05-30-2002 Council Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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TO: FROM: DATE: Mayor and City Council Ron Moorse, City Administrator May 28,2002 SUBJECT: Mound Fire Station and Fire Service Options The City of Mound has provided all of the fire service cities with information regarding the costs of the new fire station and the proposed share of costs to be allocated to each city. The costs of the fire station are proposed to be allocated according to the same formula as are the operating costs of the Mound Fire Department. Using this formula, Orono would pay 20% of the costs of the fire station. Orono ’s share of the fire station costs is $687,000. The debt service on this cost over 20 years is $71,500 per year. Because the Mound fire station project involves a potential long term fimding commitment, and a related long term commitment to the Mound Fire Department in terms of fire service provision to the southwest area of Orono, the fire station project is causing the City to take a long term look at how best to provide fire service to the City, and in particular to the southwest area of the City. From staffs perspective, decisions regarding fire service options should be based on the following criteria 1. Ensure high quality fire service 2. Provide fire service in a cost effective manner 3. Preserve and enhance the viability of volunteer-based fire departments 4. Effectively manage the number and size of fire stations and fire apparatus. There are four key issues involved in reviewing the provision of fire service to Orono in light of the Mound fire station project. These are as follows; 1.Should Orono continue to be involved \\ith multiple fire departments, potentially including being a part of a fire district that would serve the northwest Lake Minnetonka area, or should larger areas of the City be consolidated under a smaller number of fire departments? 2.If Orono is to invest in a fire station to serve its southwest quadrant, should Orono invest in the new Mound fire station or in a satellite station in Navarre? 3.Should Orono and the other cities who receive fire service from Mound pay a portion of the costs of the new Mound fire station, and, if so, should the cost allocation be on the same basis as the allocation of operating costs? 4.If the cities are to pay a portion of the costs of the new fire station, should the cities receive an equal portion of equity in the fire station building? To assist the Council ’s discussion of the issues listed above, the following is a broad review of each J l^r an