To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Art Morales, Fire Chief
Title
Resolution: Approving the Town of Castle Rock 2014-2019 Fire Master Plan
Body
________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
The Fire and Rescue Department is submitting this 2014-2019 Fire Master Plan, (Attachment A) to the Town Council for approval. Last amended in 2004, the 2014-2019 Fire Master Plan is intended to serve as a guide for future fire and rescue resource allocations. Using established criterion that assesses items such as current and anticipated station call volumes, projected population growth, current and projected levels of service, unit hour utilization, and projected commercial growth. The plan provides detailed information and recommended time frames for the addition of a fire station, training center, apparatus, and personnel.
The plan recommends the construction of one new fire station with apparatus and personnel in 2018. This fire station is in Crystal Valley and will cost approximately $8.2 million in aggregate with equipment and personnel. $6.5 million will be from the Fire Capital Fund and will pay for the station and apparatus. $2.1 million will be from the general fund and will cover personnel training, equipping, and staffing costs. After the first year expenses, subsequent years will incur ongoing operational costs of approximately $1.9 million. Beyond the five year span of the 2014-2019 Fire Master Plan, additional stations may be needed if growth continues at present rates. The department understands that this will require additional future financial planning, and will monitor call and growth data for future station indicators.
The recommended construction of the permanent Public Safety Training Facility (PSTF) by 2018 is included in the 2014-2019 Fire Master Plan. This project is projected to cost $5.3 million at current estimates, with a subsequent annual operating cost of $163,000. The PSTF could be built at the abandoned water treatment plant at the end of Caprice Street, or occupy an existing commercial structure.
The recommended priority in the DRAFT master plan is constructing, equipping and staffing a new fire station in Crystal Valley to open with a target date of 2018. The DRAFT master plan also suggests consideration of funding a new Public Safety Training Facility by 2018. These items were part of the Town Council's overall financial planning and priority setting process as Town Council evaluated all of the various Town financial and priority issues.
As far as future recommendations beyond the five year scope of the plan are concerned, the department will continue to seek out possible funding options that could sustain future growth demands.
At this time, Town staff is requesting Town Council approve the 2014-2019 Fire Master Plan. The plan is flexible and can l be updated based upon further input received and future Council direction regarding overall Town financial priorities.
Notification and Outreach Efforts
This plan has been distributed to all Department Directors for review and comment. Based on these reviews, the feedback provided has been incorporated into the plan as appropriate.
The 2014-2019 Fire Master Plan was also presented to the Public Safety Commission (PSC) on October 2, 2014 for their input and feedback. The Commission was pleased with the plan, and the extensive research and effort that went into the plan. The PSC offered no recommendations and unanimously supported presentation of the DRAFT plan to Town Council
History of Past Town Council, Boards & Commissions, or Other Discussions
The previous Fire and Rescue Department master plan, amended in 2004, was recommended for adoption by the Public Safety Commission, and adopted by the Town Council. That plan also included criterion for station construction, recommendations for four person staffing on the quint, district captains, and an Assistant Training Officer. At that time, there were no recommendations to build any stations in the 2004 through 2009 time frame.
Recommendations from the 2004 plan that were accomplished include a minimum staffing of three people per suppression apparatus, formalization of the engineer rank within the department, and the hiring of a public education specialist, now known as a Fire and Life Safety Educator.
Discussion
The Fire and Rescue Department is submitting this 2014-2019 Fire Master Plan to the Town Council for approval. Last amended in 2004, the 2014-2019 Plan is intended to serve as a guide for future fire and rescue needs and resource allocations. Using established criterion to assess items such as current and anticipated station call volumes, projected population growth, current and projected levels of service, unit hour utilization, and projected commercial growth, the plan provides detailed information and estimated time frames for the addition of fire stations, apparatus, and personnel.
Utilizing the foundation established by the department’s strategic plan, standards of cover and community risk assessment, and self-assessment manual, the plan utilizes data obtained through the recognized and adopted accreditation process to identify trends and resource needs, and then establish trigger points on when those resources need to be implemented. For example, the level of service to a rural area (less than 1000 per square mile) is different than that of a suburban area (greater than 1000 per square mile) with longer response times. As the population increases in the rural area, and call volume with it, the level of service becomes unsatisfactory for the developing suburban zone, and resources such as a fire station, will need to be added to meet the suburban level of service provided to similar areas of the Town.
Currently, the department provides service to sixty-six square miles in central Douglas County, thirty-three square miles each in both the Town of Castle Rock and the Castle Rock Fire Protection District, from four stations strategically located throughout the service area. Serving a resident population of approximately 65,000 people and a daytime population of approximately 76,800, the department has seventy-eight career and two volunteer members who provide an all hazards response, which includes fire, emergency medical services (EMS), technical rescue, fire prevention, inspections, public education, and emergency management, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week (24/7/365).
As the community has grown, so has the call volume for the department. From a mere 990 calls in 1994 to 4,728 calls in 2014, the call volume over just the last three years has continue to increase at an average rate of 5.64%. Of the total call volume, approximately sixty-five percent are EMS related.
In evaluating the criterion as well as the department’s performance indicators, the plan was developed using a series of if-then logic steps, which then offers metrics-based recommendations to allow for future financial and organizational planning in advance of the identified need. Note that these are recommendations, not requirements, but they do serve to identify potential consequences as well as benefits from effective planning.
The most significant part of the plan deals with addition of future fire stations. After completing a thorough statistical analysis as well as a study of current and projected station locations and fire planning zones, it was determined that the criteria for station planning and construction originally identified in the 2004 Master Plan was still valid. These criteria include:
A fire station should be considered for construction when any one of the following criteria are met:
• The collective zones that would form the cover district of the new fire station generate 200 calls per year.
• 3,000 homes are constructed in the collective zones that would form the cover district of the new fire station.
• 9,000 occupants dwell within the collective zones that would form the cover district of the new fire station.
A fire station should be planned for construction when any one of the following warrants are met:
• The collective zones that would form the cover district of the new fire station generate 300 calls per year.
• 4,500 homes are constructed in the collective zones that would form the cover district of the new fire station.
• 13,500 occupants dwell within the collective zones that would form the cover district of the new fire station.
Based on population growth trends and subsequent call volume increases, along with assumptions that the current economic and development environments continue into the foreseeable future, the plan identifies the need for the addition of one fire station to the Crystal Valley area in 2018. Presently the call volume for the planning zone that represents the Crystal Valley area is anticipated to have 247 calls in 2015. This qualifies it to have planning begin for a fire station in that area. The zone is 23% built out, and at current growth rates is anticipated to be 37% built out in 2018. If that build out is achieved, this would statistically generate approximately 508 calls in that zone. For this reason, the station should be constructed no later than 2018.
Just beyond the five year scope of the Plan, there is the potential that another fire station may be needed around the year 2020. This potential station would be located in the Cobblestone Ranch / Castle Oaks area. More detailed information on these stations can be found in the plan on pages 21-22 of the 2014-2019 Fire Master Plan.
With each station comes the need for additional apparatus and personnel. Each station will get, at a minimum, one engine with three personnel (a firefighter/EMT or firefighter/paramedic, an engineer, and a lieutenant) and one brush truck that will be cross-staffed by the three people assigned to the station. Depending on future variables, there may also be a need to place a ladder truck in one of these stations instead of an engine.
Understand that while only one engine or ladder is needed per station, the total number of people per station can range from a minimum of nine to a potential maximum of twelve. This is due to the fact that the number of people needed is three per shift, and we have three shifts. Therefore, three people per shift equals a total of nine people needed for each apparatus. In addition to this, three people are the minimum number required to staff that apparatus on a daily basis, so in order to maintain the three person minimum, the department may actually have to hire twelve people to account for lost days due to vacation, sickness, training, etc. Again, more detailed information on the staffing requirements can be found in the plan on pages 25-27.
Finally, with the addition of these resources comes the need for additional supervision, leadership, and management. In the field, this is done by the shift battalion chief, of which there is currently one per shift. Due to the many responsibilities of this position, when they reach a sustained call volume of six calls per day or they exceed a 1:6 supervisor to employee ratio, then an additional battalion chief per shift (total of three people) should be implemented. Detailed information on this position can be found in the plan on pages 27 and 28.
While the majority of this plan addresses the operational component (Operations Division), continued growth also affects the other divisions within the department. As construction and economic growth continues, the need for additional resources in the Life Safety Division to conduct plan reviews, building inspections, etc., will continue to increase. Likewise, as the department has already increased in size and as additional people are added, there will be a need for additional resources in the Training Division as well. This includes the construction of a new Public Safety Training Facility to be located on the north end of Caprice Street, or where funding allows. And with the increase in Operations, Life Safety, and Training, it is very likely that additional support will be needed in administration and logistics.
The recommended priority in the 2014-2019 Fire Master Plan is constructing, equipping and staffing a new fire station in Crystal Valley to open with a target date of 2018. The master plan also suggests consideration of funding a new Public Safety Training Facility by 2018. These items should be part of the Town Council's upcoming overall financial planning and priority setting process as Town Council evaluates all of the various Town financial and priority issues.
Although the data indicates the need for the one station, additional resources beyond this one station are just over the horizon of the plan. The department and Town, based on direction from Council, can look for other funding alternatives to address the remaining or developing needs. The worst case scenario, while possible but not preferable, would be to reduce the level of service provided by the department thereby reducing, or even potentially eliminating, the resources outlined in this plan.
Budget Impact
The recommended priority in the 2014-2019 Fire Master Plan is constructing, equipping and staffing a new fire station in Crystal Valley to open with a target date of 2018. The master plan also suggests consideration of funding a new Public Safety Training Facility by 2018. These items should be part of the Town Council's upcoming overall financial planning and priority setting process as Town Council evaluates all of the various Town financial and priority issues.
This fire station is in Crystal Valley will cost approximately $8.2 million with equipment and personnel in aggregate. $6.5 million will pay for the station and apparatus. $2.1 million will be from the general fund and will cover personnel training, equipping, and staffing costs. After the first year expenses, subsequent years will incur ongoing operational costs of approximately $1.9 million.
Additionally, the construction of the permanent Public Safety Training Facility is estimated to cost $5.3 million in 2018, with a subsequent annual operating cost of $163,000.
Beyond the five year span of the 2014-2019 Fire Master Plan, additional stations may be needed if growth continues at present rates. The department understands that this will require additional future financial planning, and will monitor call and growth data for future station indicators.
Staff will continue to look at all available options so that financial solutions can be brought back to Council for consideration and implementation.
Staff Recommendation
Town staff is requesting Town Council approve the 2014-2019 Fire Master Plan.
Proposed Motion
I move to approve the 2014-2019 Fire Master Plan.
Attachments
Attachment A: Resolution
2014-2019 Fire Master Plan