08-28-01 Personnel & Finance - Laserfiche WebLink

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Personnel and Finance Committee August 28,2001 Page 2 . The Mayor will also be proposing an increase in water works rates of 18%. The Mayor also noted that the guidelines given to the departments include no more than a 3.5% increase in supplies and no more than a 2.5% increase for other services unless there was an unusual circumstance. Gasoline is being proposed at $ 1.75 per gallon and insurance will be increased at 20.3%. Cash reserves are being proposed at 15 %whenever possible and higher when bond requirements dictate higher percentages. Council President Pfeifer inquired about the procedure the city uses for insurance. The Mayor noted that quotes are received from the hospitals in three(3) years cycles,with the next cycle being in 2003. 2002 Fire Department Budget (General Fund # 101-0901) 2001 Budget: $ 15,833,431 Expenditure increase excluding capital: 5.1 2002 Budget: $ 16,635,934 Total Expenditure increase: $802,503 Fire Chief Luther Taylor, Assistant Chief Robert Quinn, Assistant Chief Richard Switalski, Assistantt Chief Bert Prawat, Assistant Chief Randy Magdalinski, Battalion Chief James Lopez, and Battalion Chief Mark Nowicki then joined the meeting for the 2002 Fire Department budget presentation. It was noted that EMT training has increased as well as AEMT training with a cost of$ 1,300 per firefighter. Assistant Chief Switalski stated that $ 400,000 will be transferred from the General Fund to the pension fund. In response to a question from Council Member Aranowski, Assistant Chief Switalski noted that currently the department is down by three (3) firefighters. A minimum of six (6) individuals are needed for a class for new firefighters. He further noted that recall is being used to meet minimum staffing requirements. Council President Pfeifer inquired about the gender breakdown of the Fire Department. She recommended that a task force be considered which would work with the women's studies divisions of IUSB and Notre Dame be pursued. She also noted that Mayor Archer of Detroit is instituting a"Day of Diversity" which could be considered also. Chief Taylor stated that the department is not holding its own in this area, and agreed to address this topic in a separate meeting with the Council. It was noted that four (4) women picked up applications with one completing the form and pass/fail test and is currently#26 on the list. Council Member King inquired about NFPA# 1710 Standard. Chief Taylor noted that the implementation process is currently underway. There is an "equivalency" factor which can be used in getting four (4) firefighters to a location. 14-15 firefighters would be used for an incident attack which is defined as a structural fire. Four (4) minutes is the standard for the 1st responder and eight (8) minutes for all others. Chief Taylor stated that he would make available to the Coupcil a copy of "NFPA 1710: A Decision Guide" which comes in pamphlet form. It was noted that one (1) minute is permitted for"print out time" by Dispatch.