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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 1973 03 20 MINUTES OF A REGULAR ADJOURNED MEETING TUSTIN CITY COUNCIL March 20, 1973 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Miller at 7:30 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Councilmen: Miller, Saltarelli, Langley, Welsh. Absent: Councilmen: Woodruff. Others present: City Administrator Harry Gill City Attorney James Rourke City Clerk Ruth Poe III. RESOLUTION NO. 73-19 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Tustin, California, AWARDING $950,000 BONDS OF SAID CITY TO THE BEST BIDDER AND REJECTING ALL OTHER BIDS. Mr. Gill stated that the bids on the Civic Center bonds had been opened at 11:00 that morning at the Bank of America in Los Angeles, and that the low . bidder, as confirmed by a representative of Bartle Wells Associates, the City's financial advisor, was First Western Bank and Trust Company, at an interest rate of 5.'4958%. · Moved by Langley, seconded by Saltarelli that Resolution No. 73-19 be read by title only. Carried unanimously, Councilman Woodruff absent. The secretary read Resolution No. 73-19 by title. Moved by Welsh, seconded by Langley that Resolution No. 73-19 be passed and adopted. Carried. Ayes: Miller, Saltarelli, Langley, Welsh. Noes: none. Absent: Woodruff. IV. SATO FIRE SYSTEM Mr. Gill referred to the Fire Chief's March 16, 1973, report on the SATO Fire System, which outlined the system and costs involved in the three-part program developed by the Fire Chiefs of the. Cities of Santa Anar Orange, and Tustin. He noted that charts included in the report compared the response times of units from various agencies to certain areas of the City. The SATO concept would give more manpower in a shorter p~riod of time in the event of an emergency, and would lead to reduced fire insurance rates for the citizens of Tustin. He recommended that the Council adopt the intent of all three phases of the proposal-- training, communications and operations--and allocate some additional manpower beginning June 1, 1973. The increased manpower is mandatory, regardless of participation in SATO; all other cities in Orange. Councy provide four-man engine companies. Replying to the Council's questions about the possibility of using the County's dispatching system, Battalion Chief Larry Holms stated that this avenue was not pursued because the County system is divided into several different nets, each serving one particu- lar area, and all having the same radio frequency. During the summer high fire frequency season, the County frequency ~s overloaded. It is preferable L,,,~y Counci f Minuces 3/20/73 Page to stay in the present system and freguency~ shared by Santa Ana and OraD~- becaus~ i~z is merf functicLa! on a day-to-day basis[ The City could, however, con- tract with the County at a later date for joint response in the easterly section of the City. Chief Helms showed the Council a map with the loca- tions of Tustin's fire stationS, those of ~he cities of Orange and Santa Ana, as well as those of the County, the latter differentiated by color as to their status as paid, paid/volunteer, or all-volunteer stations. He said that this indicates that for pro- tection of the presently developed portion of the community, there ms a greater concentration of municipal stations, and he described the type of equipment available to respond from these stations under the SATe concept. Under SATe, other stations would back Tustin up and take emergencies when Tustin's engines are out of position to cover them; Tustin would likewise back up Santa Ana and Orange. A side benefit of this system would be that Tustin's firemen would respond more often and gain proficiency, thereby improving morale. .Mr. Gill stated that, presently, Tustin Fire Depart- ment has no dispatcher at night~ when there is a fire, the engine companies leave and there is no one at the station to answer subsequent calls until a volunteer arrives. Under SATe, there will be full-time dispatchers on duty 24 hours a day. Replying to Councilman Sa!tarelli's questiens, Mr. Gill stated that the other cities..~involved are ready to move on this and have been awaiting Tustin's position. Training is underway, the Board of Supervisors have approved County participation in the construction of the SATe Communication Center through revenue sharing funds, and operations would require strengthening Tustin's engine companies. Mayor Miller stated that the City should explore a similar arrangement with the County for the City's eastern border. Mr. Gill stated that this would be appropriate. SATe would primarily involve the westerly and southerly boundaries of the City, and the northerly boundaries as may be annexed; under SATe, the industrial and prmmary population areas are covered. Mr. Maury Elsner, Chief of the Red Hili Voluntee~ Pire Department on Newport Avenue, Tustin, stated that he thought that SATO was a good idea, but was skeptical about a ten-year agreement and the cost of it. He felt that the money could be better spent to increase manpower and improve the fire service, than mn helping to finance the communica- tions cen.ter; this would be more effective in improving the City's fire rating. ~hief Helms complimented the County Fire Department for their skill and dedication. He then described a joint communications system involving Huntington Beach and three other cities, which has become the most effective communications system in Southern California, possibly in the na~{~n: ~ a!'!cws the four cities to get full mutual aid credit. The City Council Minutes 3/20/73 Page 3 primary concern here is cost,avoidance; a joint operation under SATO will save the cost oE at least one new fire station. The agreements with Santa Aria and Orange can be on the basis of a year-to-year option. Mr. Gill stated that this concept does not really represent a cost increase over what it would cost for the City to have its own dispatching service and other additional manpower needs. Replying to Chief Holms' comments about the County's opposition to City fire units responding to County locations in borderline cases, Councilman Saltarelli stated that these jurisdictional disputes between fire agencies are to t~e disadvantage of residents of the City and the County, and something should be done about this policy. Fire Chief Morgan Hilton explained that the City has a legal obligation to go out on these calls only if asked to do so. Following further discussion, it was moved by Saltarelli, seconded by Langley, that six entry- level Fireman positions be authorized, and that the staff proceed with City participation in the SATO Communications system~ Carried unanimously, Council- man Woodruff absent. V. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Miller declared the meeting adjourned to an Executive Session to discuss the status of negoti- ations with the Tustin Water Works (8:28 p.m.). MAYO R ~