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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, April 11, 2016 <br />7:00 o'clock p.m. <br />4. FIRE SERVICE (continued) <br />Walsh stated he was very excited about helping the process to get the public dialogue going. Walsh <br />stated the only information that he has seen so far is the Long Lake Fire Department has a minute and a <br />half difference in response times, but that there is a huge part of Orono that has the same or similar <br />response time. Walsh stated he does not want other people coming to him asking for a different fire <br />station because they can receive a better response time. Walsh stated having an open dialogue is good, <br />and that for $20,000, the City needs to have a conversation with Wayzata to see if they can lower costs. <br />Walsh commented the City struggles to come up with the money to do projects, such as road <br />improvements, and that knowing Long Lake can service the area within the recommended time frames <br />and that the First Responders will be the same First Responders, in his view it makes sense to save that <br />extra money. <br />Loftus noted the difference in cost between the two contracts is purely a function of volume and that it <br />takes X amount of dollars to build a station, buy the necessary equipment, and have firefighters available. <br />Loftus noted Long Lake has a significantly higher amount of volume, which is why it is cheaper to <br />respond. Wayzata has a smaller number of calls and Orono pays a fixed portion of those calls. Loftus <br />indicated she is not sure if Orono can reduce that cost since it is based on a fixed percentage of calls. <br />Loftus stated fire service is very capital intensive even though the fire departments utilize volunteers and <br />that it is the fixed costs that end up costing more. Loftus stated her understanding of the reason why it is <br />more effective and cheaper per call is simply a function of volume. <br />McMillan stated in her view it is dangerous to be shopping around for fire departments and that fire <br />departments are capital intensive, with a large volunteer group that is very loyal to the community. Many <br />of the residents have lived here for a long time and the Wayzata Fire Department knows their <br />neighborhood. McMillan stated in her view it is dangerous to just go with the low bidder and that it <br />impacts the morale, reputation, and integrity of these departments. <br />Levang stated she would like to call the question. <br />Walsh stated he does not appreciate the Mayor calling it dangerous but that there is a disconnect between <br />the numbers. <br />McMillan stated they are talking about dedicated public safety officers, which is not something a person <br />shops around for. <br />Printup stated he has a hard time explaining to people outside of the eastern edge of Orono why they are <br />paying more for their fire protection to help offset this section of Orono. Printup stated he understands <br />that it is hard when a border neighborhood has been serviced for so long by a particular fire department, <br />but when other residents see the numbers of almost $30,000 for the same or similar service with 20 calls <br />on average, three medicals, no fires, which could be accomplished for $8,000, it is difficult to explain <br />that. <br />VOTE ON THE FOLLOWING MOTION: Levang moved, McMillan seconded, to affirm the <br />agreement with the Wayzata Fire Department. Ayes 3, Nays 2, Printup and Walsh Opposed. <br />PRESENTATION <br />Page 9 of 32 <br />