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Home My WebLink About9B - Fire Safety & Serivce Referendum .- 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E. Prior Lake, MN55372-1714 MEETING DATE: AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT June 26, 2006 ~ 9B Frank Boyles, City Manage AGENDA ITEM: Consider Approval of a Resolution Scheduling a Fire Safety and Service Referendum in the Amount of $3.7 Million for September 12, 2006, for Fire Station No.2 and an Aerial Platform Fire Truck DISCUSSION: Introduction The purpose of this agenda item is to request that the City Council schedule a fire safety and service referendum vote for September 12, 2006, in the amount of $3.7 million to fund Fire Station NO.2 and an aerial platform fire truck. Historv Eleven years ago (1995), Fire Station NO.1 was nearing construction completion. In an effort to plan for the future needs of the community, Boarman, Kroos, Vogel was asked to update a fire station study. Then in 1998, the City's capital improvement program contained its first line item relating to Fire Station No.2. Recognizing the importance of mobile fire equipment, the aerial platform truck was added to the Capital Improvement Program in 2001. The adopted 2030 Vision and Strategic Plan called for the completion of Fire Station No. 2 as one of the City's two-year objectives to facilitate the delivery of quality services to our growing community. Current Circumstances Annual Fire Department calls for service exceed 1,000 calls per year - more than three per day. Community growth continues on the northwest side of the lake. One need only look at the residential and commercial subdivisions underway in this vicinity of the City to confirm the growth. Jeffers Waterfront and Shepherd's Path are notable examples with over 1,100 dwelling units planned between them, and the addition of considerable commercial, educational and recreational facilities as well. Boarman, Kroos, Vogel has recently completed a study which findings support the construction of Fire Station No.2. Some of their conclusions are: 1. The community has experienced significant growth since the City built its lone fire station eleven years ago. a. The City's size has grown from 16.5 to 18.5 square miles. b. The population has grown from 12,800 to 23,000. c. The dwelling units have grown from 4,000 to 7,000. d. Commercial/Industrial has increased from $19 million to $73 million. e. Fire Department calls exceed three per day, and over 1,000 per year. www.cityofpriorlake.com ;CCUi~CiL)3h'r.;:"T3'2;JOc)'D'326fJ3 ='eie,?ndurn Pn6n~!'95J2:.44 7.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245 r 2. Moreover, the fact is that the City will continue to grow. By 2030 the ". following changes are contemplated: a. City size will increase from 18.5 to 24 square miles. b. The population will almost double from 23,000 to 42,500. c. Dwelling units will more than double from 7,000 to 15,000. d. CommerciaVlndustrial will increase from $73 million to $150 million. e. Fire calls will continue to increase accordingly. 3. The 1.4-acre site valued at $300,000 that the City has received by gift is ideal. Response time, which is all important in fire fighting and medical emergencies, will improve to 3 to 5 minutes throughout the City (including the fire station No. 1 service area) because of the addition of this station and aerial platform fire truck. 4. To serve the area, the station should contain just over 11,000 square feet, which is enough to provide better police, fire and ambulance service to this area. The City Council received a comprehensive presentation and report regarding Fire Station No. 2 and the aerial platform fire truck at its June 5, 2006, meeting which more completely addressed the station location and configuration. That report also address the community-wide need for an aerial platform fire truck. The report concluded that the new truck is needed to: . Replace a 21-year-old, 75-foot ladder truck which no longer meets NFPA and OSHA safety requirements or the minimum operating requirements for new buildings in Prior Lake. . To service the 3,000 new dwelling units added in Prior Lake from 1997 to '~ 2006 which tend to be large, multi-story, single family homes and even larger multi-story townhomes. . New educational, commercial and industrial buildings including the following examples: Shepherd's of the Lake Church, Jeffers Pond Elementary, Lakefront Plaza, Keystone Community, Creekside Commons, Bluff Heights, Stonegate, Courtwood Village and Westwood School. . To serve the 8,000 future new dwelling units and the new Commercial developments like Shepherd's Path and Jeffers Waterfront. Fire Chief Bruce Sames will present a PowerPoint presentation to more thoroughly explain the fire safety and service necessity for this equipment. Conclusion Fire Station No. 2 and the aerial platform fire truck are needed to serve Prior Lake as it exists today and will become even greater assets as our community matures by 2030. ISSUES: Boarman, Kroos, Vogel, as part of their study reviewed construction costs of fire stations across the metropolitan area. They concluded that the total project cost of the fire station would be $2.8 million. We are aware that the aerial platform fire truck is $900,000 bringing the total cost to $3.7 million. Assuming a 25-year bond term so that both existing and new Prior lake citizens can support this important equipment, the cost to a residential property ~ valued at $300,000 is $30 per year/or $2.50 per month. As the community grows, this cost per property- will go down. ::\COUNCIL\A.Gf\!R.PTS\2006\.062S0(.) RefsrendLQY,; FitS sf,E;n'J:1.DCC ( ~ .--. FINANCIAL IMPACT: ALTERNATIVES: RECOMMENDED MOTION: : \ C ou r,J C! ~\L, S h1 R Pi So \) UOC,,_C,Vj 2 C 1:/:; The City's 38-member volunteer Fire Department requires the new station and the fire truck to continue to serve our community effectively. The department is the best public value available saving taxpayers almost $2 million a year compared to the cost of a full-time fire department. The City Council has concluded that this is a question best decided by the community. State statute provides a referendum to decide this question. It is the staff's recommendation that the referendum be scheduled as part of the September 12, 2006, primary election for the following reasons: 1. There will be no added costs to conduct a special election. 2. Nearly $80,000 in financing costs will be saved due to bank qualified financing which provides the City with a lower interest rate. 3. Significant cost increases in the aerial platform fire truck will be avoided. 4. The sooner the station and fire truck are received, the faster fire safety and services can be improved. Attached to this report are two documents. The first is a resolution which would authorize a fire safety and service referendum election for Tuesday, September 12,2006, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The second is the question that would be put to the voters. The question was prepared by Briggs and Morgan in accordance with statutory guidelines. The cost of providing information to the public regarding the referendum will be modest as volunteer firefighters will play the largest role. The referendum cost will be minor as well because it is scheduled as part of an already scheduled election. If the referendum is approved, the tax impact is $30 annually or $2.50 per month for a $300,000 homesteaded residential property. 1. Adopt a resolution scheduling a referendum election on the Fire Station NO.2 and aerial platform fire truck. 2. Take no action. 3. Request additional information from the staff. Alternative #1. "~",:A,r 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 RESOLUTION 06-109 Motion By: Erickson Second By: LeMair WHEREAS, The City of Prior Lake has experienced significant population and building growth over the past twenty years; and WHEREAS, The municipal fire service area within the community has increased due to annexation and orderly city development; and WHEREAS, The City of Prior Lake has anticipated and planned for such growth by developing a master public building plan to efficiently schedule the expansion of its public building facilities; and WHEREAS, A new satellite fire station and fire truck will reduce and improve response time for both fire safety and rescue service; and WHEREAS, Community emergency response service will be enhanced by providing Allina Medical Transportation an ambulance bay within the new satellite fire station; and WHEREAS, The City Council has approved a Location Study to confirm the location of the new satellite fire station to best serve the needs of the community. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE that: 1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein. 2. The City shall conduct a public referendum for fire safety and service on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 to consider the following ballot question: "Shall the City of Prior Lake, Minnesota, be authorized to issue its general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $3,700,000 to defray the expense of the acquisition and betterment of a new fire station and the acquisition of a fire truck for fire safety and service." Passed and adopted this 26th day of June, 2006. Haugen Dornbush Erickson LeMair Millar YES X X X X X NO Haugen Dornbush Erickson LeMair Millar {Seal} City Manager, City of Prior Lake I\COUNCIL\RESOLUTI\FI NARES\2006\06-1 09 Fire Sa~($:iW~f~~oc Phone 952.447.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245 f 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue 5.E. ~ Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 D RESOLUTION 06 Motion By: f (\ ~ ~61)"" - Second By: ~~ WHEREAS, The City of Prior Lake has experienced significant population and building growth over the past twenty years; and WHEREAS, The municipal fire service area within the community has increased due to annexation and orderly city development; and WHEREAS, The City of Prior Lake has anticipated and planned for such growth by developing a master publiC building plan to efficiently schedule the expansion of its public building facilities; and WHEREAS, A new satellite fire station and fire truck will reduce and improve response time for both fire safety and rescue service; and /,,-.. WHEREAS, Community emergency response service will be enhanced by providing Allina Medical Transportation an ambulance bay within the new satellite fire station; and WHEREAS, The City Council has approved a Location Study to confirm the location of the new satellite fire station to best serve the needs of the community. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE that: 1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein. 2. The City shall conduct a public referendum for fire safety and service on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 to consider the following ballot question: "Shall the City of Prior Lake, Minnesota, be authorized to issue its general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $3,700,000 to defray the expense of the acquisition and betterment of a new fire station and the acquisition of afire truck for fire safety and service. n Passed and adopted this 26th day of June, 2006. S NO Haugen Dornbush Erickson LeMair Millar Haugen Dornbush Erickson LeMair Millar r-- "~_'F~'_'~" . ".._..,~^",;..:""" :",,""'''"' !(: \~., : ,- _ ::",i-':, ':;":::, i';::: i: ci L' ,. ; ,;~>.:> :.:: :: City Manager City of Prior Lake www.cityofpriorlake.com Phone 952.447.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245 {Seal} o YES o NO OFFICIAL SPECIAL ELECTION BALLOT CITY OF PRIOR LAKE SCOTT COUNTY MINNESOTA "Shall the City of Prior Lake, Minnesota, be authorized to issue its general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $3,700,000 to defray the expense of the acquisition and betterment of a new fire station and the acquisition of a fire truck for fire safety and service" NOTICE: BY VOTING "YES" ON TIDS BALLOT QUESTION, YOU ARE VOTING FOR A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. INSTRUCTION TO VOTERS: If you wish to vote in favor of the above proposition, mark a cross (X) in the square before the word "YES ". If you wish to vote against the above proposition, mark a cross (X) in the square before the word ''NO''. (NOTE: 1915942vl On the back of each ballot shall be printed the words "Official Ballot", the date of the election and lines for the initials of the judges.) .~,' . / r' I Ii, ( n \....~--_/; o