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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Long Range Fire Station Location Plan dated November 9, 1999 Caring People Quality Prograou Ex eplionaI Servire CITY OF AMES, IOWA ONG ]RANGE FIRE STATION OCATION PLAN NOVEMBER 9, 1999 LONG RANGE FIRE STATION LOCATION PLAN November 9, 1999 THE IMPORTANCE OF STRATEGIC PLANNING � A City's Land Use Policy Plan (LUPP) traditionally reflects the community's official position regarding the extent and direction the community will expand into the future. Since the growth policies reflected in a LUPP are critical in establishing parameters on which the staff and citizens can rely, it is important that a City Council's decisions regarding infrastructure are guided by the policies in this plan. Long-range planning efforts of a city can be significantly compromised if these parameters are altered periodically. This fact is particularly true when developing an Emergency Response Plan. Fire stations are expensive to build, equip, and staff. Once a station location is chosen, it is difficult financially and politically to relocate it. With the completion of the City's Land Use Policy Plan, the next logical step was to develop the various master plans that rely on this growth policy. Recently,the Park and Bikeway Master Plans were completed, and the Transportation Plan will be finalized by the end of this year. The City Council is currently considering an annexation policy to accomplish the growth goals envisioned in the LUPP. A report is being developed which will identify the costs of annexing to the southwest or to the north. This study focuses on a number of scenarios for the placement of fire stations to handle the City's fire suppression responsibility should the City Council decide to expand to the north,to the southwest, or in both directions. Included in the report are the associated costs related to constructing, equipping, and staffing these new facilities. � CURRENT SITUATION � Fire Suppression Response: The Ames Fire Department (AFD), with its 45 uniformed personnel,provides primary fire suppression response from two stations. Station#1, completed in 1980, is located at 13th Street and Burnett. Station #2, completed in 1969, is located in Campustown at the intersection of Welch and Chamberlain. Should the need arise, mutual aid agreements with Nevada, Westory Gilbert, Colo, Ballard, Cambridge, Westory Kelley, and Zearing Fire Districts provide Ames citizens with additional resources. These resources include specialized equipment (water tankers), 25 apparatus, and approximately 150 firefighters. i Emergency Medical Services: Mary Greeley Medical Center(MGMC) provides the primary response for emergency medical services (EMS) in the City of Ames and other portions of Story and Boone Counties. MGMC's hospital-based paramedics have the advantage of continual medical experiences and superior training. These paramedics offer our citizens critical "advanced life support"which includes diagnosis capabilities and medication administration. AFD firefighters are trained as First Responder-D. In this capacity,they support MGMC paramedics by providing first-in "basic life support" services which includes stabilizing the patient until the paramedics from MGMC arrive on the scene. Recently, the AFD agreed to enhance the program to include the ability to administer automated defibrillation in case of cardiac arrest. In this support capacity,the City's firefighters follow medical protocols established by MGMC's Service Physician Medical Director. � RESPONSE TIME Any discussion of response times should focus on the total process. Attachment I outlines the eight phases included in Total Response Time: Incident starts, incident detected, 911 call received, dispatch notifies response team, responding unit leaves the station, responding unit arrives, emergency services begin,emergency is mitigated. Every effort should be made to reduce the times involved in each of these phases. Attachment 11 lists existing and potential strategies initiated by the City to reduce total response time. The placement of fire stations has the greatest influence upon the travel time component of the Total Response Time model. This phase begins when the fire apparatus leaves the station and ends when the unit arrives at the scene. It must be understood that there is no one "correct" response standard that a City should adopt. These standards will vary on a community-by-community basis, depending on the community's priorities. When establishing this type of goal,the following issues will affect the final decision: • Response goals are established by cities for planning and measurement purposes. • Response goals reflect the nature of the hazards present and the conditions that emergency personnel encounter when responding to a fire, medical, or other types of emergency. • A city's financial condition and willingness to accept certain levels of risk are determining factors for what response time standards are established. • Response goals can be affected by the geographical layout of a community. Densely populated or grid-based communities have abilities to provide lower response times than communities that stretch out in a linear direction. • Response goals recognize that it is financially impossible to provide the same coverage to every citizen in a community. 2 RESPONSE TIME STUDY METHODOLOGY The Geographic Information System (GIS) capabilities that we have acquired over the years have allowed us to develop a more sophisticated methodology in analyzing response time than is available in most other cities. This methodology is based upon the following components: • The Land Use Policy Plan, adopted by the City Council in July 1997, is the basis for the Emergency Response Plan. • Population increases projected in the LUPP are used to estimate potential increases in emergency response calls. • Areas designated in the LUPP as anticipated growth areas were included when analyzing travel time to all the community's present and proposed neighborhoods. • The City of Ames' GIS was used to establish points in various areas called "Neighborhood Nodes." These neighborhood nodes are used to measure travel times to 239 points within the current city limits and designated growth areas. • The GIS used a nationally validated formula for estimating the travel time of response vehicles. Test runs made by AFD personnel to 10% of all neighborhood nodes validated this formula for the City of Ames. The GIS then generated response zones for current city limits and proposed growth areas in the LUPP. • The response time data (travel time) provided in this report for current and projected calls are based on computer projections, not actual run times. TRAVEL TIME RESPONSE GOAL FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION Fire Suppression Response Goal - Ames Fire Department In 1984, a response time study was conducted which resulted in the City Council adopting a fire suppression travel time goal. The goal was to cover 85% of the community within 5 minutes travel time from any station. Living next to a fire station does not assure fire safe living conditions. Likewise, living beyond the five minute goal does not mean that the occupants are at unacceptable levels of risk. The five minute travel time goal should be viewed as a benchmark where a community can balance an economically acceptable level of risk with the fire department's desire to meet the city's fire emergency demands. The goal recognizes the fact that portions of the City, usually on the outskirts, will not receive the same travel response as other sections of the community. 3 The City of Ames' approach is very unique since most fire departments throughout the country have established a response time goal in terms of: (1) an average travel time for all calls below some time frame (typically five minutes) or (2) some percentage of their total calls below some time frame for travel time (typically 80% to 90%below five minutes). The City's current average travel time is four minutes and twenty-two seconds per call. Some could argue that this response is satisfactory since it is well within the range of other departments in the state. However, staff believes that our approach is more meaningful because it deals with the potential response capabilities to a geographic area should a citizen require our service, and not merely an average time based on past experiences. TRAVEL TIME RESPONSE GOAL FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Emergency Medical Response - Mary Greeley Medical Center In preparation for this study, City staff inquired as to MGMC's plans in regards to emergency medical services. The discussions clarified three issues: (1)MGMC intends to continue to operate an ambulance service for the City of Ames as well as the surrounding service area, and (2) MGMC will retain primary responsibility for emergency medical services within the City, and (3) MGMC staff is recommending an emergency medical response time goal to cover 90% of the community within 8 minutes, of which 4 minutes is travel time. It would seem that MGMC faces the same challenge as the Fire Department. As the City expands, it is no longer reasonable to conclude that the 4-minute travel time response goal for emergency medical calls can be met from the existing site at Eleventh and Duff. Given this challenge, staff approached administrators at MGMC with the concept of developing an integrated strategy for accomplishing our respective response time goals. This approach would require the sharing of financial resources between both entities to meet these goals as the community expands. Because of financial restraints,MGMC staff did not believe they would be in a position to jointly finance a solution to our respective response goals. Both parties agreed that independent strategies would be developed to meet our different response goals. Therefore,the scenarios presented below do not attempt to address the emergency medical response goal established by MGMC. 4 SCENARIOS In order for the City Council to better understand the impact of their annexation decisions, various scenarios have been prepared. The data are based on the Council maintaining the travel time response goal of 85%of the City covered within 5 minutes. If the Council wishes to modify this goal, the scenarios can be analyzed in relation to the new goal. Scenario I: Current Coverage In Existing City Limits'. Area Covered. Current City Limits Number of Stations: 2 (present locations) Percent Covered: 82% Years To Build Out: NA Attachment III reflects the coverage provided by our two existing fire stations. Since the City has expanded significantly since 1984, it is not surprising that the coverage percentage has dropped to where 82% of the City is now within a 5 minute travel time, and 79% when the Duff tracks are blocked. If the City Council chooses to maintain the current response time goal,then it is time to initiate plans for a third fire station. There are no two-station scenarios that will maintain the present response time goal within the current city limits. ,Scenario II: Coverage In Multiple Directions Area Covered: Current City Limits Number of Stations: 4 SW Growth Area A SW Growth Area B Boundary Adjustment Area Hallett's Quarry Developed as Residential/Commercial Northern Study Area(To Moose Road) Percent Covered: 94% Years To Build Out: 36 Attachment W identifies the need to provide four fire stations to meet our existing travel time goal if growth occurs in the Southwest, South, and North. This scenario will require the building of two new stations,relocating the Campustown station, and maintaining our Headquarters station. If the City Council allows expansion to the extremes of the study area in both directions,there are no three-station scenarios that will maintain the present response time goal.The costs in today's dollars are estimated to be as follows: s Stations Construction, ' Additional ' Total Capital Additional' Costs Equipment Costs Annual Costs Operating' Costs Relocated $940,000.00 $0.00 $940,000.00 $0.00 Campustown Station New Southside $940,000.00 $800,000.00 $1,740,000.00 $158,000.00 Station 1 new rescue unit 3 new FTEs 1 new Quint $128,000.00 for operations New Northside $990,000.00 $800,000.00 $1,790,000.00 $786,000.00 Station 1 new rescue unit 15 new FTEs 1 new Quint $128,000.00 for operations Total $2,870,000.00 $1,600,000.00 $4,470,000.00 $1,200,000.00 Scenario III: Coverage In The Southwest Area Covered: Current City Limits Stations: 3 SW Growth Area A SW Growth Area B Boundary Adjustment Area Hallett's Quarry Developed As Residential/Commercial Percent Covered: 89% Years To Build Out: 25 Attachment V reveals the need for three fire stations if we expand to the southwest as proposed in the LUPP. This scenario would require the building of a new southside station, relocating our current Campustown station to the west, and maintaining our existing Headquarters station to meet our existing travel time response goal. The estimated costs of this option in today's dollars are estimated to be as follows: 6 Stations Construction Additional Total Capital Additional Costs Equipment Costs Annual Casts Operating Costs Relocated $940,000.00 $0.00 $940,000.00 $0.00 Campustown (Less Value of Station Current Property) New Southside $940,000.00 $800,000.00 $1,740,000.00 $158,000.00 Station 1 new rescue 3 new FTEs unit, 1 new $128,000.00 Quint for operations Total $1,880,000.00 $800,000.00 $2,680,000.00 $286,000.00 Scenario IV. Coverage In The North Area Covered: Current City Limits Stations: 3 Hallett's Quarry Developed as Residential/Commercial Northern Study Area(To Moose Road) Percent Covered: 85% Years To Build Out: 19 Attachment VI indicates the need for three fire stations if we expand only to the north up to Moose Road. This scenario would require building a new northside station, and maintaining our current Campustown and Headquarters stations to meet our existing response time goal. The estimated costs of this option in today's dollars are estimated to be as follows: Stations Construction Additional Total Capital Additional Costs Equipment Costs Annual Costs Operating Costs New $990,000.00 $800,000 $1,790,000.00 $158,000 Northside 1 new Quint 3 new FTEs Station 1 new rescue $128,000 unit for operations Scenario V: Coverage In Two Directions (Limited Growth ToThe North) Area Covered: Current City Limits Stations: 3 SW Growth Area A SW Growth Area B Boundary Adjustment Area Hallett's Quarry Developed as Residential/Commercial Taylor Farm Uthe Farm Percent Covered: 87% Years To Build Out: 26 Attachment VII indicates the need for three fire stations if we expand to the Southwest as prescribed in the LUPP and to a limited extent to the the north to include only the Hallett's Quarry,Uthe Farm, and remainder of the Taylor Farm. This scenario would require relocating the Campustown station, building a new southside station, and maintaining our current Headquarters station to meet our existing response time goal. The estimated cost of this scenario is the same as Scenario III-- $2,680,000 in capital costs and $286,000 in annual costs. However, once the City Council opts to expand north of the Uthe Farm, then a four-station scenario would be required, with an additional capital cost of $1,790,000 and $914,000 in annual costs if we hope to meet the existing response time goal. � NON-TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES It should be emphasized that increasing the number of fire stations, fire trucks, and firefighters is not the only technique that can be utilized to reduce human and property loss due to a fire-related incident. There are a number of non-traditional techniques that the City Council could consider to assure the safety of our citizens. These alternatives include: • home sprinklers • automated home/commercial alarms • additional building and fire code requirements These alternatives could result in higher initial costs to some of our the citizens,but over time could prove to be less expensive than building and staffing two new fire stations. These approaches typically are resisted by those citizens in the newer sections of a city who are impacted by the additional building cost associated with these options. They believe it is unfair for them to pay the "extra"costs while their property taxes are used to support the traditional fire suppression techniques throughout the inner core of the city. 8 You should note that this study emphasizes fire suppression response coverage for the projected residential expansion only. No scenario is being considered to improve the response to the east if, or when, the industrial area is expanded farther across Interstate 35. It is anticipated that the travel time response goal to industrial sites can be longer due to the existence of automated detection and extinguishment systems as well as employees trained in industrial safety. SUMMARY The following significant points are emphasized in the report: • In 1984, a response time study was conducted which resulted in the City Council adopting a fire suppression travel time goal. The goal is to cover 85% of the community within 5 minutes travel time from any station. This goal is more comprehensive than an average response time objective which has traditionally been utilized by cities throughout the country. • The existing two-station scenario no longer meets our current travel time response goal for fire suppression services. If the City Council decides to maintain the current goal,then we should begin developing plans for a third station. • Expanding either to the southwest area as prescribed by the LUPP or to the north to Moose Road between George Washington Carver and Highway 69 will necessitate the building of a new third station if the current response time goal is maintained. The initial cost for this option will be approximately$2,680,000 in current dollars with additional annual operating costs of$286,000 if we expand to the southwest and $1,790,000 in current dollars with additional annual operating costs of$286,000 if we expand to the north. There is a higher cost associated with moving south since Station#2 must be relocated in this option. • Expanding both to the southwest area as prescribed in the LUPP and north up to the Uthe Farm and the Hallett's Quarry will necessitate the building of a new third station and relocating the station in Campustown, if the current response time goal is maintained. The initial costs for either of these options will be approximately $2,680,000 in current dollars with additional annual operating costs of$286,000. • Expanding both to the southwest area prescribed in the LUPP and north to Moose Road will require the addition of a new third and fourth station along with the relocation of the Campustown station if the current response time goal is maintained. The initial costs of this option will be approximately $4,470,000 in current dollars with additional annual operating costs of$1,200,000. • A greater travel time response goal for fire suppression incidents to the area east of Interstate 35 can be established so that a fifth station is not be required should the City Council decide to expand the corporate limits in that direction. The requirement for sprinkler systems, automated alarm systems, and appropriate building and fire code requirements will allow for this lengthier response time goal for this industrial area. 9 • Mary Greeley Medical Center administrators have indicated that they will retain primary responsibility for emergency medical services within the City and will develop a separate strategy to accomplish their response goal. Therefore, the fire station scenarios presented in the study do not address the four minute travel time response goal of MGMC for emergency medical incidents. As the City grows, it is unlikely that we can continue to provide adequate fire suppression coverage from our two existing fire stations. In order for us to properly locate our stations, the City Council should: (1) either reaffirm the existing travel time response goal of 85% of the city within five minutes, or establish some other acceptable standard, and (2) decide in which direction and to what extent the City should expand during the next thirty years, and (3) determine if the reliance on non-traditional techniques in certain sections of the City is acceptable. 10 ATTACHMENTS Attachment I � � 3 i ± \ 2 2 7 m 2 9 C \ % v ° » \ --------- ----------- C c # w C / § U 7 � '® R >1 $ o k CL / IF V. En % < Cn 2 ( r ° - 9 e � D Q E \ - e 2 _ @ E 2 .\ E � \ : 2 . . .... q u % U o@ o ................................... -0 ƒ % U 0 Z \ \ / _ / _ a) / '\ E E C ._ ~ Cn U) $ > a) c E ] « o �� � a) 7 E t u § L _ q A ; § Cn \ / Cu_ --------- ------------ / c • .2 _ U-) U / % _ _ z \ / o e e � § u 3 e C) 2 � O .E F- Attachment II Page # 1 of 2 Incident Existing Programs for Fire Prevention Starts 1. K-12 school programs 2. Public education program 3. Rental code enforcement 4. Commercial fire safety program Incident Existing Programs for Fire Detection Detected 1. Code requirements for commercial occupancies Possible Improvements for Fire Detection and Notification 1. Automated detection systems would be hard wired with battery backup 911 Call and automated notification to dispatch center. Received 2. All new residences required to have automated detection systems. 3. Require new and existing residences outside of five-minute travel times to install automated detection systems. 4. Require all residences to install automated detection systems. Dispatch Existing Programs to Improve Dispatch Times Notifies 1. HTE Computer Aided Dispatch (implemented 1999) Response Team Possible Improvements for Additional Escape Time/ Decrease Dispatch Times 1. All new residences required to have automated sprinkler systems. 2. Require new and existing residences outside of five-minute response times to install automated sprinkler systems. 3. Require all residences to install automated sprinkler systems. 4. Train and maintain EMT status for APD officers 5. Establish county-wide dispatch center for Police, Fire, & EMS Attachment II Page# 2 of 2 Responding Existing Programs for Improved Travel Times Unit 1. Maintenance of Minimum Manning. Leaves Station 2. In-house training and procedures Responding Possible Improvements in Travel Times Unit 1. Move Station#2 Arrives 2. Build two new stations for a total of three 3. Build additional new station for a total of 4 when needed Emergency Existing Programs for Size-up and Planning Services 1. Implementation of Incident Command System Begin 2. Command car and shift command at scene Possible Programs to Shorten Time before Services Begin 1. Implement phase I of HTE software 2. Install mobile terminals in responding apparatus 3. Establish computerized preplan information system 4. Add one additional Fire Inspector Emergency Possible Improvements for Mitigation Is 1. Additional manpower at scene Mitigated 2. Earlier arrival at scene 3. Addition of specialized apparatus for EMS and extrication W UT- N 500TH AVE IN c D /S. 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