Agenda - 10-06-2009 - Information

Browse Search

54 0 2. Authorize the County to conduct an informal solicitation of the four qualified technical/research organizations in the fire/rescue profession to submit competitive proposals to perform Phase One: Assessment of the Fire/Rescue Services System in Orange County Commissioner Pelissier asked for an analysis of the previous study so that the same mistakes are not made. Frank Montes de Oca said that UNC gave an opinion about the last study, and he will get this to the Board. Commissioner Yuhasz said that he wants to look at all emergency services along with fire and rescue in the first phase. Commissioner Gordon agreed that it is a good idea to say fire, rescue, and emergency services. She said that on a parallel track, she would like to update the addressing system. She said that it concerns her that phase one is not definite and she would like a more detailed proposal as to what the firms are being asked to look at and the lessons that have been learned from the last study. She is also concerned that each phase is so long. Frank Montes de Oca said that the first study was done very quickly,and he wants a better quality study. Laura Blackmon said that staff is only asking for approval of the strategy tonight. Commissioner Foushee asked that the Board be able to see a draft of the RFP prior to it going out. PUBLIC COMMENT: Earl McKee lives in the Caldwell Community and he helped organize the fire department there. He said that he takes a different angle. He said that this assessment is a bad idea and a fire and rescue study should include all departments involved in emergency response and narrowing it down to just fire and rescue is not right. He said that any concerns can be addressed through the Fire Chief's Council. He asked if this effort was more about control of independent contract entities than problems with those departments. He said that there is also a cost factor, and $25,000 was already wasted with the last study. He thinks that this would be a waste of time and money. Commissioner Gordon said that his point is well taken. She asked about the services that were covered in the study and Frank Montes de Oca said that they are covering all services except the Sheriff's Department. Commissioner Yuhasz asked if the first phase could be done, looking at additional costs for the other phases. Frank Montes de Oca said that there would most likely be a report after phase one and the Board would decide if it wanted to continue. Commissioner Pelissier said that phase three would build on community values, including volunteer fire departments. She does not want to see the County take over the volunteer fire departments. She wants to clarify the role of the volunteer fire departments. Frank Montes de Oca said that the County could not afford to pay for all of these fire departments, and there will be an analysis of the volunteer fire departments. Assistant County Manager Gwen Harvey said that after phase one, the report comes back to the Board and then there is a session with the public about community values before moving to phase two. Commissioner Gordon said that the Board should only commit to the first phase to see what comes of that.