HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - CC - 1994.04.11123
CTry Or BUnT,INGAME / TOWN Or HTT,T,SBOROUGH
Jonvr Ctrv CouNclL Sruov Mtmrrns
Apnn ll, 1994
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Btnr,ntcurm Coutcu, pnrsnrr: HARRrsoN, Kmcut, O'Mlgoxv, Plcr,rmo, Srnvu,Lt
Bunr,ncnr,m Srgr rRESENT: Ancynrs, Cor,rulx, TowNs
Hurssonoucn CouNCIL rRESENT: Aorutas, Autrn, BoYan, Kru,Y, Mur,r,oor,v
Hn r,sronoucn Srlrr rRESENT: Dlvmsox, Nrmu,N
Hillsborough Mayor Jean Auer called to order a special joint council meeting of the City of
Burlingame and the Town of Hillsborough at 6:02 p.m. at Hillsborough Town Hall. Mayor
Auer welcomed the Burlingame city council and public to their new town hall. Council
introduced themselves and staff.
Richard Brady of Hughes, Heiss & Associates reviewed the draft analysis of fire and
emergency medical service alternatives. Mr. Brady summarized the process of development
of the report and the numerous interviews with management and line fire fighter staff. He
felt there were two elements that were necessary for a consolidation to be acceptable in the
fire service: (l) That the service needed to be cost effective; and (2) The service levels
provided needed to be the same or improved. He indicated that the study offered the
opportunity for Hillsborough to improve its service level from 2-person engine companies to
3-person companies, and it offered an opportunity to eliminate one of the few station
overlaps that remains on the Peninsula. Conclusion of the cost effectiveness portion of the
program indicated that first-year savings of $275,000 would be possible and this would grow
to approximately $500,000 in two to three years. This represented an 8% savings on the
combined budget. Mr Brady indicated there would be an issue of reduced service level
immediately around the proposed closed station at town hall. In terms of the organizational
structure of a combined operation, he felt there was no clear answer. They were proposing a
contract which would have elements of it which would function like a joint powers agency.
It would specify service levels and a separate fund for financial transactions.
The emergency medical portion of the study reviewed three different methods of providing
the service. He indicated that a review of the current service levels indicated that
Hillsborough service level and response time was less than Burlingame. One alternative of
adding additional staff did not prove to be cost effective. There appears to be an opportunity
of providing this service using existing or slightly expanded staff, but this would also present
problems with the need for county approval. He also thought there was an issue that we may
not want to break up the current existing regional system. He then invited questions from
the two councils.
Hillsborough Councilman Pat Kelly questioned the ISO insurance classifications. It was
stated that currently Burlingame is a Class 3 city and Hillsborough is a Class 4 and it was
not envisioned that the consolidation would affect the insurance rates of homeowners.
Burlingame Vice Mayor Marti Knight questioned whether Hillsborough joining would change
Burlingame's rating with ISO. The consultrnt did not feel this would occur. Burlingame
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Mayor O'Mahony questioned the number of paramedics needed on each shift the difference
between automatic aid and mutual aid. Currently, there is no automatic aid between
Hillsborough and Burlingame, but all cities in the county have mutual aid. Hillsborough
Vice Mayor Jim Boyar questioned whether the first year cost savings included all items such
as the current weed abatement program in Hillsborough and the retirement of Hillsborough
staff. He felt the first year cost may need to be reviewed and the savings may not be as
great as presented. Burlingame Councilman Harrison noted that the proposed savings of the
consolidation, if split equally, would be approximately $2.8 million for each city over a 10-
year period. He questioned whether there were other ways of allocating these cost other than
equally. Vice Mayor Knight stated that the consultant noticed there were different communi-
ty characteristics and that Burlingame was different in terms of cerLain code issues such as
lighted house numbers.
Councilman Pat Kelly asked that the comment period concerning the draft study be held open
until April 29 so he had an opportunity to express further comments. Vice Mayor Boyar
wished to proceed on a quicker time table and asked that this matter be placed on the
Hillsborough town council agenda of April 25. Burlingame noted the soonest it could place
the matter on agenda would be May 2. Burlingame Councilman Frank Pagliaro asked that
the consultant address how he would handle different philosophical approaches to fire service
such as canyons if this were a jointly operated department. Vice Mayor Boyar asked the
consultant to try and determine what the appropriate ratio of cost sharing between the two
cities should be. He also indicated that he felt the study needed to be viewed from a
Hillsborough fire fighter perspective.
There being no further questions of the consultant, Mayor Auer and Mayor O'Mahony
thanked the consultant and the public present and adjourned this portion of the Hillsborough
council meeting at 6:57 p.m.
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