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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-77 RESOLUTIONRESOLUTION NO 8-77 A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A COMMUNITY FIRE PROTECTION PLAN FOR THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS. WHEREAS, the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas recognizes the need for systematic planning for the provision of fire protection in the community; and WHEREAS, systematic planning includes identification of community fire protection goals, identification of current and future fire protection resources, documentation of current and future fire protection environment, documentation of current and planned fire services, and establishment of inter- agency fire protection policies, procedures, and responsibilities; and WHEREAS, the Fayetteville Fire Planning Project Team and the Fire Planning Advisory Task Force have caused to be pre- pared a publication entitled "Fayetteville Community Fire Pro- tection Planning Process Resource Data" which addresses the aforesaid planning points; and WHEREAS, through the analyses of the various alternative fire system concepts, the concept contained in the document entitled Fayetteville Community Fire Protection Plan and dated January, 1977 has been suggested as the single most cost effective concept which meets the fire system goals and ob- jectives approved by the Fayetteville Board of Directors; and WHEREAS, the system described in the aforesaid document has been recommended by the Fire Planning Advisory Committee and the Fayetteville Planning Commission for adoption and implementation as resources are available. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS: That the document entitled "Fayetteville Community Fire Protection Plan" dated January, 1977 be, and the same is hereby, adopted as the official City of Fayetteville, Arkansas Fire System Plan for the purpose of long range departmental administration and budgeting for the Fayetteville Fire Depart- ment. A copy of said document, marked Exhibit "A", is attached hereto and made a part hereof. PASSED AND APPROVED THIS Alf DAY OF 4.Q ,� 1977. APPROVED: ATTEST: 4 CITY CLERK MAYOR MiCRONED DATE 2 0 1973 REEL I1— ` • • • • FAYETTEVILLE community fire protection PLAN • January, 1977 prepared by: • Fayetteville Fire Department Fayetteville City Manager's Office Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission FORWARD The City of Fayetteville has been afforded a rather • unique opportunity of being involved in a newly conceived "master planning process" designed to aid in providing improved delivery of fire protection services. It is sincerely felt that through the utilization of the planning guides provided by the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration the City of Fayetteville has developed a planning approach which will serve as a general statement of policy for the Fayetteville Fire Department for several years in the future. The undersigned wish to greatfully acknowledge the assistance provided by the Advisory Committee and Project Team in the preparation of this plan. Donald L. Grimes City Manager Charles Mcwhorter Fire Chief • Section One Introduction The purpose of establishing a formalized planning process for the fire protection system in the Fayetteville • area is to provide a basis for future public and private decision making. As the community continues to grow the magnitude and complexity of the fire problems grow as well. These must be addressed in a comprehensive and rational manner so some assurance exists that the future fire protection system operates efficiently and effectively. This plan together with the related document, Resource Data, provides background on the current community fire protection philosophy and needs. Taken together with this publication, a general statement of overall community fire protection policy is enunciated. The plan is an action plan meant to be implemented. The plan, however, is not a static one. It is to be reviewed periodically against then current conditions and amended as justified in light of the community situation. The remainder of this publication includes a restatement of goals and objectives, the recommended plan, and an action program. 1 Section Two Goals and Objectives On August 17, 1976, the Fayetteville City Board of Directors by unanimous vote gave its approval to the basic goals and objectives to be used in the community fire protection planning process. The goals set the framework for establishing the overall fire protection system concepts to be used in the planning period. Objectives further enunciate the goals in somewhat more measurable terms. Four goals have been developed to guide the future Fayetteville fire service planning process. These four relate to (1) financial resources; (2) fire suppression capabilities, (3) fire prevention activities, and (4) promotion of public awareness. These goals and their related objectives are: GOALS related to financial resources: Money must be found to provide the level of fire protection deemed necessary. Since all segments of the community benefit, in varying degrees, from the Fayetteville fire protection system, all segments of the community should contribute proportionally to the cost of operation of the system. Further, the provision of fire service should be on a cost -of -service basis. OBJECTIVES related to financial resources (1).. All tax exempt properties should pay a fire protection fee on a basis which would be equitable to the occupancy and the City of Fayetteville such as: (a) fair market (b) building area or volume (c) zoning classification (d) contractual arrangements (based on one or more of the above) 2 This system will be operational by 1979 (2). There shall be a fee collected based on cost of service, for fire suppression equipment committed to fight fires outside the Fayetteville city limits. This approach will be operational by 1978. (3). The balance of the fire service community shall be expected to financially support the operations of the Fayetteville Fire Department by means of an adequate fire protection budget allocation, the source of which should be the city general fund augmented as may be required from other sources. GOALS related to fire suppression: Sufficient manpower and equipment must be made available to provide the defined level of service. The capability of the public fire suppression system shall be extended by the increased use of sprinklers and alarms in new and rehabilitated construction. Response time for »alarms shall be reduced by such means as. the location of one or more new substations, utilization of the Master Street Plan to program for more direct access of fire- fighting equipment, and improved communication/inform- ation data processing. OBJECTIVES related to fire suppression: • (1). Construct an "east side" fire station by 1978 which will reduce response time in that portion of the fire service community. (2). Establish by 1981 a basic operational capacity providing three on -duty firefighters per company. (3). Develop additional east -west thoroughfare routes by 1981. (4). Improve dispatch and communication capabilities within the Fire Department and with other area departments by 1978. (5). Institute a 521 -FIRE telephone number for fire alarm reporting for the benefit of rapid public recall which is essential in effective firefighting. GOALS related to fire prevention: Maintenance of the locally adopted fire -system -related codes so that they are current with national standards shall be encouraged. Creation of a fire prevention • bureau within the Fire Department should occur, and the loss of life due to fires should be reduced to zero. OBJECTIVES related to fire prevention: (1). Adopt in 1976 those sections of the latest editions of the building, gas, electrical, housing, and fire codes involving the fire protection system as amended to meet locally defined special needs. (2). Provide increased Fire Department involvement in community -wide prevention activities beginning in 1977. GOALS related to public awareness of the fire situation: The position of City Public Information Offices should be created to aid in the distribution of information about the fire and other departments. 4 • • Section Three Long Range Plans After evaluating several alternative methods 'of providing fire protection services, a continuation of the present philosophy with some modification resulting from the planning studies was selected. A description of the various alternates is contained in the Resource Data publication. Three basic functional areas have been identified for operational purposes for the Fayetteville Fire Department. These are: 1 Suppression 1 Detection Delivery Salvage and Overhaul Rescue 2.. Prevention/Administration Inspection Plans Check Public Education Investigation 3. Support Supply Training Communication Maintenance • The Fire Department in this alternative is but a part of the overall fire protection system. Included also are the water supply and distribution system; the building inspections program for new construction; the city planning function as it relates to land use groupings and densities; and the street department to assure an adequate surface circulation 5 system. From the private sector individual home and business owners will provide additional build -in protection while it is hoped the insurance industry will become even more aggressive in their efforts to promote prevention and early detection efforts. For purposes of the planning program; it has been assumed that the various public and private elements of the fire protection system will continue to keep pace with increased community growth. Fire Department effectiveness would be increased through the construction of a new "east -side" station, Station Number 5, which would be staffed (as would all other stations) with a three man crew manning first-line apparatus at all times. A full-time two man rescue unit would be manned at the Central Fire Station and would be available for back-up support'on all working fires for additional manpower at the scene. In addition to these suppression forces, a Fire Prevention Bureau consisting of three full-time persons would be fully operational by mid -planning cycle (approximately five years). The Prevention Bureau would be responsible for coordination with other city departments, public education, protions of the continuing planning functions, and arson investigation assistance. 6 In addition to the increases in manpower for more efficient prevention and suppression activities, the plan calls for continued addition of firefighting equipment for replacement and as technology provides innovations which would be beneficial to the Fayetteville community. Apparatus is scheduled to be replaced on a fifteen year cycle to assure relatively modern pumpers and aerial pieces on first-line assignment at all times. This diminishes the likelihood of mechanical problems in fire - ground situations. A new "east -side" fire station, mentioned above, is scheduled for 1977. Complete remodeling of the Central Fire Station and Stations 2 through 4 is to be accomplished in 1982. In 1986, one of the existing stations could be relocated to provide more efficient service to the eastern side of town. By embarking on this program it is expected that the fire protection system will be able to keep pace with the changing community conditions rather than "having to pay catch-up" as is so often the case where no long-range planning is undertaken. Section Four Current. Year's Plan It is expected that the new "east -side" fire station will be constructed during the first half of 1977 giving the Fayetteville. community coverage with five operational stations. The new station will•be equipped with apparatus which is currently available at other locations within the city and no major purchases for equipment is anticiapted beyond the normal annual expenditure for this purpose. With the expansion of the Fire Prevention Bureau and the opening of the additional firestation, manpower requirements for the Fire Department will increase. One additional person will be required early in the year to assume a firefighter's role due to 'promotion of a currently employed individual into the Fire Prevention Bureau on a full-time basis. Six other firefighters will be required in the last six month period to provide minimum manpower needs resulting from the opening of the new station. It is expected that Station Number 5 will be manned by two firefighters initially (as are Stations 2, 3, and 4). The Central Station compliment should be expanded to provide the first three-man engine company in the city's history. This will be a step toward meeting one of the general "recommendations" established by the Arkansas Insurance Services Office in their 1971 grading of the city. 8 Section Five Functions, Authorities and Responsibilities The fire protection system for the Fayetteville community is made up of many different components. To insure the smoothest possible functioning of the system coordination among the elements must be maximized. This section sets out the general areas of functional responsibility which will be utilized throughout the planning cycle. Planning -- The City Planning Office receives all initial contacts within the community regarding the platting of land (subdivisions) and changes of. use and density of develop- ment (zoning). Since both of these activities are of primary importance to the fire department they will be notified in each instance when development decisions are being formulated. The comments of the fire department will be incorporatedinto the actions of the Subdivision Technical Advisory Committee and the "staff" report on zoning cases. In this way fire service considerations will be taken into account. Building Inspections -- Protective inspections are under- taken using the Standard Building Code, The National Electrical Code, the Arkansas Plumbing and Gas Codes, and the Standard Housing Code by the Fayetteville Building Inspector's Office. Close working relationships are maintained between this office and the Assistant Fire Chief to assure 9 The 1977 Fayetteville Fire Department budget request is: General Fund Personnel Operations Miscellanious $ 412,837 24,925 1,525 439;257 Revenue Sharing Capital Improvements $ 87,500 TOTAL $ 526,787 • A delay in the implementation of the new programs described herein ma;, well result in an increase in home- owner insurance rates. While the construction of the new station will be financed from previously committed revenue sharing monies, the remainder of the 1977 program must be funded through general revenues. If these are not available in sufficient amounts on a continuing basis, then other financing methods mast be considered. 10 • • • fire safe construction practices are utilized. Code re- visions or amendments are jointly reviewed and developed. Construction plans for all major buildingsare jointly reviewed by officials from both departments to help guarantee that built-in fire protection measures are taken when new building activity takes place. Water Distribution -- While perhaps less formalized than the working relationship with other departments of city government, the coordination between the City Engineer's Office (Water Department) and the Fire Department is maintained on matters of mutual concern. Through the Subdivision Technical Advisory Committee described above location of fire hydrants are established prior to commence- ment of construction. Major systeth looping or reinforce- ment activities are jointly planned and new hydrants are located in areas where deficiencies exist. A continuing hydrant maintenance program exists on a cooperative basis using manpower assigned to both departments. This includes exercising, coded painting, flow testing, and record maintenance. Administration -- Coordination is maintained with the City Manager's Office by the Fire Chief. Through this coordinative approach budgetary and policy matters are mutually defined and solutions sc'ught which call for official actions beyond the prevue of the Fire Department itself. 11 Fire Department -- As described in Section. Three of this document, the Fayetteville Fire Department is responsible for basic suppression, prevention, and support activities. Every effort will be made during the planning cycle to further develop and formalize these working relation- • ship so efficient communications will result in community wide benefit for all area citizens. Upon adoption of this plan to provide general guidance the long-range fire system decisions themselves will be- come more formalized which will aid in over-all Fire Department and city management process. It will be the 1 responsibility of the City Manager and the Fire Chief to review this plan on at least an annual basis to determine its currency and to make recommendations to the City Board of Directors concerning and changes deemed necessary. 12 Section Six Plan Approval After public: hearing by the City Board of Directors of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas, this document is hereby officially adopted by Resolution No. as the • City's fire system plan for the purpose of long-range departmental administration and budgeting for the Fayetteville Fire Department. This day 'of January, 1977 Attest: Approved: City Clerk 13 • Mayor