01-11-2021 Council Work Session Packet

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1 November 12, 2020 FIRE SERVICE DISTRICT INFORMATION SESSION MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 12, 2020 Fire Service District group met on November 12, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. at the Long Lake Fire Station. I. Call to Order Members present: Orono City Administrator Dustin Rief, Long Lake City Administrator Scott Weske, Long Lake Fire Chief James Van Eyll, Loretto Fire Chief Jeff Leuer, Hamel Fire Chief Jeff Ruchti, Assistant Hamel Fire Chief Mario Fabrizio, Assistant Maple Plain Fire Chief Rick Denneson, John Ehret, State Fire Marshal’s Office, and Tate Mills, State Fire Marshal’s Office Members absent: Mark Kaltsas, City of Independence and Frank Boyles, City of Maple Plain II. Medina Fire Study Robert Finn, Matrix Consulting, provided a brief presentation to the group regarding the recently completed Medina Fire Study. The group was not shocked by the results of the study. Further discussion took place on the value of working together on a joint powers agreement for fire services. The overall theme/goal that everyone expressed at the meeting was the ability to provide as good or greater fire service while reducing future costs through eliminating duplication and pooling resources. III. Problems, Concerns, and Roadblocks The group discussed concerns with recruitment/retention of fire personnel, providing a sustainable long-term model for fire services, concerns with locations of future fire stations, the amount of transitional costs for a fire service district/JPA and the use of duty crews in the future. John Ehret from the State Fire Marshal’s Office informed the group that transitional costs will be significant, but cities usually support the costs because they see the greater good. It was up to the group to identify the problem, rally around the issue, and become unified. The main concern of the group was the state of service delivery and the mechanics of service delivery for fire. John Ehret and Tate Mills from the State Fire Marshal’s Office offered to provide facilitation services for the group at no charge. They requested each city provide a letter requesting facilitation services. Scott Johnson agreed to reach out to Mark Kaltsas and Frank Boyles with this information.