Rochester Hills Legistar System

Non-Voting Members Present: Robert Smith, Greg Walterhouse, Adam Alleman, Andy

LeBlanc and Andrew Roscoe

Non-Voting Members Absent: None

Others Present: Lee Zendel, Citizen Representative, Financial Services

Committee

Ron Crowell, Assistant Fire Chief

Lee Mayes, Firefighter/Paramedic/Union President

Rich Welch, Firefighter/Paramedic

Committee Member Eble provided previous notice he would arrive late.

Chairperson Duistermars welcomed the 2004-2005 Youth Representatives to the Public

Safety Committee. He also mentioned that beginning in October, the committee

agendas will have an additional header called "Youth Comments" that will provide an

opportunity for the Youth Representatives to speak about topics which they feel are

important.

(The Committee recessed from 6:10 PM to 6:38 PM)

The Committee toured the Public Safety Complex during their recess from 6:10 PM to

6:38 PM. The Public Safety Complex no longer houses the Oakland County Sheriff's

Department Substation for Rochester Hills which has now relocated to a new facility at

750 Barclay Circle in Rochester Hills.

(Mr. Eble entered at 6:38 PM)

Jim Duistermars, Linda Raschke, Gerald Robbins, Louis Eble and Gregory

Formanczyk

Discuss Emergency Hotline Service

Chairperson Duistermars presented a brief recap regarding the concern that residents

did not have a resource from which to obtain local information regarding the massive

power failure in August 2003 and its impact on the community.

During the August City Council Budget Work Sessions, it was suggested to implement

an AM band radio station transmitting system where a local driver could hear emergency

news that may be happening in the City. The Committee discussed the following points:

* The frequency repeaters would have a four (4) day battery "back up" system.

* The projected cost is $30,000.00 to cover the Rochester Hills area which includes

signs installed at selected points in the City displaying the AM radio station number.

The signs will flash when there is emergency information that residents should hear.

* There will not be a charge for the FCC license and there is an annual review of the

license. The licensing services will be provide by the company that installs the

transmitting system.

* Once the system is installed, there will be newspaper articles, flyers, and information

on Channel 55, the City Web Page, etc. to educate the residents on how to use the AM

radio station. There will also be coordinated efforts between the Rochester Hills Fire

Department and the Oakland County Sheriff's Substation in Rochester Hills to educate

the residents.

* In addition to emergency information, there will be other City information regarding

parades and festivals, etc. that will be broadcasted on the AM radio station with the

intent of getting the residents accustomed to using it for local information.

Administration Request regarding EMS staff requirements at special

businesses that involve intensive physical activities

In response to the administration request from the July 26, 2004 meeting where the

Committee discussed a fatality at the Life Time Fitness Center, Chief Walterhouse

stated that there is no law that he is aware of that requires special businesses like Life

Time Fitness to employ Emergency Medical staff on site. However, any facility that has

a license for professional trainers, etc. are required to train them in CPR, AED and first

aid.

The Committee also discussed the following:

* There is no requirement for people to leave a building once a fire alarm is activated.

However, the Fire Department or the Sheriff's Department can order an evacuation. If

people do not leave, they can be ticketed.

* Certain facilities such as schools, nursing homes, hospitals, hotels, etc. are required

to post an escape route.

* Senior centers and nursing homes are unique facilities where people should not be

required to leave the building during fire alarm because they are elderly and/or frail. It is

prefered that they be directed to a lower level floor, if possible.

The Committee encouraged the Youth Representatives to inquire at their high schools

as to what the current protocol is when dealing with a medical emergency. They should

first dial 9-1-1.

Capt. Smith gave a brief overview of how the negotiation process works that included

the following:

* Contracts were previously for one (1) or two (2) years; now they are five (5) year

contracts.

* Each of the twelve (12) different communities send their representative to the Oakland

County Executive's office to form a coalition to obtain better pricing.

* The Rochester Hills representative can be administration official or a council official.

* The Oakland County Executive presents a contract that is approved by the Oakland

County Board of Commissioners.

* The current OCSD contract was recently approved and will not expire for

approximately five (5) years.

The Committee discussed having the opportunity to review the future OCSD contract

whereby they could make a recommendation before it was presented to City Council for

approval. The Committee also discussed having a joint meeting with the Financial

Services Committee to discuss the contract before it is presented to City Council

because it is a major part of the budget .

Committee members expressed their belief that because it only costs approximately

$5,000 more to hire a paramedic than an emergency medical technician (EMT), that

paramedics should be hired rather than EMTs. Furthermore, they concluded that it

would be most preferable to hire full-time firefighter/paramedics.

Fire Chief Greg Walterhouse noted the following reasons that this would not be

preferable:

* The cost for full-time paramedic/firefighters including salary and benefits is

approximately $115,000 annually. The cost for EMTs is approximately $35,000 to

$40,000.

* The union would take issue with this practice and it could be interpreted as a

violation of the labor contract, as full-time firefighter/paramedics handle life threatening

emergency medical calls. Paid-On-Call (POC) EMTs, require less training than

paramedics and deal with non-emergency medical calls.

* It is a less efficient use of manpower to have fully trained paramedics responding to

non-emergency medical calls that are better suited for response by EMTs.

Committee members stressed their belief that full-time firefighter/paramedics, despite

the substantial increase in cost, provide a greater level of service to City residents.

Concern was also expressed that the Fire Department does not have enough full-time

personnel and firefighters; both full-time and POCs run a high risk of job burnout.

As a result of these concerns, the Committee made a motion to recommend to City

Council the hiring of no less than two (2) full-time firefighter/paramedics and two (2)

EMTs.

A motion was made by Eble, seconded by Raschke, that this matter be Approved

and Referred to the City Council.

Whereas, the City of Rochester Hills seeks to maintain the current millage levels;

Whereas, the Public Safety Committee recognizes that the Fire Department has

taken it upon itself to develop its own revenue sources, such as the EMT

Services, in addition to the millage;

Whereas, the Public Safety Committee recognizes that any new position should

be sustained over the years;

Whereas, the Public Safety Committee recognizes that the City of Rochester Hills

has approximately 70,000 residents and the importance of maintaining its level of

service for these residents;

Now therefore be it resolved, that it is the recommendation of the Public Safety

Committee that City Council consider hiring two (2) full-time 24/7

Firefighter/paramedics and two (2) exclusive Emergency Medical Technicians

(EMTs).

Be if further resolved, that the Public Safety Committee requests City Council

obtain an opinion from the City's labor attorney regarding this issue to prepare

Administration for contract negotiations.

The motion carried by the following vote:

A motion was made by Raschke, seconded by Robbins, that this matter be

Approved and Referred to the City Council.

Resolved, that the Public Safety Committee requests that the Incident Pager

Service be made available to all Council members who choose to have it.

Be it further resolved, that the nominal expense of the Incident Pager System be