMISSIONERS STEERING COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 17, 1989
1. Meeting called to order at 7: 30 P.M. , Chairman Tom
Cannon presiding.
2. Minutes of prior meeting and agenda of this meeting
accepted by concensus.
3. Tom Cannon opened meeting with discussion of the
collection of impact fees county-wide by the County.
Chief Martin reported on his discussions with County
Commissioners, citing the following points:
* A change in the law will be necessary for the County
to collect impact fees.
* As an alternative, independant districts may collect
fees where allowed by law.
* The issue of allowing exemptions for low-cost housing
(particularly in Immokalee) was discussed.
* The example of Lee County collecting impact fees
county-wide by ordinance was cited.
* Tom Cannon stated that the County Commissioners are
aware that public opinion is "growth should pay for
growth" .
* The mechanics of approval for district collection of
impact fees - special election or mail-in ballots - was
discussed.
* Specific impact fee charges at the present time were
noted.
* Requiring sprinklers for low-cost housing exemption
was discussed.
* It was noted that Golden Gate presently has no
exemption for low-cost housing.
3. Chief Martin distributed a Revised Concept Paper for
discussion.
* #5 "County-wide impact fee ordinance" added.
* Acceptance of previously discussed issues.
* Discussion followed on the independant fire districts
hiring an FPE to coordinate code interpretation. Chief
Nutley has volunteered to establish a committe including
representatives of the County Fire Chiefs Association,
The Fire Marshalls Association, The Builders & Contractors
Association, County Developemant Services, and a
Commissioner from the Steering Committee. Tom Cannon
Volunteered to serve as representative of the Steering
Committee if no one else is available.
4. Jack Thompson distributed inspection fee information
compiled by Chief Jones. This included the amount of fees
collected from the County, total man-hours dedicated to
inspection, and the average per-hour rate received.
5. The following issues on the Concept Paper were discussed:
* Mobile Training Facilities - costs, descriptions, and
benefits; Discussion of joint purchase with City.
* Growth Management - Fire Chiefs recommendations;
Necessity of realistic time-frame for implementation;
Necessity of impact fees for capitalization and related
budget problems in staffing and planning.
* Standardized sub-station design.
* Consulting service for computer modeling of future
planning requirements.
* Establishment of county-wide volunteer fire umbrella
organization for centralized input - Definition; Comments
by Chief Hatcher on his experiences in Virginia with a
County-wide volunteer organization; Potential for cross-
training, uniform standards, input from volunteers to
professional staff, political training, access to
cross-training; Benefit of shifts for volunteers to
prevent burn-out; impact of "1500" requirements on
volunteers; Motivation and retention; Benefits; It was
agreed to contact the presidents of the volunteer
organizations and invite them to a future meeting.
* Standardized county-wide rank structure and uniform
identification - standard helmet colors; fireground
situations; public identification.
* Standardized entrance-level firefighter selection
process - county-wide testing; state mandated physical
agility test; problems with different payscales and
requirements of urban and rural districts.
* Personnel certification requirements - NFPA standards;
State standards.
* Standardized benefit package for personnel and sole
source representative to administer program - different
packages by district and differing ability to pay;
refusal of insurers to carry policy for combined
disricts; self-insurance.
* Remaining Concept Paper issues referred to committee.
8. Next meeting at Marco Island, November 21 , 1989 . Time
and location to be announced.
9. Meeting adjourned at 10: 00 P.M.
ATTENDANCE ROSTER
CHIEFS/COMMISSIONERS STEERING COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 17, 1989
Jay Reardon CCESD
Norman Hatcher GGFD
Vince Doerr OFCD
Don Peterson GGFD
Wayne Martin ENFD
Walt Kissel NNFC
Jack Thompson NNFCD
Charles W. McDonald MIFD
Wm. M. McGrath MIFD
Will Griffith GGFC
Bob Siebold Corkscrew
Chuck Mohlke Study Committee
Frank Maggio LH/BSFD
Dan C. Daniels ENFD
Tom Cannon ENFD
Marvin Steffen GGFD
John Hill CCFCSG