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AGENDA ITEM <br /> <br />Prepared By: JVE Reviewed By: A. Carlson Approved By: <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />1. Purpose. The purpose of the action item is to present the draft Fire Department Needs Assessment. <br /> <br />2. Background. In 2021, the City of Orono notified the City of Long Lake that we would not be <br />extending the current fire service agreement. Following negotiations for the transfer of the existing fire <br />department to Orono control were unfruitful, in September of 2022, the City Council passed a resolution <br />of intent to establish the Orono Fire Department. At the November 14th meeting the council appointed a <br />new Fire Chief to build and then lead the new department. One of the Fire Chief’s primary duties prior to <br />the standup of the department is to complete a needs assessment for the city of Orono’s emergency <br />service needs. At the February 13, 2023 meeting council directed staff to complete a needs assessment by <br />June 12th. Over the past several months Staff in consultation with the Fire Negotiation Committee <br />prepared the Needs Assessment. A presentation on the Draft Needs Assessment was provided to The City <br />Council at May 8’s work session and the Public Comment and Questions Process was approved at the <br />May 8th’s City Council Meeting. A copy of the Needs Assessment and presentation are at Exhibits A and <br />B respectively. Exhibit C is the collection of public comments and questions collected from the website <br />form. <br /> <br />3. Time Line: In order to meet some key deadlines from the most time sensitive course of action the <br />negotiating committee has considered the study must be complete by June. <br /> <br />When What Who <br />May 8, 2023 <br />Work Session <br />Presentation on the Draft report to City Council Progress Fire Chief <br />May 8, 2023 <br />Council Meeting <br />Needs Assessment Public Comment Process City Council <br />May 9-18, 2023 Written Comments and questions via City Website Community <br />Members <br />May 22, 2023 Presentation to Public and Verbal Public Input from <br />residents <br />City Council <br />May 22-7 June, <br />2023 <br />Written Comments via City Website Community <br />Members <br />June 12, 2023 Final Report and Presentation to City Council <br />Guidance on way forward <br />Fire Chief <br />City Council <br /> <br />4. Public Comment and Questions Process. In order to provide an open and orderly process for the <br />public to engage with the council on the Fire Needs Assessment, the Negotiating committee recommends <br />the following process: <br />a. Staff established a comment form on the city website to facilitate written comments and <br />questions. <br />b. Comments and questions received by close of business on May 18th will be included in the <br />Council packet for the May 22nd Meeting. <br />c. Written comments and questions to be accepted from residents and non-residents alike. <br />d. At the May 22nd Council meeting Orono residents will be given the opportunity to provide verbal <br />comments to the City Council. <br />1) The mayor will establish a time limit for the comment period. <br />Item No.: 10 Date: May 22, 2023 <br />Item Description: Fire Department Needs Assessment Presentation <br />Presenter: James Van Eyll <br />Fire Chief <br />Agenda <br />Section: <br />Fire Department Report