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2009-12-07 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTESMINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, HELD ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2009, AT 6:00 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 3519 LIBERTY DRIVE, PEARLAND, TEXAS. Mayor Reid called the meeting to order at 6:19 p.m. with the following present: Mayor Tom Reid Mayor Pro -Tem Felicia Kyle Councilmember Woody Owens Councilmember Scott Sherman Councilmember Steve Saboe Councilmember Kevin Cole City Manager Bill Eisen City Attorney Darrin Coker Deputy City Secretary Sonia Webb Others in attendance: Jon Branson Assistant City Manager; Jack Colbath Fire Chief; Mike Hodge Assistant City Manager; Narciso Lira City Engineer; Angela Gantuah Senior Planner. NEW BUSINESS: COUNCIL ACTION — RESOLUTION NO. R2009-194 — A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE APPLICATION FOR THE STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE ("SAFER") GRANT THROUGH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY'S FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager. COUNCIL ACTION — RESOLUTION NO. R2009-195 — A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE APPLICATION FOR THE STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE ("SAFER") GRANT THROUGH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY'S FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager. Councilmember Cole made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Sherman, to approve Resolution No. R2009-194 and Resolution No. R2009-195. City Manager Bill Eisen stated these Resolutions are for two SAFER Program Grant Applications that Council is being asked to consider authorizing for submittal. The two combined are consistent with the City's desire to continue with the combination Fire Department which includes both volunteer and paid personnel. Mr. Eisen provided Council with a detailed explanation of the proposed Grant Applications. Page 1 of 4 —12/7/09 Mayor Reid asked about the retention of these new employees and the money necessary to continue funding these new positions in future budgets. City Manager Bill Eisen stated that he would advise Council, if we pursue the full time grant, to start with the assumption that we would maintain that level of staffing from here on out. One possible solution is to transition into the General Fund by having some of that money set aside in the first year instead of incurring it all at once. This would make it more affordable. The economy will likely be better in two years than it is today with regard to our ability to handle that staffing level. He believes there will be a tremendous interest in this grant. Many communities in the Mid West have been hit very hard in the present economy and have had to lay off fire personnel. It is his understanding laid -off fire -fighting personnel would get first priority with this Grant. There is no guarantee that this funding is going to be available to the City. We need to apply to be considered for funding. Councilmember Saboe asked about the balance between paid and volunteer personnel and if we have discussed this with the volunteer crew. Fire Chief Jack Colbath stated there have been ongoing discussions over time among the volunteers, and also with himself, the Volunteer Assistant Chief and the President of their Association. The feelings run the gamut from one extreme to the other. Councilmember Saboe asked if they have had a forum to talk about that or is it just what is anticipated. Fire Chief Jack Colbath indicated there is a meeting tonight. Councilmember Saboe asked if any complaints of merit have been presented to Fire Chief Jack Colbath and if there is anything that could possibly be seen as trouble down the road. Fire Chief Jack Colbath stated a lot of the volunteers understand that with a city of our size, this is inevitable. Even with three paid staffed stations and three fully volunteer staffed stations, there are still times when they have to call for additional help. City Manager Bill Eisen stated, that even if you funded at the full level, of thirty nine full- time fire fighting personnel, it isn't enough to cover the 126,000 population. That is why we always supplement with volunteers. At every opportunity he and Fire Chief Jack Colbath have had to speak to the volunteers, they have told them that there are always going to be volunteers. He cannot see a time when we would have 70-90 paid personnel; it is just not practical. Some departments have stations with paid staff round the clock and some are strictly volunteer staffed stations. That is a practical matter. We will have three paid and three volunteer stations and the City doesn't see that changing any time soon. Page 2 of 4 — 12/7/09 Fire Chief Jack Colbath stated he does not see this changing in the future and that a combination department is the most efficient way to deliver fire service. In incidents of any significance, the Fire Department will be calling out the volunteers and there are also times every station will be tied up and they will have to call for outside help. City Manager Bill Eisen stated he hopes this will send a positive message to any member of the volunteer force that may be concerned about what this means There are two grants here. One grant is for additional paid personnel. The other grant emphasizes the need for more volunteers and is designed to recruit more volunteers than we are now. Our objective is twenty five volunteers in the next two years which is not a minor commitment to the volunteer side of the force with the intent that we are going to try to continue beyond that point. Councilmember Owens asked if the amount is1.1 million for the first year and then 1.1 million for the next year also. City Manager Bill Eisen stated yes it would be that amount plus two or three percent increases assumed for merit increases for those people in the second year of service. Councilmember Owens asked if any of the volunteers will have an opportunity to go full time. Fire Chief Jack Colbath stated every time we test, we give volunteers five extra points above everyone else if they are active volunteers. Discussion ensued between Council, City Manager Bill Eisen, and Fire Chief Jack Colbath. Mayor Pro -Tem Kyle made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Sherman, to table Resolution No. R2009-194 and Resolution No. R2009-195 to allow Council to receive further input from Staff. Voting "Aye" Councilmembers Owens, Sherman, Kyle, Saboe, and Cole. Voting "No" None. Motion Passed 5 to 0. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 6:39 p.m. Page 3 of 4 — 12/7/09 Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this the 14th day of December, A.D., 2009. 4IL-i Tom Reid Mayor ATTEST: Sonia Webb = t: Deputy City Secretary Page 4 of 4 — 12/7/09