12-09-1997 Edgewater Fire Station Siting Committee
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, December 9, 1997
Community Development Conference Room
2:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER: The Edgewater Fire Station Siting Committee was called to Order on
Tuesday, December 9, 1997 at 2:05 p.m. by Chairman Jones.
ROLL CALL: Committee members present were: Chief William Vola, Ms. Carmel Shearer, Mr.
Larry Carson, Mr. Joe Daly, Mr. Ron Prekup, and Chairman Dick Jones. Chief Schumaker
arrived at 2:40.
MINUTES: The Minutes for the December 3, 1997 meeting were submitted for approval. Mr.
Vola moved to accept the minutes as written. Mr. Prekup seconded. There was discussion
regarding the minutes and several changes were made. Motion to approve minutes as amended.
CARRIED 6 to O.
OLD BUSINESS: Chairman Jones stated he had spoken to Mr. Hooper regarding the status of
the report that was going to be given to Council and he wanted to make sure proper consideration
was given to other sites. Sites on Silver Palm and 22nd, Airpark Road and 442, and Pinedale and
442 were discussed. There was discussion regarding coverage of areas that are not covered at this
time and future expansion. It was noted areas to the West had been annexed and had no coverage
and the area to the South that could possibly be annexed had no coverage. It was also noted if they
put a station to the West there were existing residents who would have no coverage and they would
be covering woods where there were no residents. There was discussion regarding annexation to
the West and the possibility of having the developer provide a station. It was noted the Committee
had already discussed and discarded the possibility of a site around the horse farm on 442. The
City limits were discussed. Chairman Jones asked that a circle for the coverage of a site at Silver
Palm and 22nd be put on the existing coverage map to show what parts of the City it did not cover
to the South. It was noted the circle should be made up of dashes to show that it was a proposal
that had been considered and rejected and was not one that was proposed for Council
consideration. There was discussion regarding a builder who had approached Chief Vola stating he
owned a building that would be up for sale. The building was at 23rd and Hibiscus and there was
discussion regarding retrofitting an existing building to become a public safety building and the
costs to meet building codes after the fact could cost more than the original building. It was noted
the Chairman should list the other sites that were considered in his presentation to Council. There
was discussion regarding Chairman Jones draft for Council. Ms. Shearer stated Mr. Hooper
directed the Committee to see if they needed a station, how it was to be manned, first response
level, and to check the sites out. She felt they should advise Council that they do need a station and
need it staffed at the Advance Life Support level. There was discussion regarding how to explain to
citizens why some people would get ALS response and others wouldn't get the same level of
service when they were paying the same taxes. Chief Vola stated this would be hard to explain and
also it makes no sense to have two stations responding to the same incidents as there could be too
many people and a greater potential for conflict. There was discussion regarding New Smyrna's
progression into ALS. It was noted their stations were already staffed and they just had to upgrade
from an EMT to Paramedic level service which costs about $4,000 to $5,000 per year.
There was discussion regarding staffing and its relationship to the Insurance Services Office (ISO)
rating and citizens' insurance rates. It was noted Edgewater was going to be reviewed again in the
spring. It would be another 10 years before they would be reviewed again. It can be requested at 5
years and they can do it every three years under certain circumstances. There was discussion
regarding the fact that for every 1,000 incidents we have, ISO deducts one person from the vehicle
Now
leaving them to consider Edgewater as a volunteer department. Chief Vola stated if they could get
the contracts and everything set up he could send a request to ISO for a postponement while the
station is being built. He stated they also offer an appeals process that would allow them to rerate
after the fire station if it was not taken into consideration in their report. Chief Schumaker arrived at
this time and was brought up to date. There was discussion regarding the need for a police
substation and it was confirmed there was no need at this time.
There was discussion regarding the preference of the Board between the two sites. Mr. Carson
moved to make a recommendation of the 27th and Hibiscus Street site. Mr. Daly seconded. There
was discussion. Motion CARRIED 7 to 0.
Chairman Jones stated he would like to make the presentation at the 15th's Council Meeting and
would like Chief Vola and Ms. Shearer to be there. Ms. Shearer stated she would be unable to
attend due to a conflict but noted one of the Board of Directors, Tracey Barlow, would attend. Ms.
Shearer stated she would be available for Council to contact her at any time if they had any
questions. Chief Vola stated he and the Chairman would need to go over some of the technical
items for the presentation. Chairman Jones stated he would also like to suggest to the Council as
part of the presentation that the 35th Street site be considered for use as a complete park. There was
discussion regarding the site and vandalism in the parks.
There being no more business to come before the Committee at this time, Mr. Daly moved to
adjourn. Motion was seconded Mr. Carson. Meeting adjourned at 2:55 p.m.
Im
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By:
Lisa R. Miller, Recording Secretary