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1985-08-26 Workshop Meeting3791 WORKSHOP MEETING MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 1985 85-7 The City Council and the County Commissionees met in a workshop meeting at 304 Northwest 2nd Street, Okeechobee, Florida, at 7:30 P.M., Monday, August 26, 1985. The following City Councilmembers were present: Mayor Oakland R. Chapman Vice -Mayor Andy Rubin Councilman Nick Collins Councilman Oscar Thomas Councilman Edward Douglas The following County Commissioners were present: Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Jim Lashley J.C. Bass Charles Harvey Clif Betts Jim Broome Others present were: L.C. Fortner, Jr., Administrative Assistant Bonnie S. Thomas, City Clerk Jerry Bryant, City Attorney Kyle VanLandingham, County Attorney Keith Tomey, City Fire Chief Phil Roman, County Fire Chief Lydia J. Wilkerson, Deputy Clerk Sue Ocher, Deputy Clerk 85-30 The meeting was called to order at 7:35 P.M. by Commissioner Jim Lashley for the purpose of hearing guest speakers Fire Chief Rogers from Ft. Pierce, and Fire Chief Brice from Palm Beach County. Fire Chief Rogers stated that he was not interested in getting involved with the politics, but only present to explain the advantages and disadvantages of St. Lucie County system. St. Lucie County is set up as an independant special taxing district, independent from any other governing body. Thirty-five years ago, St. Lucie County was in a similar situation that Okeechobee County is now facing. St. Lucie County chose to set up a special taxing district with two City Council members and two County Commissioners and one member to be appointed by the Governor to complete their fire board. The Special taxing district was funded by a fifty-fifty contribution from the City and County. In 1955, St. Lucie County had on their ballot, a Special Taxing District so that they could levy up to 3 mills to support their fire budget. Presently, St. Lucie County has a 1.75 millage rate with two City Councilmen and two County Commissioners and one member appointed by the governor to complete the fire board. The members of the fire board are interested in every aspect of the community and has been very successful. Okeechobee has a rare opportunity in forming a similar system in the community. We must keep in mind that we have got to provide the best possible emergency system, better service, and utilize the manpower and equipment that we already have at the time. Okeechobee has a professional department that is appreciated by the citizens but the system should only have one boss. Both the fire chiefs are fine individuals, but we must over come this hurdle. ! Fire Chief Rogers suggested the individual taxing district as the best route for the community of Okeechobee. Fire Chief Brice, from Palm Beach County stated that Palm Beach County waited too long to combine their services and as a result had many problems to overcome. Palm Beach County had ten fire departments to combine and different levels of service and equipment. The system in Palm Beach County was set up by the State independent of the County Commission except for the - fire department budget. The County Commission approved the budgets for the 3792 Y- c,-/&--5 fire department. The fire consolidation, fire and EMS service is an expensive service. Utilizing personnel and providing equipment is Okay, but the start up cost for the first few years is very expensive. In the future this initial cost will pay off. In later years the system will become more cost effective. Fire Chief Brice stated that he felt that Okeechobee had a golden opportunity to set up an individual taxing district. He did not want anyone to feel like he was trying to tell us how to set up an individual taxing district, only that consolidation of the two dire departments had great merit and we should not miss out on this opportunity. Councilman Rubin asked, "There was a problem with lay off's in Palm Beach County when your departments were merging, wasn't there?" Fire Chief Brice answered, "No, we had an ordinance that prevented the lay offs". Commissioner Betts asked, "What position did you create?" Fire Chief Brice answered, "We brought in an outside person for fire chief. I had 6 months before the consolidation to study the situation. We had 50 people on the management team and we had 550 employees and 3 department chiefs." Commissioner Harvey asked, "Did you keep all of the personnel?" Fire Chief Brice, "We eliminated one person." Councilman Collins asked, "Which system is the best, County Commission or independent taxing district?" Fire Chief Brice answered, "In our situation, the County Commission had worked very well - but that is for our community. Each community must choose what is best for them." Mayor Chapman asked, "Do you charge for rescue service?" Fire Chief Brice responded, "No, there are several alternatives, such as Ad Valorem taxes." Commissioner Lashley stated, "Private ambulance services charge." Fire Chief Brice responed, "Yes, EMT's serve until ambulance service arrives. All transporting is done by private service." Fire Chief Roger stated, "St. Lucie County charges $60. for EMT service. If we didn't charge a token amount we wouldn't be treating the tax payers fairly." Commissioner Harvey asked, "Which is better independent or comission?" Fire Chief Rogers answered, "Independent is better. When the independent board walk in to a meeting they only have one thing on their mind and that's the fire department. They are only concerned with the fire department and its budget and can express their concerns on fire service." Commissioner Harvey asked, "How do you tax?" Fire Chief Rogers answered, "We tax by ad valorem taxes in the county, not double taxation. You pay according to the value of your home, less Homestead exemption. Each member of the board, with exception of the commission, gets paid $5. to $10. per meeting." (Councilman Douglas arrived at the meeting at 8:15 P.M.) Councilman Collins said, "On the independent service you have 2 members from the City and 2 members from the County with one member at large. How do you pay them for their services?" Fire Chief Rogers answered, "We pay the members $5. for regular meetings and $10. for special meetings. The County members can not be paid for their services." Councilman Rubin asked, "Are all of your personnel cross -trained?" Fire Chief Brice answered, "2 per ALS units, 110 are paramedics and now of the 135 men most are fire-fighters and EMT's. New hires will be both fire fighters and EMT's." Commissioner J.C. Bass asked, "What percentage of your population is exempt?" Fire Chief Brice answered, "In Palm Beach County we have a great number of mobile home parks, condo's that don't pay. The people wanted to move away from ad valorem taxes but this is not too smart." Commissioner Harvey asked Fire Chief Rogers, "How many fire stations do you have at this time?" Fire Chief Rogers answered, "We have 8 buildings right now, and another 2 will be built by September. Next year we will add 2 more to the community." Commissioner Harvey asked Fire Chief Rogers, "Is there a fire tax?" Fire Chief Rogers answered, "Yes, there is an impact fee imposed where possible this is a method of getting the money up front." Commissioner Harvey asked, "If we consolidate and have an independent board, would they have full authority over the fire tax budget or fire district board or would you recommend a board only?" Fire Chief Rogers 3793 1�-4( -�� answered, "You can do it either way. If an advisory board is chosen this gives the County Commission the job of being overseer." Fire Chief Brice added, "In my opinion, leave the advisory board out of the first few years. We are professional in the fire service and we know what the needs are. I would prefer to report to a fire board or county commission rather than a board where you have to convnice the layman the needs of the fire department. The ad valorem tax is a necessary tax base, then you must look for other sources of funding to help with fire assessment." Commissioner Bass asked, "What about impact fees and an Advisory Board?" Fire Chief Brice answered, "It would be just another board for the fire department to go through". Fire Chief Rogers added, "The least amount of bureaucracy the better. There is always suspicion between the City and the County. The independent board would be a mixture of the County and the City and would be best for the community. The independent fire district is special and workable. There mus be a special legilative act in order to vote an independent fire board into being. The legislator acts first, then the citizens vote on it, then it comes into being. You can't do this without going to the state. You can set up a board but you can't tax the people without going through the legislature." Commissioner Bass replied, "We haven't gotten to the legislature yet". Fire Chief Brice stated, "Once you have the tax district set-up, the rest of it can be handled." Commissioner Betts asked, "How did you handle the transfer of equipment?" Fire Chief Brice replied, "We did not have any problem with transferring the equipment." Commissioner Bass asked, "What about liabilities?" Fire Chief Brice replied, "First, you have to decide if you are going to consolidate then, you have to decide who is going to govern." Commissioner Lashley asked, "Without going to the legislature, can't we go ahead and run it with taxes as we have now?" Fire Chief Brice responded, "Yes, it sounds like you are on the right track. Remember, service for the least amount of dollars." Commissioner Harvey stated, "We appreciate our visitors." Commissioner Lashley stated, "This has been educational and for nothing, too." Commissioner Lashley asked if there were any questions from the audience. Carl Strickland was recognized and asked if the City could consolidate with a board set up by us rather than going to the legislature - for example like the present system. Attorney VanLandingham explained the funding of the special taxing district and Fire Chief Rogers explained that double taxation would be a problem with the City and the County fire board. This set up would be too political. St. Lucie County's system is the best route to go and we should work toward this goal. We should hurry and do it now. Commissioner Lashley stated that both board would discuss the fire department consolidation at the next scheduled meetings. Commissioner Lashley asked if there were any further comments. There being no comments, the meeting was urned at 8:55 P.M. MAYOR OAKLAND R. C MAN ATTEST: Ze //1 BONNIE S. THOMAS, CMC CITY CLERK This meeting was taped and can be heard in it's entirety at the City Clerk's office.