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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-21-2024 Personnel & Finance Meeting MinutesOFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK BIANCA L. TIRADO, CITY CLERK PERSONNEL & FINANCE Committee Members Present: Committee Members Absent: Councilmembers Present: Councilmembers Absent: Others Present: Agenda: AUGUST 21, 2024 5:30 P.M. Sheila Niezgodski, Canneth Lee, Rachel Tomas Morgan, Angela Smith, Ross Deal, Karen White Troy Warner Ophelia Gooden Rodgers Sharon McBride, Sherry Bolden-Simpson, Or. Oliver Davis Elivet Quijada-Navarro, Matthew Neal, Samuel Turck, Bob Palmer Police and Fire Department Budget Hearing Members marked with an asterisk (*) are in virtual attendance. Please note the attached link for the meeting recording: https://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/browse.aspx?mediaid=382881&dbid=0 Please note the attached link for the meeting presentation: https://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/0/fol/385129/Rowl.aspx Committee Chair Sheila Niezgodski called to order the Personnel & Finance Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. Committee Chair Sheila Niezgodski provided information regarding the 2025 Budget Overview process. City Residents can access the City Budget Survey to provide their input using the flowing link: https: southbendin.QO\ bucfo:et . Additional questions pertaining to this meeting or the budget hearing can be emailed to the Personnel and Finance Committee Chair, Sheila Niezgodski, at sneiLgodski ct southhendin.!.!o, and they will be directed to the appropriate department. The Final Budget Hearing is scheduled for October 14, 2024. l::Iivcl Quijada-Navarro C:1111•:F D 1-:PLT\' CnY C:1.1-:in.: INTEGRITY I SERVICE I ACCESS IBILITY Mallhcw Neal Dl·:PL"IY/ D 11u-:CJ'Oll 0 1' POI.IC\' S,unucl Turck DIRLCTOR 0 1' SPFCI.\I, ()I,' PROJl•:crs EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 1227 W Jefferson Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK retain the number of firefighters necessary to fully staff all eleven (11) fire stations. There are seven (7) non-bargaining staff, four (4) ambulance billing associates, two (2) adminstrative assistants, and one ( 1) maintenance fleet liason who oversees the maintenance of the vehicles within the department. Fire Chief Buchanon stated that there has been an increase in the number of dispatch runs from 2023 to 2024. Fire Chief Buchanon stated that there is not an indication of why the call numbers have increased. The Fire Department has the ability to conduct confined space rescues, water rescues, techinical rescues, and haz mat situations. The Indiana River Rescue Training School is run by the Fire Department and is one of the best in the nation. Firefighters from all over the country come to South Bend for this training. There is a new appication process which makes it easier to hire qualified firefighters. The Fire Department is in the community at job fairs and other recruiting events. Fire Chief Buchanon stated that citizen interaction is important not just in crisis situations. Laterial hiring is important for the Fire Department to ensure the City has the necessary staff to protect all of it 's citizens. The internship program is new and continuing to grow. The career technology education program partnered with the South Bend Community School Corporation brings children from the high schools to the Fire Department and has gained the Fire Department many firefighters. Focusing on retention includes competive wages and a pension base. The community paramedic program comprises two (2) paramedics who help re sidents with their health care needs and health care planning. Community risk reduction includes teaching fire prevention in schools and in the general community. The International Association of Water Rescue Professionals (IAWRP) has been held in South Bend the last two (2) years. Fire Nuggets is a training program run by the Fire Department which allows for a fee for other fire departments across the mid-west and further to conduct li ve fire trainings which they would not be able to do in their own municipality. Ken Glowacki, Director of Finance for Public Safety, 701 W Sample Street, South Bend IN 46601 gave an overview of the Police Department Budget for 2025. The Fire Department in 2025 will have six million, four hundred and fifty-six thousand, seven hundred and twenty-seven dollars ($6,456,727) of revenue. The revenue from the EMS services will be four million and forty-four thousand dollars ($4,044,000) in 2025. Three million, four hundred thousand dollars ($3 ,400,000) of this is from ambulance services within the City. Four hundred and sixty-nine thousand dollars ($469,000) will be from Medicaid, one hundred and sixty thousand dollars ($160,000) will be from special events such as high school sporting events but mainly Notre Dame football games. The two million, two hundred and twenty eight thousand dollars ($2,228,000) is what comes from billing the County for ambulance services. The Indiana River Rescue Training School grosses ninety-nine thousand dollars ($99,000) from tuition. The total budget for 2025 is forty-three point six million dollars ($43 ,600,000). Salary wages and benefits is the largest expence item at twenty- two million, seven hundred and fifty-one thousand, three hundred and forty-three dollars ($22,751 ,343). Capital will be one million, eight hundred thousand dollars ($1,800,000). Repairs and maintenance is going to be one million, one hundred and fifty-two thousand dollars ($1 ,152,000). The fire pension is the old plan which is entirely reimbursed by the State. The General fund use will be twenty-eight million, two hundred and nineteen thousand dollars ($28,219,000) which is a decrease from 2024 of seven hundred and ninety-four thousand dollars ($794,000) which is due to an increase in spending from the LOIT fund. The LOIT fund will see EXC ELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. South Bend, Indiana 46601 p. 574.235.9221 f. 574.235.9173 wwwsouthbendin.gov CITY OF SO UTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK seven million and sixty-six thousand dollars ($7,066,000) withdrawn which is an increase of one million, eight hundred and eighty-nine thousand, four hundred and twelve dollars ($1 ,889,412). Capital spending is going down by nine hundred thousand dollars ($900,000). This is due to the increase in price of the vehicles used in the Fire Department. An aerial turck is one point four million dollars ($1 ,400,000), a engine truck is nine hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars ($975,000). The price of these trucks require a systematic scheduling plan to replace the fleet slowly overtime. Total salaries will increase by three hundred and forty-five thousand dollars ($345,000). This is subject to change based on the salary negotiations between the Fire Union and the City. Overtime will increase by two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000). That is due to low numbers in the department. Propays are going to remain the same from 2024 to 2025. The average fire engines are in service for sixteen ( 16) to nineteen ( 19) years. The plan to replace the engines is buying two (2) engines every four years. The production on an engine ordered in August 2024 is thirty-six (36) months. Ken Glowacki stated that Station Seven (7) is going to be replaced for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000). One hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) has been allocated for upkeep of the fire stations including the roofs and parking lots. The City is bringing it's fuel pumps up to EPA standards. The Fire Department has allocated one hundred and twelve thousand, seven hundred and eight dollars ($112,708) for that project. Along with buying a new ambulance every other year for four hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($450,000), on the off years the Fire Department will be rebuilding one of their current ambulances for two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars ($225 ,000). Cardiac monitors need to be replaced for two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000). The fund is entirely funded by revenue from the Fire Department. Revenue coming into the Fire Department completely funds new equipment purchases. This fund will not cover the new station purchase, that will be a bond. Operating suppiles, gasoline, and medical supplies will increase slightly to one million, one hundred and forty-two thousand dollars ($1 ,142,000). Repairs and maintenance costs will remain the same from 2024 to 2025 at one million, one hundred and fifty-two thousand dollars ($I , 152,000). A engine had to be in repaired in 2024 for one hundred and twenty-three thousand dollars ($123 ,000). Committee Chair Niezgodski turned to the Committee for questions. Citizen Member Smith asked how the fire inspectors who handle building certificates will handle the huge increase in contruction in the City and County. Fire Chief Buchanon stated that they are seeking to hire new firefighters to help with the fire inspections. The Fire Department is currently cross training the inspectors and investigators so they can assist each other. Citizen Member Smith stated that the fire inspectors and investigators are very important and worked with her well when Citizen Member Smith was working for the City. Fire Chief Buchanon stated that the inspectors have to go back to businesses multiple times for the businesses to pass inspections. Committee Member White asked how many inspections are done every year. EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. South Bend, Indiana 46601 p. 574.235.9221 f. 574.235.9173 www.southbendin.gov CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK Fire Chief Buchanon stated that there are over one thousand (1 ,000) done each year. That only includes routine inspections, not counting new construction. Committee Member White asked for an update on the new fire station being built. Fire Chief Buchanon stated that the new fire station will be compatable for both the male and female firefighters. Committee Member Tomas Morgan asked is there an anticipated start date for the new fire station. Fire Chief Buchanon stated that by the end of September. CommitJee Member Tomas Morgan asked what is the South Bend Fire Department's process regarding the decommission of vehicles? Fire Chief Buchanon stated that some of the vehicles have been in servic e over twenty (20) years. These vehicles are used as reserve vehicles. Committee Member Lee asked if there will be a new station in the first (1 st) Common Council district. Fire Chief Buchanon stated that the Fire Department is currently focused on bringing staffing levels where they need to be for the safety of the City. Councilmember Gooden Rodgers asked if there is an upcommg training class to help with recruiting. Fire Chief Buchanon stated that the school will start in October of 2024 and last from twenty-two (22) to twenty-three (23) weeks. Citizen Member Deal asked after the replacement of Station Seven (7), where will the South Bend Fire Department be in terms of updated facilities? Fire Chief Buchanon stated that Station Seven (7) is the second oldest station. Station Eight (8) will be the next focus of the Fire Department. Moving the station somewhere the engines do not need to back up on a roadway would be ideal. Citizen Member Deal asked are there other fire stations that need to be replaced. Fire Chief Buchanon stated Station Three (3) would be next on the list for renovations or replacement. If it moved it wouldn't move far. Committee Chair Niezgodski opened the public hearing. Sue Kesim, 422 Kennedy Street, South Bend IN 46614 stated that the Fire Department should have an ice training, and nine one one (911) call analysis. How many SUV medic response personnel does the City have? Fire Chief Buchanon stated that the Fire Department will respond in writing. EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTAB ILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. South Bend, Indiana 46601 p. 574.235.9221 f. 574.235.9173 www.southbendin.gov CITY OF SOUTH BE D OFFICE OF THE CLERK With no further business, Committee Chair Niezgodski adjourned the Personnel & Finance Committee meeting at 7:44p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Sheila Niezgodski, Committee Chair NOTICE FOR HEARING AND SIGHT IMPAIRED PERSONS Auiili.tr)' Aid or 01hcr Scn·il:e, ma,· be Anilahle u1,on Rcqucsl al No Chan:c. Please i,:h•c Reasonable Ad,,ance Rcquesl when Possible EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. South Bend, Indiana 46601 p. 574.235.9221 f. 574.235.9173 www.southbendin.gov