[00:00:05]
>> GOOD EVENING, FLOWER MOUND.
[A. CALL TO ORDER]
THE TIME IS NOW 6:00 O'CLOCK AND I'M CALLING THIS WORK SESSION TO ORDER.TONIGHT, WE ARE ON OUR FINAL SERIES OF WHAT'S CALLED
[C. WORK SESSION ITEM ]
THE VALUE OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY.WE'VE DONE A SERIES OF THESE WORK SESSIONS FROM EACH DEPARTMENT IN OUR TOWN.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS JUST TO GET A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SERVICES THAT THE TOWN DELIVERS TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT'S JUST A DESIGN TO ENCOMPASS THE SCOPE OF SERVICES.
IT IS ALSO LOOKING AT THE TRENDS OVER THE PAST YEAR AND TO HELP US PREPARE FOR NEXT YEAR WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN PLANNING AND BUDGET.
WE DID GO TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT AREA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT.
IT'S ON OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES.
WE WENT TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, AND THE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS THIS YEAR WAS PROPOSING A BILL THAT COULD IMPACT THE SCOPE OF SERVICES, AND WE DO NOT WANT THAT TO IMPACT THEM.
WE ARE PREPARING THROUGH THESE SERIES OF WORK SESSIONS, WE'RE TRYING TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION SO THAT WE CAN BE VERY WELL EQUIPPED.
TONIGHT, CHIEF HENLEY IS GOING TO START HIS PRESENTATION ON EMERGENCY SERVICES, AND THEN WE WILL GO INTO THE HYDRANT INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.
THEN, JAMES, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO COMMENT ON?
>> WELL, NO, MAYOR YOU DID A GREAT JOB SETTING THIS UP.
WE CREATED A SANDWICH WITH THIS PROCESS OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS.
WE STARTED WITH PD, WE'RE ENDING WITH FIRE.
THE REASON WHY WE'RE DOING THAT IS THAT THEY REPRESENT A CONSIDERABLE PORTION OF MORE THAN 50% OF OUR GENERAL FUND.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY PUBLICLY, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION TO THIS EXERCISE, IS A HEAVY LIFT.
THERE'S A REASON WHY CITIES TYPICALLY DON'T DO THIS BECAUSE GOT TO GO THROUGH AN AWFUL LOT, BUT WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS I'VE SAID BEFORE AND I'LL SAY AGAIN, IS THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT PATH WE GO NOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME IMPORTANT DECISIONS HERE GOING INTO FISCAL YEAR '27.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE YOUR FINGER ON THE PULSE OF OUR SERVICE LEVELS AND AREAS THAT WE CAN TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT, AREAS THAT WE CAN EXPAND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR PARTICIPATION THROUGH THIS OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CHIEF HENLEY.
>> JAMES. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE.
I'VE BEEN JUMPING AT THE BIT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS TO BE HERE.
THAT'S WHY WAY MAYBE GO TO LAST.
BUT FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS.
I'M SO HONORED TO SERVE THIS COUNCIL, SERVE OUR RESIDENTS, SERVE OUR MEMBERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I'M EXCITED THAT FOR THE SUPPORT FROM THAT SIDE OF THE DIAS.
THEY TRUST ME TO RUN ONE OF THE LARGEST DEPARTMENTS AND I'M HONORED TO DO THAT, AND I'M REALLY BLESSED TO BE HERE.
I CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT MY WONDERFUL TEAM, AND I BROUGHT MY TWO ASSISTANT CHIEFS HERE TODAY, JASON BOLEJACK AND JERRY DUFFIELD.
THEY RUN ADMIN AND OPERATIONS RESPECTIVELY AND THEY'RE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE MAY HAVE DURING OR AFTER THE PRESENTATION.
I GOT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL MY DIRECTORS THAT STOOD HERE. I LEARNED SO MUCH.
I KNOW THE COUNCIL DID AS WELL, AND TO WATCH THEM AND WHAT THEY DO FOR THIS TOWN, I CANNOT ROLL A TRUCK WITHOUT EVERY ONE OF THEM.
IT TAKES A MONUMENTAL TOWN EFFORT TO STAFF, TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO.
EVERYBODY THAT WENT BEFORE ME AGAIN, WAS PHENOMENAL.
THEN WE HAVE HUMAN RESOURCES, IT, AND FINANCE.
AGAIN, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT THOSE, AND WE HAVE A WONDERFUL TOWN STAFF, LIKE I SAID, I'M JUST PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT.
I HAVE THE BEST DEPARTMENT, AND I'M EXCITED TO RUN THIS DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE SOME WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT REALLY FULFILL OUR MISSION STATEMENT EVERY DAY AND THAT'S TO PROUDLY PROVIDE RESPECTFUL, PROFESSIONAL AND COURTEOUS SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE DO THAT THROUGH PRIDE, PASSION, RESPECT, AND SERVICE.
PPRS IS WHAT THEY CALL IT AT THE STATION, AND THEY'RE PROUD OF THAT.
WE HAVE 148 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES.
A HUNDRED AND FORTY THREE OF THOSE ARE SWORN.
THAT'S WHY WE COST A LITTLE MORE THAN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE A VERY SMALL CIVILIAN STAFF, FIVE CIVILIAN PERSONNEL, BECAUSE MOST OF OURS ARE FRONT-FACING, THE SWORN OR FRONT-FACING AND HAVE TO DELIVER THAT SERVICE OUT THERE.
OUR PERSONNEL COSTS ARE A LITTLE HIGHER BECAUSE OF THAT.
WE DO COVER 47 SQUARE MILES, AS YOU GUYS KNOW.
WE DO THAT WITH SEVEN FIRE STATIONS.
WE HAVE NUMBER EIGHT PLANNED WHEN IT'S TIME WE'LL PUT THAT INTO SERVICE AND START PLANNING FOR THAT ONE.
AS YOU ALSO KNOW, WE'RE PLANNING TO RELOCATE TWO THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT.
[00:05:04]
BUNCH OF ASSETS THAT WE PROTECT.WE DO THAT WITH AN ISO RATING OF ONE THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT WE'LL TOUCH ON TONIGHT AS WELL.
TWENTY FRONTLINE APPARATUS, SEVEN ENGINES, TWO TRUCKS, FOUR MEDICS.
THIS IS JUST THE FRONTLINE STUFF AND WE HAVE A FEW IN RESERVE AS BILLY TALKED ABOUT ON MONDAY.
WE ARE AGAIN, ISO 1 AND A TEXAS BEST PRACTICE RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATION.
WE HAVE SIX DIVISIONS UNDER OUR UMBRELLA, ANYTHING THAT'S 911 THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE PD, THAT'S US.
FROM CATCH AND TREES, TO RESCUE SOMEONE FROM A STORM DRAIN, TO SWIFTWATER, TO HIGH ANGLE, LOW ANGLE, TO THE FIRE RESPONSE, WE DO A LOT OF MEDICAL.
SIXTY PERCENT OF OUR BUSINESS IS MEDICAL AND THE GUYS ARE REALLY GOOD AT THAT.
WHEN I GRADUATED PARAMEDIC SCHOOL, MY PROTOCOL BOOK WAS THAT THICK, NOW IT'S ABOUT THAT THICK.
THEY HAVE TO REALLY KNOW THE ARE DRUGS OR MEDICATIONS.
OUR PARAMEDICS ARE HIGH SPEED, AND EVERYBODY ON EVERY ONE OF OUR ENGINES IS MULTI-DISCIPLINED, WHICH YOU'LL SEE LATER IN THE PRESENTATION.
THIS IS A MAP OF WHAT WE COVER, AND I PROVIDED THIS MAP BECAUSE THIS IS OUR DISTRICTS.
WE CALL THEM DISTRICTS, AND WE HAVE BOXES WITHIN EACH DISTRICT THAT MAKE UP RESPONSE AREA.
YOU'LL SEE THE WEST IS A LITTLE MORE EXPANDED.
THAT'S OUR FIRST RESPONSE AND AUTOMATIC AID AND MUTUAL AID AREAS AS WELL.
I WANT TO TOUCH BACK ON THE BOXES LATER IN THE PRESENTATION.
BUT YOU CAN SEE WE COVER A LARGE SWATH OF AREA WITH OUR FIRE STATIONS AND RESPONSE TIME IS CRITICAL FOR US.
$32.5 MILLION BUDGET HOUSED IN THOSE SIX DIVISIONS, AS JAE MENTIONED, WE'RE 24% OF THE GENERAL FUND.
WE ALSO HAVE OTHER REVENUE SOURCES SUCH AS THE FIRE SALES TAX FUND, AND THE PUBLISHED FINANCE DOCUMENTS THAT TALK ABOUT WHAT IT COSTS FOR SERVICE FOR THAT 485,000 SQUARE, A HOUSE.
BUT WITH OUR ISO RATING, I WANT TO TIE THAT BACK TO WHAT WE GIVE BACK IN TERMS OF VALUE TO OUR CITIZENS.
OUR OPS PERSONNEL TO ADMIN RATIO, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE'RE ABOUT 10:1.
AVERAGE IN OUR BENCHMARK CITIES IS 7.25.
WE DO A LOT WITH A VERY THIN CREW AND ADMIN.
BECAUSE ALL OF OUR RESOURCES, ALL FIVE OTHER DIVISIONS SUPPORT OUR SUPPRESSION DIVISION.
YOU'LL NOTICE IN HERE THAT EMS HAS BROKEN OUT AS A DIVISION, BUT OUR PERSONNEL IN THE FIELD PROVIDE ALL THE SERVICES.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EMS FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE, THAT IS JUST TO MAKE SURE THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL PIECE IS BEING ABLE TO BE MET.
WE AVERAGE ABOUT 1.74 FIREFIGHTERS PER RESIDENT AND WE COMPARE PRETTY WELL WITH OUR BENCHMARK CITIES.
BUT I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I PUT UP THERE, WE'RE ABOUT 2.57 FIREFIGHTERS PER SQUARE MILE BECAUSE WE COVER A LOT OF RANGE, AND THE DISTANCE BETWEEN STATION 2 AND STATION 6 IS VAST.
WE ARE GOOD ABOUT OPERATIONALLY FINDING WAYS TO COVER THAT. HERE'S OUR ORG CHART.
WE RECENTLY WITH THE BLESSING OF THE CFO, IT WAS HIS IDEA, IT WAS A GREAT IDEA TO GET BACK THAT SECOND ADMINISTRATIVE CHIEF, AND THAT HAS HELPED ME TREMENDOUSLY.
OUR RE-ORG THAT STARTED IN OCTOBER, WE WERE ABLE TO ELIMINATE SOME POSITIONS TO HELP FUND THAT, AND IT HAS BEEN A BLESSING.
NOW I HAVE TWO ASSISTANT CHIEFS THAT I CAN GIVE INTENT AND VISION CAST TO AND THEY CAN CARRY OUT THE MISSION.
ON THE ADMIN SIDE, CHIEF BOLEJACK HANDLES THE FIRE MARSHALS OFFICE, WHICH HE WAS OUR PREVIOUS FIRE MARSHAL. HE'S WELL EQUIPPED FOR THAT.
HE HAS EM IN HIS REALM AND OUR QUARTERMASTER AND SUPPLY.
SUPPLY LOGISTICS, HE OWNS THAT.
CHIEF DUFFIELD RUNS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HOUSE WAS HIS OPS.
WE HAVE THREE DEPUTY CHIEF, ONE OVER EACH SHIFT.
WE CALL THOSE THE SHIFT COMMANDERS FOR COMMUNICATION.
THEY ARE THE POINT PERSON BECAUSE THEY'RE HERE EVERY DAY, AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS WORK AT 48 ON A SIX SCHEDULE, SO THEY COULD BE GONE FOUR DAYS AT A TIME, OR IF THEY TOOK A TOUR OFF, THEY COULD BE GONE EVEN LONGER.
THAT HELPS CONTINUITY IN OUR OPERATIONS AND COMMUNICATION.
THOSE DEPUTY CHIEFS THEN HAVE A BATTALION CHIEF UNDER THEM AND THEN THE SHIFT PERSONNEL FOR THE SHIFT.
OUR MINIMUM STAFFING IS 36, ALL THE POSITIONS HAVE TO BE FILLED.
IN ADMINISTRATION, NOT ACCOUNTING PERSONNEL, WE HAVE A $340,000 BUDGET, BUT WE PUT A LOT OF STUFF IN ADMINISTRATION,
[00:10:01]
FINANCES LET US RESTRUCTURE THAT.ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ALL ENCOMPASSING WENT HERE AND IN TRAINING TO BETTER CAPTURE WHAT THOSE DIVISIONS ARE DOING.
BUT THIS IS WHERE WE HANDLE ALL THE PAYROLL.
THIS IS WHERE WE DO ALL THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLES AND RECEIVABLES, AND WE HANDLE ALL THOSE THINGS, WE HANDLE THE EVENTS, WE HANDLE ALL THE MEDICAL PHYSICALS, WE HANDLE POLICY, STRATEGY, CAD, UNIFORMS LOGISTICS.
AND SO THAT'S THE FIRE CHIEF, WHICH IS MYSELF, ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF OF ADMIN AND OUR FOUR SUPPORT SERVICES PERSONNEL THAT WORK WITH US.
ANY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, OUR BUDGET IS 180,000.
BOBBY SANFORD IS OUR NEW EM SPECIALIST AND DOES A WONDERFUL JOB WITH EVERBRIDGE, MASS NOTIFICATION, TESTING SIREN, SETTING OFF THE SIRENS, KEEPING YOU ABREAST OF THE WEATHER AND THE CHANGING WEATHER.
HE WORKS WITH THE COUNTY TO MAKE SURE OUR HAZARD MITIGATION IS AT THE ADVANCED LEVEL AT ALL TIMES.
ALSO THE COMMUNITY WILDLAND PROTECTION PLAN.
WE TEST THAT, WE RUN THAT. HE'S IN CHARGE OF THAT.
HE'S ALSO DOING OUR FULL STANDARD TO COVER FOR THE TOWN AND FOR ACCREDITATION TO MAKE SURE OUR DEPLOYMENT STRATEGY IS RIGHT AND IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
ALSO WE PUT HIM OVER SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION NEEDS THAT FLOW INTO THOSE MITIGATION PLANS.
EMS, COMPRISE OF A DEPUTY CHIEF OF EMS. THEY HANDLE MEDICAL DIRECTION, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WE WORK UNDER THE LICENSE OF DOCTOR FLEMING OUT OF PRESBY, AND WE CAN'T MESS THAT UP.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE'RE UNDER HIS LICENSE, WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
ALSO, OPERATIONAL WHETHER IT'S ORDINARY AMBULANT, SPECKING OUT THE AMBULANTS, OR EQUIPPING THE AMBULANTS, OUR DEPUTY CHIEF OF EMS HANDLES ALL THAT.
ALSO TRENDING DATA, MAKING SURE WHAT WE'RE RUNNING ON, LOOKING AT COMMUNITY PARAMEDICINE WHERE IT'S APPLICABLE.
RIGHT NOW, AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION, YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE TAXING US AND WE'RE FINDING TRENDS TO BE ABLE TO ALLEVIATE THAT SO WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT IN OUR RESPONSE.
ALSO, DISH'S AS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES IS OUR REGULATORY AGENCY FOR EMS AS WELL AS CENTER FOR MEDICARE.
THOSE TWO AGENCIES ARE PRETTY STAUNCH ON MAKING SURE COMPLIANCE IS DONE.
THEY'LL COME INSPECT OR AMBULANCES.
ALSO THE DEA INSPECTS BECAUSE WE HAVE NARCOTICS ON THE AMBULANCES.
THERE'S A LOT OF REGULATORY AGENCIES THAT CHIEF ADCOCK HAS TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH.
FOR BEING UNDER A DOCTOR'S LICENSE, WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN? HE AUTHORIZES ALL THE PROTOCOLS.
WE ARE GIVEN THAT PROTOCOL BOOK, AND HE HAS GIVEN US PRETTY MUCH A SCRIPT TO IF IT'S CHEST PAIN.
THIS IS WHAT YOU WILL DO AND FOLLOW THAT.
WE CAN'T DEVIATE FROM THAT UNLESS WE SEE IT'S IN ANOTHER PROTOCOL, IF WE'RE WORKING TWO PROTOCOLS AT A TIME.
THE MEN AND WOMEN OUT THERE HAVE TO KNOW DISEASE PROCESS.
THEY HAVE TO KNOW PATHOPHYSIOLOGY.
THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND CELL THEORY.
THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT DRUG IS GOING TO DO, WHAT THE POTENTIATION OF THAT DRUG IS, WHAT THE SIDE EFFECTS, WHAT THE COUNTER INDICATIONS OF THAT DRUG WILL DO.
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTION, THE DOC IS ON THE OTHER THAN THE LINE IF WE NEED THEM.
BUT BASICALLY, IT'S A PRESCRIBED LIST OF THINGS WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO.
BECAUSE OF THE SKILL OF THESE MEN AND WOMEN IN EMS, WE'RE AFFORDED THE LUXURY TO DO A LOT MORE INVASIVE STUFF THAN SOME OTHER AGENCIES, AND IT'S BEEN NEEDED.
IF WE NEED TO DEVIATE FROM THAT, WE GOT TO GET AUTHORITY FROM HIM IN THE MOMENT, BUT THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE AT THE END OF THE CALL.
WE GOT 44 PER SHIFT, BUT THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT STAFFING FACTOR.
JAMES MAKES ME GIVEN VACATION AND HOLIDAYS.
WHEN THEY'RE OUT, OF COURSE, 36 IS OUR MINIMUM STAFFING.
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S OUR MINIMUM TO PUT EVERY HINI IN THE SEAT TO RUN OUR STATIONS.
OUTSIDE OF RESPONSE, THEY'RE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR PRE FIRE PLANNING.
THEY'RE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR HYDRANT MAINTENANCE.
THEY'RE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR STATION VISITS AND STATION TOURS AND GOING OUT TO TOUCH A TRUCK AND DO THOSE THINGS.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR BUNKER GEAR IS TESTED, THEIR EQUIPMENT IS TESTED.
THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE AS ENGINEERS FOR EVERYTHING ON THEIR RIG.
THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING IT OUT.
THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR PRE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE BEFORE IT GOES TO THE SHOP.
BILLY DOESN'T HAVE WORK ORDERS THAT ARE SILLY.
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S DONE.
OUR FIRE ASSISTANT CHIEF, CHIEF DUFFIELD RUNS THAT WITH THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS, WHICH IS BRANDON BARTH WHO'S KNEE DEEP INTO TIPS AND SOME OTHER THINGS,
[00:15:03]
WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT HERE WITH THIS.THEY'RE ALSO THE EXTENSION ON FOR US FOR COMMUNITY PRODUCTION.
IF THEY'RE ON EMS CALL, THEY LOOK AND SEE DOES MISS SMITH HAVE WORKING SPOT DETECTORS AND IF SHE DOESN'T, WE MAKE SURE SHE DOES.
IF WE KEEP RUNNING ON SOME OF THE SAME THINGS, WE'RE GIVEN THAT SAFETY MEASURES AT THAT POINT AS WELL, AND EDUCATION.
THE GUYS DO A WONDERFUL JOB OF THAT.
>> SO HERE'S A FEW STATS, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IT'S THE SAME PERSONNEL DOING BOTH FUNCTIONS, OR ALL FUNCTIONS OUT THERE.
SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IS, AND I CAN'T TALK ABOUT ENOUGH.
THAT'S RETURN OF THAT SPONTANEOUS CIRCULATION AT 41%.
I'VE MENTIONED THAT UP HERE BEFORE.
BUT WHEN A CPR HAPPENS, YOU NEVER WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
BUT BECAUSE OF OUR EDUCATION OF OUR CITIZENRY AND BYSTANDER CPR, AS WELL AS THE TALENT OF OUR DISPATCH STAFF, GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS ON CPR, MEN AND WOMEN OUT IN THE FIELD KNOWING THEIR JOB.
AND CARING ABOUT THEIR JOB AND DELIVERING EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE, 41%. THAT'S AMAZING.
OUR AVERAGE TIME FOR A STEMI ALERT IS 11 MINUTES TO GET THEM IN CATH LAB.
IT'S JUST PHENOMENAL THAT WHEN WE CALL THE HOSPITAL AND SAY WE HAVE A STEMI, THAT'S AN EXPENSIVE ENDEAVOR FOR THE HOSPITAL.
THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF STUFF THEY GOT TO GET READY, AND IF IT'S NOT A STEMI, THAT'S A LOT OF WASTED MONEY AND RESOURCES.
>> LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT A STEMI IS.
I DO BECAUSE I'M IN HEALTHCARE.
DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND EXPLAIN THAT?
>> THAT'S THE ST SEGMENT OF YOUR ECG OR EKG ME IS IF THAT'S ELEVATED, YOU'RE HAVING SOME CARDIAC EVENT, AND WHEN YOU HAVE THAT, IF YOUR BLOOD SUPPLY IS BLOCKED OR WHATEVER THE CAUSE OF THAT, THEY GOT TO GET IN THERE, AND THEY'VE GOT TO GET IN THE CATH LAB AND THEY GOT TO CLEAR THAT BLOCKAGE.
YOU GOT TO GET IN THERE QUICK AND, BETWEEN THAT AND, OF COURSE, STROKE, YOU GOT TO GET THE RIGHT DRUGS QUICKLY, DEPENDING ON THE LENGTH OF THE STROKE.
TIME, AS WE SAY, IS MUSCLE, AND THE QUICKER WE CAN GET INTO DEFINITIVE CARE, THE BETTER.
BUT TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THROUGH OUR EKG AND READ THAT EKG, JUST LIKE A DOCTOR DOES OR A NURSE DOES, AND IDENTIFY THAT.
AND TO CALL THE HOSPITAL AND THEY BANK, AND THEY TAKE IT TO THE BANK.
WHEN WE CALL THEM, THEY KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND THEY UNDERSTAND THAT, IF THEY SAID IT'S ONE, IT'S MOST LIKELY ONE. THEY'LL GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.
THAT TAKES A LOT OF WORK BEHIND THE SCENES TO BUILD THAT TRUST, TO BUILD THAT CAMARADERIE, AND THAT'S WHY HAVING DR. FLEMING LOCAL HERE HELPS US WITH THAT QUITE A BIT.
WE HAVE A GREAT RESPONSE TIME FOR OUR AMBULANCE SERVICE AND AN AVERAGE TURNAROUND TIME.
THAT TURNAROUND TIME IS QUICK TOO.
WHEN THEY GET TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY GOT TO GET DONE WITH THAT PATIENT, TURN AROUND, AND GET BACK IN SERVICE, AND THAT FOURTH MEDIC HAS REALLY HELPED THAT WE PUT IN OCTOBER, SEPTEMBER, HAS REALLY HELPED OUR OVERLOAD STATUS.
EQUIPMENT OVERLOAD HAS GONE DOWN BECAUSE THAT NOW MEDIC IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER OTHER CALLS.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME CALL VOLUME HERE IN A BIT.
FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HOUSE, YOU CAN SEE THIS IS 2024 DATA.
THIS IS WHAT WE RAN ON, AND MOST OF IT, ABOUT 60% IS EMS, AND THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS THAT ARE PRETTY PROLIFIC, SUCH AS THE SERVICE CALLS, AND THEN THERE ARE A LOT OF FALSE CALLS.
THE ALARM GOES OFF, WHETHER IT'S A RESIDENTIAL FIRE ALARM OR IF IT'S A COMMERCIAL FIRE ALARM, STILL GOT TO GET OUT THERE AND CHECK.
SO THOSE ACCOUNT FOR THEN, THERE'S A HOST OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO.
THERE'S A LOT THAT'S IN THAT HAZARDOUS CONDITION PIECE AS WELL.
FOR, AS YOU'LL SEE IN OUR NEXT PRESENTATION, ALL THE HYDRANT MAINTENANCE.
WE TOOK THAT ON FROM PUBLIC WORKS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
AS THEY WERE SHORT-STAFFED, WE'RE TOUCHING THEM ANYWAY, AND I SAID, WHY DON'T WE JUST HELP US GET THE STUFF AND THE OIL, WE'LL DO ALL THAT SINCE WE GOT TO FLUSH THEM ANYWAY.
EVERY YEAR, PER ISO, WE HAVE TO FLUSH EVERY HYDRANT, AND EVERY YEAR FOR ISO, WE HAVE TO FLOW 20% OF THOSE.
JUST REAL QUICKLY, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FLUSHING AND FLOWING, THEY'LL GET DEEP INTO THAT IN THE NEXT PRESENTATION.
BUT WHEN WE FLOW THEM, WE TAKE A GPM RATE SO THAT FOR ISO, WE'VE GOT TO KNOW THAT THE GPMS COMING OUT OF THAT HYDRANT ARE ENOUGH TO BE ADDING PRESSURE AND VOLUME TO IT THROUGH THE PUMP IN THE TRUCK OR THE ENGINES, IS ENOUGH TO PUT OUT THE BTU OF THIS BUILDING.
[00:20:04]
WE'VE CATEGORIZED THIS BUILDING OF SQUARE FOOTAGE.IF 20% IS INVOLVED, WE KNOW HOW MUCH BTU THAT IS, AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FLOWS MEET THAT NEED, AND THAT'S HOW ISO DETERMINES THAT.
IN 2025, WE'RE LOOKING TO PROBABLY SURPASS ABOUT 7,500 CALLS.
WE DID 74 52 LAST YEAR, AND SOME OF THE OTHER YEARS, I KNOW 2021 LOOKS WEIRD, BUT WE DID HAVE A HUGE JUMP OF ALMOST 100 CALLS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.
BUT A 29% INCREASE OVER THE FIVE YEARS.
I BROUGHT THIS PICTURE UP BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT I CALL THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BOXES.
WHETHER IT'S COMMUNITY PARAMEDICINE OR COMMUNITIES FOR RISK FOR REDUCTION.
MY VISION IS TO CATALOG EVERY BOX AND TO KNOW WHAT IS IN THAT BOX, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THAT BOX, HOW MANY HOMES ARE IN THAT BOX, HOW MANY COMMERCIAL ENTITIES ARE IN THAT BOX, WHAT MY TARGET HAZARDS ARE IN THAT BOX.
WE ATTEMPTED THAT A LITTLE BIT IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE CREATED LAST YEAR.
BUT WE WANT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES SET THE STANDARD FOR US.
IT IS BEAUTIFUL WHEN YOU CAN CLICK ON THOSE AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. WE WANT THAT.
WE'VE BEEN POLLING GIS FOR HELP TO GET THERE BECAUSE I WANT TO BE ABLE TO CLICK ON THAT BOX AND KNOW WHAT WE GOT, HOW MUCH HYDROGEN IN THERE.
BUT IF WE KEEP RUN INTO BOX 332 BECAUSE MISSES SMITH IS DIABETIC AND SHE KEEPS GOING INTO DIABETIC EMERGENCY, AND WE KEEP FIXING THAT, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THAT BOX THAT WE KEEP RUNNING DIABETIC EMERGENCIES.
WE COULD EDUCATE ON DISEASE PROCESS.
WE COULD EDUCATE OUR CITIZENS.
WE COULD THEN SHOW BEFORE AND THEN AFTER OUTCOMES.
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO, BUT WE WON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT THOSE BOXES ENTAIL.
SO IT'S A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING THAT OUR EM SPECIALIST IS HELPING WITH.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT BOX BY BOX.
OF COURSE, IT'S EVER CHANGING WITH DEMOGRAPHICS MOVING IN AND OUT, BUT WE NEED TO KNOW HOW MANY HOUSES ARE THERE AND WE CAN EXTRAPOLATE DATA.
THEN, IF WE CAN TIE OUR RUNS TO A SPECIFIC BOX NUMBER AS WELL AS STATION, IT HELPS US PLAN IN THE FUTURE WITH PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS AND SOME OTHER THINGS.
THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO GO. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT AS WELL.
EMS, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE RUNNING ON.
A LOT OF INJURY TO THE HEAD, AS YOU SEE, GENERALIZED WEAKNESS.
WE JUST RUN THE GAMUT OF EMS CALLS.
IT MIGHT BE CLASSIFIED AS WE HAD ONE, TWO DAYS AGO, THAT WAS A CPR, BUT IT REALLY WASN'T.
I SAID A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY'S CPR, YOUR HEART GOES THAT.
BUT HE JUST HAD DIFFICULTY BREATHING.
WHAT THEY SAY VERSUS WHAT WE GET THERE VERSUS WHAT THE DISPOSITION IS, SOMETIMES IT IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
IT'S REALLY TOUGH TO CODIFY THAT SOMETIMES.
WE'RE BUILDING SYSTEMS THAT HELP US DO THAT.
THEN OUR COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION DIVISION OR PREVENTION IS HOUSED WITH OUR FIRE MARSHAL AND TWO FIRE PROTECTION OFFICERS, AND AN INSPECTOR.
AND THEY DO A LOT OF THE OFFICIAL COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION AND TALKS, AND THE SAFE TEAM IS OUT OF THERE WHERE THEY GO TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND PUT ON A PROGRAM.
IT'S WONDERFUL IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN AUDITIONED FOUR YEARS IN A ROW AND HAVEN'T MADE THE CUT, BUT IT IS A FUN TIME, THAT THE CLOWNS DO A WONDERFUL JOB.
THEY ARE ALSO SEVERAL OF THEM, THE FIRE PROTECTION OFFICERS, AS WELL AS CHIEF BULI JACK AND FIRE MARSHAL ARE OFFICERS AS WELL.
THEY'RE REAL, LIVE POLICE OFFICERS.
WE HAVE OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT WITHIN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THAT IS FOR ARSON INVESTIGATION.
THAT IS FOR FIRE INVESTIGATION.
THAT'S FOR ENFORCEMENT OF FIRE CODE AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THIS DIVISION WITH THE BLESSING OF HR AND FINANCE IS WE'VE REDUCED THE CLASSIFICATION OF A FEW TO HIRE CIVILIANS IN BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE BE SWORN TO BE A FIRE INSPECTOR, EVEN A FIRE INVESTIGATOR, IF WE CAN TRAIN THAT.
THIS PAST BUDGET IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, WE'RE LOOKING TO REDUCE SOME OF THOSE, ESPECIALLY WE'VE HAD SOME ATTRITION.
WE WANT TO REDUCE THAT FROM SWORN TO CIVILIAN TO SAVE SOME MONEY.
IF THEY DON'T NEED TO BE SWORN, WE DON'T NEED TO PAY THAT PREMIUM FOR THAT.
UNDER CHIEF BOLEJACK'S LEADERSHIP, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH A LITTLE BIT THIS YEAR, AND NEXT YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO EXPAND IT EVEN FURTHER.
THEY ALSO DO ALL THE PLAN REVIEWS.
THIS DEPARTMENT IS A LITTLE BIT OF POLICE, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DEVELOPMENT SERVICE.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT. IT'S EMS. THEY ENCOMPASS ALL OF IT, A CODE ENFORCEMENT.
THEY DO A LOT OF THAT BACK THERE WITH A VERY SMALL STAFF, AND THEY'VE GOT SOME WONDERFUL STAFFS WHERE THEY GET THOSE PLANS IN,
[00:25:04]
THEY GET THEM OUT WITHIN SIX DAYS.SOMETIMES THEY HAVE TO DO THAT MULTIPLE TIMES.I THINK ALMOST EVERY DEVELOPMENT HAS A FIRE MARSHAL ASPECT TO IT, WHETHER IT'S THE LENGTH, THE WIDTH OF THE ROAD, OR ME.
WHETHER IT'S CAN THEY GET SOMETHING IN THERE OR CAN WE DO THIS, THAT, OR THE OTHER? LEXIN IS PROBABLY AS FIRST AS ANY OF US IN THAT, SHE DOES A WONDERFUL JOB.
BUT WE ALSO DO CAR SEAT INSTALLS THAT THEY HANDLE.
WE HAD TWO OF THOSE COME IN TODAY, ACTUALLY.
ALL OF THE INSPECTIONS FOR THE 2000 BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN TOWN, AND THEN ANY FIRE GETS INVESTIGATED.
THE OTHER PIECES THAT ESTIMATED NUMBER OF CONTACTS THROUGH OUR OPEN HOUSE, THROUGH INDEPENDENCE FEST, THROUGH OUR SAFE TEAM.
WE ALWAYS TRY TO CAPTURE THOSE EDUCATION MOMENTS.
ONE, BECAUSE IT'S BENEFICIAL, BUT TWO, IT HELPS US WITH I THE PROBLEM IS, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO STAND UP HERE AND QUANTIFY AN EMERGENCY THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE SOMEBODY WAS EDUCATED IN HOW TO PREVENT IT.
SO WE TRY TO DO THAT, AND WE DO THAT THE OUTCOMES OF THE PROGRAMS AS WELL AS CONTACT HOURS ON TRAINING.AND SPEAKING OF TRAINING.
THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF OUR ORGANIZATION.
THESE MEN AND WOMEN TRAIN A LOT.
IT IS TCFP MANDATED, WHICH IS TEXAS COMMISSION OF FIRE PROTECTION.
IT IS ALSO ISO AND NFPA MANDATED THAT WE TRAIN.
WE HAVE A DEPUTY CHIEF OVER TRAINING, AND WE MOVED, RECLASSIFIED THE CAPTAIN OF EMS TO THE TRAINING CAPTAIN.
MAINLY FOR ISO PURPOSES, TO GET A FEW OF THOSE EXTRA POINTS FOR US TO MAINTAIN A ONE, BUT ANY FIRE, THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT HAS TO BE OUT THERE DIRECTING THAT.
AS I WAS GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS AND TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT CAPTAIN'S POSITION, THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF TRAINING MAKE SURE WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE.
EACH SWORN MEMBER HAS TO GET 192 HOURS OF CONTINUOUS EDUCATION.
THEN THEY HAVE TO GET 18 HOURS OF FACILITY TRAINING.TYPICALLY, THAT'S LIVE FIRE, PULLING HOSES AT A FACILITY, STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO LOUISVILLE'S OPENING LAST YEAR HAS BEEN A GAME-CHANGER FOR US BECAUSE WE CAN STAY CLOSE.
WE CAN GET OUR TRAINING IN AND GO ON DOWN THE ROAD.
THERE'S ALSO TRAINING IN CORE DISCIPLINES.
MYSELF I'M A FIRE INVESTIGATOR.
I'M ALSO A FIRE INSPECTOR, HAVE TO HAVE CE TRAINING ON THAT.
ADD TO THAT 66 HOURS EVERY FOUR YEARS OF PARAMEDICINE THAT WE HAVE TO TRAIN.
YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THESE CERTIFICATIONS.
WE HAVE 120 PARAMEDICS IN THE SYSTEM.
THESE GUYS ARE TRAINED TO THE LEVEL I'VE NOT SEEN.WE KEEP PUSHING THESE.
BUT LOOK AT THOSE NUMBER OF ADVANCED IN MASTER FIREFIGHTERS.
THAT'S HUGE. THAT'S A LOT OF EDUCATION AS WELL AS TIME ON THE JOB.
THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU HAVE THE SAME FOR INSPECTOR AND INVESTIGATOR, INCIDENT SAFETY OFFICERS, INCIDENT COMMANDERS, AND EVERYBODY BEFORE THEY GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THAT RIG HAS TO HAVE DRIVER OPERATOR PUMPER ANDAR.
I WAS FORTUNATE WE FINISHED OUR STRATEGIC PLAN LAST YEAR, AND YOU WILL SEE I HAVE CROSSWALKED HERE TOWN'S STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES WITH OUR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND YOUR NEWEST ONE, ASSET MANAGEMENT, IS HUGE, AND WE'RE GOING TO REALLY GET INTO THAT AT THE TAIL IN THIS PRESENTATION.
I'M EXCITED FOR THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO FIND NEW SOLUTIONS.
BUT WE WANT TO IMPLEMENT SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES TO CHIEF CALLS IT THE E&E.
WHEN THE E&E LINE OF EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS, THAT WHEN YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT A WINNER.SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THINGS THAT HIT THAT INITIATIVE.
FOR FUTURE GROWTH, OURS IS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MANAGING GROWTH FOR ASSETS TO MAINTAIN ISO ONE, AND WE'RE SERVING THE POPULATION WITH RESPONSE TIME, RESPONSE TIME AND ISO, THAT REALLY MEASURES OUR ABILITY TO BE EFFECTIVE.
DOESN'T MEASURE EFFECTIVENESS.
YOU HAVE THE RULES, YOU HAVE THE STRUCTURE, YOU HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE EFFECTIVE.
WHAT REALLY MEASURES EFFECTIVENESS, IS CHIEF DUFF GETTING OUT AND DOING 14 TENDRILS, AND HOW LONG IT TOOK THEM TO DO THAT, OR HOW LONG THEY'RE GETTING WATER ON THE FIRE, AND HOW LONG IS IT FROM ARRIVAL AND AIR BREAK TO FIRST MEDICAL INTERVENTION? THOSE SORTS OF THINGS WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT.
ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGNS, THAT'S US IN COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION.
HOW CAN WE TEACH FIRE SERVICE RISK REDUCTION AND PREVENTION? A COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION AND STAFFING FLEXIBILITY FOR US.
THAT'S OUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT LATER.
[00:30:03]
BUT IT'S MAINTAINING A HEALTHY STAFF AND A STAFF THAT WANTS TO BE HERE, AND A HIGHLY TRAINED STAFF.WE WANT TO BE AN ELITE FIREFIGHTING AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM FORCE FOR SURE.
THE RECOGNITION PROGRAM FOR US, THAT'S AN ENGAGED WORKFORCE THAT WANTS TO BE HERE AND WANTS TO SERVE.
THE EMERGENCY TABLETOP EXERCISES, THAT'S OUR COMMUNITIES REDUCTION.
I'VE PITCHED TO THE TOWN MANAGER GETTING SOME OF YOU FROM THE DIAS AND SOME OF US AND STAFF TO GO DOWN TO TAKS AND RUN THEIR MANAGEMENT 314, WHICH IS RESPONSE TO INCIDENTS THAT PLAYS A PART IN DISASTERS.
WHAT YOUR ROLE WOULD BE IN THE DISASTER, AND WHAT STAFF ROLE IS IN DISASTER, AND WE'RE ON LOCKSTEP ON UNDERSTANDING HOW THAT OPERATES.
IT IS THEATER, AND IT IS GREAT THEATER.
THE MAYOR YELLED AT ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET HER SIGNATURE ON THE FORM BEFORE I SENT ON THE PO, AND IT WAS REALISTIC. LET'S JUST PUT IT THAT WAY.
BUT IT'S A GREAT LEARNING OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE YOU MAY BE THE INCIDENT COMMANDER, AND YOU'LL GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT IS.
I'M TRYING TO PUSH THAT INITIATIVE WHERE EITHER WE GO DOWN TO TS IN COLTATION, OR WE GO TO AMESBURG.
THEY'RE ALL FREE TRAINING, WHICH IS GREAT.
AND THEN PROVE ART RESPONSIVE WITH FLOMAN.
WE STARTED THAT, AND WE'VE DONE THAT, AND WE WANT TO MAINTAIN AN EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO THERE BECAUSE WE ARE A TAIL OF TWO TOWNS, AS YOU KNOW, AND COUNCIL INITIATIVE OF ISO ONE.
WE JUST WENT THROUGH A PRELIMINARY RERATE, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT.
IT'S NOT OFFICIAL, BUT WE WERE AT 93 THERE, WE'VE IMPROVED, AND I WANT TO TELL YOU WHY THAT IMPROVEMENT IS IMPORTANT.
WE ARE DUE THIS YEAR FOR A FULL RE-RATE FROM ISO.
OUR CONSULTANT IS VERY RESPECTED, HE'S A DEAR FRIEND AND FIRE SERVICE LEADER.
WHEN HE'LL COME IN IN THE FIRST QUARTER AND OFFICIALLY RATE US AND TURN THAT OVER TO ISO.
>> AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY SIT AT 93.
FROM AN EFFICIENCY STANDPOINT, WE DON'T WANT TO BE TOO HIGH BECAUSE THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
BUT I WANTED TO GET A FEW EXTRA POINTS BECAUSE THAT ALLOWS ME SOME FLEXIBILITY IN STAFFING AND WE'LL TOUCH ON THAT IN A LATER PART OF THE PRESENTATION.
SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND THIS IS A LITTLE TRITE TO SAY, BUT I'M GOING TO SAY IT ANYWAY, 7,452 CALLS LAST YEAR.
EVERY ONE OF THOSE WAS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.
SOMEBODY NEEDED US FOR SOMETHING, AND SAME WITH PD, EVERY ONE OF THOSE CALLS IS MEANINGFUL.
THAT'S JUST A REALITY OF WHAT THESE MEN AND WOMEN WORK IN.
WE'RE PROUD OF THEM EVERY DAY.
BUT UNDER CHIEF BOLEJACK'S LEADERSHIP, WE GOT THE TEXAS FIRE MARSHAL WAR OF EXCELLENCE.
THAT'S PRETTY AWESOME. FIRST YEAR APPLIED, FIRST YEAR GOT IT, GOLD STATUS.
THE IMPROVED STEMI AND STOKE AWARENESS AND INTERVENTION THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
WE ALSO WENT THROUGH CHIEF ADCOCK WENT THROUGH A FULL CMS AUDIT.
WE PULLED SEVERAL RUNS JUST AT RANDOM.
WE CRITICIZE THEM AND SCRUTINIZE THEM WITH THE CMS LENS.
WE HAVE AN OUTSIDE AUDIT TO DO THAT.
WE CAME BACK WITH FLYING COLORS.
THAT'S ATTESTATION TO THE AMOUNT OF TRAINING WE PUT IN THESE YOUNG FOLKS ON THEIR DOCUMENTATION.
YOU HAVE TO PROVE MEDICAL NECESSITY FOR CMS AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS.
WE ALSO DID THE FULL DATA COLLECTION SUBMISSION, WHICH WAS A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING.
CMS, IF YOU DIDN'T DO THAT, WAS GOING TO TAKE 10% AWAY FROM FUNDING OR REIMBURSEMENTS.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN ONE OF THE REVENUE SLIDES, BUT WE ONLY GET ABOUT $0.25 TO $0.33 ON THE DOLLAR FOR CMS CALL.
IF IT'S A MEDICARE CALL, THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO PAY WHAT THEY PAY, NO MATTER WHAT IT COSTS.
THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO PAY THIS FIXED RATE.
THEN WE IMPROVED EMS COVERAGE FOR DISTRICT SIX, WHICH IS SUPER IMPORTANT, AND THAT HAS BEEN WILDLY SUCCESSFUL.
WE'RE RUNNING MORE CALLS OUT THERE THAN I THOUGHT WE WOULD IT WAS MUCH NEEDED.
THANK YOU FOR THAT LAST BUDGET.
THEN ALL THE EXTERNAL SURVEYS FROM THAT WE JUST HAD FOR EM FIRE AND EMS, WE CAME OUT REALLY HIGH SCORES.
AGAIN, THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THIS SERVICE DELIVER THESE MEN AND WOMEN OUT THERE.
OUR GOALS IS TO SOLIDIFY THAT ISO1.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THREE AND SIX AND WE'RE GOING TO PLAN TO RELOCATE THEM.
[00:35:02]
THEY WON'T BE BUILT, BUT WE'LL DO ALL THE PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTIONAL STORE ONE OF THEM FOR SURE, AND THAT'S EXCITING.THEN EFFICIENCY AND RESPONSE, ARE WE DECREASING THE TIME IT TAKES US TO GET THERE? WHAT IS THE EFFECT ONCE WE GET THERE? MAKING SURE WE'RE DOING THAT.
EXPAND COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION IN MY BIG BEAUTIFUL BOXES, AND THEN WE WANT TO EXPAND HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM AND FIT FOR DUTY PROCEDURES FOR THE GUYS, THE MEN AND WOMEN AT THE STATION.
THEN ALWAYS ENSURING EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE DELIVERY, I SAY UNCOMPROMISED PATIENT CARE AND UNSURPASSED CUSTOMER SERVICE. THAT'S WHO WE WANT TO BE.
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING FIVE YEARS OUT, AND OF COURSE, IT ALL DEPENDS ON GROWTH AND WHAT HAPPENS AND IF WE HAVE A LOT MORE BUSINESSES, THAT'S GOING TO BE THAT INSPECTOR POSITION IF WE NEED IF THAT HAPPENS.
BUT FROM THE FIRST PART IS EMS. WE'VE GOT THE ONE GUY IN ADMIN THAT DOES EMS AND THAT'S 60% OF OUR BUSINESS.
WE HAVE SUPPORT STAFF IN THE FIELD, BUT THAT'S CHALLENGING BASED ON SCHEDULES.
BUT THAT CIVILIAN POSITION WE ASKED FOR THIS PAST YEAR, THAT WILL BE NEEDED, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE THAT A CIVILIAN POSITION AGAIN AT A LOWER DOLLAR RATE.
IN THE FUTURE, TALKING ABOUT A BUDGET OR A DATA ANALYST.
MAYBE WE CAN DO SOME PREDICTIVE MODELING.
IF WE KNOW IN BOX 332 AT 3 O'CLOCK, EVERY WEDNESDAY, THERE'S A CALL THERE, WE CAN BE CLOSER.
WE CAN START USING THAT DATA TO INCH TOWARD THAT.
IF THEY DON'T GET A CALL, MAYBE THEY'LL GO TO WATERBIRD OR SOMETHING, BUT WE CAN USE THAT DATA IF WE HAVE THE TIME TO ANALYZE IT AND GET BETTER AT THAT.
BATTALION CHIEFS, THIS IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL.
NORMALLY, A FIRE DEPARTMENT WHEN YOU HAVE EIGHT STATIONS IS A GOOD TIME TO SPLIT BATTALIONS.
HERE, OUR BATTALION CHIEF, WE HAVE ONE PER SHIFT.
THEY HAVE NINE CAPTAINS THAT REPORT TO.
THEIR SPANER CONTROL IS TAXED, AND THEN THEY HAVE 46 SQUARE MILES OF STATIONS THAT THEY HAVE TO GET TO.
ADDING THAT BATTALION IS GOING TO BE CRUCIAL.
BUT AGAIN, IN THE INTEREST OF TAX DOLLAR SAVINGS, LET'S TAKE THE ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICER, WHICH WE CALL THE FIT RIGHT NOW.
YOU FUNDED THAT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, UPGRADE THAT CAPTAIN POSITION TO BATTALION CHIEF.
WE CAN DO THAT A MUCH LOWER DOLLAR AMOUNT, AND WHEN A FIRE HAPPENS, THEY CAN STILL BE THE ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICER FOR ONE ANOTHER.
THEY WOULD BOTH GO TO A FIRE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A PROLIFERATION OF FIRES HERE.
BUT WHEN THEY DO, WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET.
THEY WOULD THEN COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER JUST LIKE THEY DO TODAY.
BUT THEN THAT OTHER WOULD BE A BATTALION CHIEF AND RESPONSIBLE FOR HALF THE STATIONS, HALF THE MENTORSHIP OF THOSE CAPTAINS, THE EVALUATIONS AND THINGS THAT GO WITH THAT, I BE A MORE EFFICIENT MODEL TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN DO THE JOB AND GROW FUTURE CAPTAINS AND FUTURE LEADERS AND MAKE SURE THAT SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT.
THEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIES OF SCALE.
IN THE FUTURE, IF WE COULD THROW ANOTHER BODY, THAT WOULD BE THREE.
ONE FOR ME IS THREE BECAUSE OF THREE SHIFTS.
THEN I COULD BREAK THAT UNIT APART AND THEY COULD TAKE AMBULANCE CALLS OR SQUAD CALLS AND BE MORE EFFICIENT INSTEAD OF HIRING SIX PEOPLE FOR THE AMBULANCE OR SIX PEOPLE FOR A SQUAD.
WE CAN DO IT MORE EFFICIENTLY BY JUST MAKING THAT TRUCK A LITTLE HEAVY AND THEY CAN SPLIT TO THREE AND TWO AND STILL BE SAFE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
WE CAN GET INTO THAT LATER IF YOU NEED.
ON OUR SIDE OF THE HOUSE, WHICH IS ADMIN, AGAIN, THE PERMIT TECH.
THAT'S A WORKLOAD FOR THE OFFICE PERSONNEL RIGHT NOW.
IF THAT GETS ANY MORE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT HAVING SOMETHING SPECIFICALLY TIED TO THAT.
ACCUMULATED RISK REDUCTION SPECIALIST WOULD BE WONDERFUL IN A FUTURE INSPECTOR IF IT'S NEEDED.
THEN WE HAVE ONE PERSON THAT HANDLES ALL THE UNIFORMS, ALL THE PPE, ALL THE EQUIPMENT, FOR 148 BEAUTIFUL SOLES.
THEN STATION 8, THIS IS A HARD SLIDE TO LOOK AT.
BUT WHEN STATION EIGHT HAPPENS, THAT'S A WHOLE ANOTHER FLAVOR.
WHAT DOES IT NEED TO ENTAIL? IF YOU WANT AN ENGINE, THAT'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.
IF YOU WANT AN ENGINE IN A TRUCK, OR IF YOU WANT A TRUCK, OR IF YOU WANT AN AMBULANCE.
WE'LL NEED TO LOOK AT THAT WHEN IT HAPPENS.
I PUT THIS IN THE BUDGET IN A BUBBLE, IF YOU WILL, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE IN FIVE YEARS, BUT I WANT THE COUNSEL TO KNOW THAT STATION EIGHT WHEN IT HAPPENS AND IT WILL BE NEEDED WHEN THAT GROWTH HAPPENS.
IN THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE FOR REVENUE.
WE'VE GOT APPROXIMATELY 135,000 IN REVENUE.
THAT'S COME FROM CONSTRUCTION PERMITS,
[00:40:04]
OPERATIONAL PERMITS, INSPECTIONS, FALSE ALARM FEES, AND THOSE THINGS.THAT'S ONLY GOING TO PICK UP AS STUFF HAPPENS.
THIS IS A WORK SESSION UNTO ITSELF.
THERE'S A LOT OF DATA RIGHT THERE, AND THAT IS FOR FISCAL YEAR 24/25, DID $1.6 MILLION BACK IN FROM AMULET SERVICES.
THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES HERE.
WE'RE ALMOST ABOUT $500 OF TRANSPORT.
WHEN WE ROLL THE TRUCK AND APPARATUS EARNING AMBULANT IS $2,200.
67% OF OUR PAYER MIX IS MEDICARE.
THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO PAY $0.25 ON THAT DOLLAR, NO MATTER WHAT THE BILL WAS, THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO PAY A SPECIFIC RATE FOR THAT.
THEN OUR SELF PAY AND OUR INSURANCE.
THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN FIRST QUARTER, WORKING WITH OUR CFO TO WORK THIS CHART AND TO GET SOME MORE REVENUE.
I'VE GOT SOME IDEAS I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE WITH THE COUNSEL AT THAT TIME.
>> DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF COST RECOVERY RIGHT NOW? OR EMS CALLS?
>> YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE FOR COST RECOVERY RIGHT NOW FOR EMS CALLS?
>> IN TERMS OF RIGHT NOW WE BRING IT IN 1.6.
I'D HAVE TO ASK OUR CFO WHAT IT ACTUALLY COST US FOR THAT SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
BUT LAST WE TALKED, JOHN, DO YOU HAVE THAT?
>> YES. I'M LOOKING AT THIS CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW.
THE BIGGEST QUESTION USUALLY COMES WITH HOW MUCH OVERHEAD DO YOU ASSIGN TO IT? I CAN RECOVER EMS STRAIGHT LINE COST WHEN IT COMES TO ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD COSTS, IF YOU ASSIGN MORE TO IT, IT DOESN'T MEET THE 100%, AND THEN CAPITAL COSTS, IT DOES NOT AT ALL.
>> YOU CAN SEE OUR CHARGES WERE 3.6 MILLION AND WE RECOVERED THAT 1.6, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO RECOVER AT ALL.
EMS IS ALWAYS A LOSS LEADER, BUT WE TRY TO DO THE BEST JOB WE CAN IN OUR DOCUMENTATION, AS WELL AS THERE'S SOME OTHER AVENUES I THINK WE CAN CAPTURE THAT I WOULD LOVE TO FLUSH OUT A LITTLE MORE IN THE FUTURE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO A LOT IS DEPLOY AND THESE MEN AND WOMEN HAVE SUCH A SERVANT HEART WHEN THE BELL GOES OFF, AND THEY'RE HELPING THE STATE AND THE STATE TAKES CARE OF US WHEN WE DO THIS.
WHAT MYSELF AND A FEW OTHERS WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN THIS YEAR, BRANDON BARTH PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN IT AS WELL.
WE DID AT THE TEXAS FIRE CHIEF, WE TALKED TO NIM KIDD ABOUT GETTING THIS DIRECT ADMINISTRATIVE COST FUNDED, AND THAT'S THE WORK IT TAKES TO GET THEM DEPLOYED, AND THEN THE WORK IT TAKES FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT.
5% TO COVER MARY'S COSTS AND BRANDON'S COSTS TO GET ALL THAT DONE.
SO THAT'S STRAIGHT REVENUE BACK INTO OUR GENERAL FUND.
THEY PAY FOR THE STRAIGHT TIME.
IF I LEAVE, THEY PAY MY SALARY, AND THEN JERRY BACKFILLS ME, THEY PAY HIS OVERTIME TO BACKFILL ME.
ESSENCE, WE'RE FUNDING JOHN DOE HIT ME ONE TO 1.5 FTES BECAUSE WE DEPLOY AS MUCH AS WE DEPLOY, AND WE HAVE FUNDED UP TO TWO FTES BEFORE BASED ON DEPLOYMENTS.
ALSO GET PAID FOR THE EQUIPMENT.
LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE IN DRIO, WE GOT ABOUT $900,000 FOR THE ENGINE SITTING THERE, AND THAT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE GENERAL FUND AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DO WITH IT BACK THERE.
BUT JOHN HAS BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT IF WE NEED STUFF FOR DEPLOYMENT, FUNDING ASSETS OUT OF THAT LIKE TOOLS AND SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED.
IT'S BEEN GREAT. THESE DEPLOYMENTS ARE GREAT.
IT'S GREAT FOR THE GUYS FOR THEIR LIVELIHOOD, BUT IT'S ALSO GREAT FOR THE TOWN.
>> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, GOES TO THE GENERAL FUND.
WE KNOW WHERE THE MONEY GOES [LAUGHTER].
>> I WANT TO CLARIFY ANYBODY WATCHING.
>> THANKS, JAMES. AGAIN, OUR BUDGET IS ONE STATE.
TEXAS DOES NOT HAVE YEARS AGO WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING AT OUR STATE RESPONSE, TEXAS DOES NOT HAVE CAL FIRE, $6 BILLION IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
WE'RE FUNDED THROUGH LOCAL DEPARTMENTS THAT GET TOGETHER AND HELP TEXAS WHEN WE NEED HELP.
IN FACT, N, GOVERNOR ABBOTT, THEY TAKE CARE OF US.
SOME OF THAT WE'RE INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THAT STARTED, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND IT.
THIS IS A TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT BY NOT HAVING DUMAS,_TEXAS, HELPS US NOT HAVE A STATE INCOME TAX, KEEPS OUR STATE RATE, OUR SALES TAX BETTER.
OVERALL, IT'S MORE FOR THE EASY ALINEYGN.
IT'S GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR OUR GUYS.
A FEW YEARS AGO, THE MOUND ACTUALLY BURNED, IF YOU REMEMBER, WE SENT VETERAN WIN FIREFIGHTERS FROM DUBAS TEXAS WHERE THEY GET THEIR EXPERIENCE.
THEY GOT TO APPLIED IN FLOWER MOUND, AND WE KEPT THAT FIRE OUT OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND IT WAS CLOSE.
[00:45:04]
I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT THOSE GUYS AND GALS GO DOWN RANGE AND GET TRAINED ON STATE DEPLOYMENTS COMES BACK TO HELP US SO MANY WAYS.SORRY, CHIEF. I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT. YEAH, THAT'S GOOD.
>> THEY DID A GREAT JOB, AND THEY ALWAYS DO, AND WE'RE ALWAYS HELPING AT THE STATE AND NIM THREW UP A SLIDE LAST YEAR, AND I THINK I'VE MENTIONED THIS TO COUNSEL BEFORE.
THE TOP TEN DEPLOYMENT AGENCIES IN LITTLE FLOWER MOUNTAIN WAS LIKE NUMBER FIVE, AND YOU'RE TALKING LIKE BIG CITIES, AND WE WERE THERE, THE TOP FIVE DEPLOYS.
THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE GUYS AND TO CHIEF DE LEADERSHIP.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THROW THIS OUT THERE.
THIS IS FROM THE BUDGET BOOK, AND WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS REFRAME IT A LITTLE BIT.
ALTHOUGH SAYS A GREAT JOB OF SHOWING WHERE SOME OF THE EXPENSES ARE.
BUT FOR ME, I BROKE IT DOWN INTO COST OF DOING BUSINESS AND COMPLIANCE AND MAINTENANCE AND COMMUNICATION.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO.
I'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THE EQUIPMENTS TESTED.
I'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THE NOSE ARE TESTED AND THE LADDERS ARE TESTED AND THAT THE COMMUNICATION IS THERE AND THE VEHICLES GET MAINTENANCE AND BILLY DOES SUCH A GREAT JOB AND VERY PATIENT WITH US IN FIRE.
WE BREAK STUFF. BUT THERE'S JUST A LOT OF THINGS WE HAVE TO DO.
NOW, SOMETIMES UNPOPULAR, BUT I'M LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE'RE MORE EFFICIENT.
DO WE NEED TWO SETS OF BUNKER GEAR? CAN I HAVE A CASH? MAYBE THE ANSWER IS YES, MAYBE THE ANSWER IS NO.
CAN I RESPECT THE BUNKER GEAR OR HAVE A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER? OR CAN WE LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE BUYING THIS AD AND THE OTHER AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET ECONOMIES OF SCALE.
IF POLICE IS BUYING ALL THIS WATER, AND WE'RE BUYING WATER, CAN WE PARTNER AND GET A BETTER DEAL, WHETHER IT'S BATTERIES OR ALL THOSE THINGS? I'M REALLY LOOKING AT WAYS.
BILLY TALKED PRETTY PRETTY EXTENSIVELY ON SOME OF THE THINGS WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO VEHICLE MAINTENANCE.
WE PULLED IN ALL OF OUR TAKE HOME CARS AND YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO TAKE THAT HOME WHEN YOU'RE ON CALL.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE AS EFFICIENT AS WE CAN BE.
AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT TO PLAY WITH AND I KNOW THAT SOUNDS SOMEWHAT SILLY, BUT THERE'S STUFF WE HAVE TO DO FOR STATE MANDATES OR COMPLIANCE AND SOME OF UNFUNDED MANDATES.
BUT I WANTED TO FRAME IT THIS WAY SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THAT THE COMPLIANCE IS 1.2 OF THAT WHAT YOU WOULD CALL DISCRETIONARY, COMMUNITY OUTREACH IS A BIG PIECE OF THAT.
80,000 IN COMMUNICATION AND 398 MAINTENANCE, RIGHT.
THOSE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE HAVE TO DO.
I WANT THIS COUNSEL TO KNOW THAT EVERY DAY, WE LOOK AT WAYS TO STREAMLINE WITHOUT CUTTING TOO DEEP.
THIS YEAR, WHAT WAS FUNDED IS A CANCER INITIATIVE FOR ENGINES.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, WE'VE LOST TWO IN OUR DEPARTMENT WITH CANCER.
THERE'S SEVERAL MORE THAT HAVE CANCER THAT THEY'RE BEING TREATED FOR.
>> WE WERE ABLE TO GET ALL THE CALVES WITH IMPERVIOUS SEAT CUSHIONS BECAUSE WHEN YOU SIT IN IT AND YOU'RE IN YOUR BUNKER GEAR, THAT LEACHES INTO THAT CLOTH, AND THEN WHEN YOU SIT IN IT IN YOUR DUTY GEAR, THAT JUST LEACHES BACK OUT.
WE WERE ABLE TO RETROFIT AND GET AIR FILTRATION FOR ALL THE CALVES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND RETROFIT THAT WITH PURPOSE MATERIALS.
WE GOT BRAND NEW DEFIBRILLATORS OURS FOR 7-YEARS-OLD.
YOU DON'T WANT A 7-YEAR-OLD DEFIBRILLATOR.
YOU WANT THE NEWEST IF YOU'RE THERE, AND THOSE DEFIRATOR ARE WONDERFUL.
BUT WE ARE ABLE TO REPLACE THOSE THIS YEAR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH ON ALL FRONT-LINE AMUSIS.
OUR QIN WILL BE HERE SOMETIME IN APRIL, SO WE'RE BUYING THE EQUIPMENT FOR THAT THAT WILL GO OUT AT STATION FIVE, HYDRANT MAINTENANCE TO SUPPORT PUBLIC WORKS INITIATIVES, AND FOR ISO.
WE GOT SOME FUNDING THERE, AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO REORGANIZE THE DEPARTMENT.
NOT FUNDED WAS THAT EMS SPECIALIST, AND AGAIN, THAT'S A DEDICATED EMS PERSONNEL TO DO CE TO DO QA QUALITY ASSURANCE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR CONTINUITY EMS IS SPOT ON.
THE TRAINING VEHICLE FOR THE TRAINING DIVISION.
TABLET COMMAND DID NOT GET FUNDED, BUT WORKING WITH CHIEF COLON, OUR ICS CAD, THEY GOT BOUGHT, AND THEY HAVE A MODULE THAT JUST MAY WORK FOR US.
WORKING WITH COLON AND HIS TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN UTILIZE THAT, AND WE WON'T HAVE TO DO THE TABLET COMMAND.
[00:50:03]
A BUNKER GEAR EXTRACTOR FOR STATION TWO AND THEN SOME STATION UPDATES FOR 2, 04, AND FIVE, AS WELL AS THE EOC, AND MAYBE THE COMMAND VAN THAT HAS THE EOC.WE'LL LOOK AT THAT IN FUTURE BUDGETS TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME OF THAT FUNDED.
WE'LL DO THAT BUNKER GEAR EXTRACTOR MAYBE WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO REFURB STATION 2.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE ONE THAT'S IN MOST NEED OF THAT.
SOME OF OUR LOOMING THREATS, AND THIS IS WHERE THE MEAT OF THE PRESENTATION IS, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION WITH THIS.
THE FIRST ONE, BEN BOMAR, DID A WONDERFUL THING AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 198, AND THAT'S THE WAY CANNON ACT STRAIGHT FROM HERE, AND ENHANCES HEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
I GOT TO TELL YOU WHEN I GOT HERE TO HAVE THE BUDGET ITEM IN THE BUDGET.
IT WAS AMAZING, COMING FROM A PLACE WHERE IT WASN'T THERE, AND THE GUYS HAD TO FIN ON THEIR OWN TO GET STUFF DONE.
HERE TO HAVE THAT, IT WAS AMAZING.
THEY GET THESE PHYSICALS EVERY YEAR.
IT WASN'T UP TO SOME OF MY STANDARDS, WE CHANGED THAT.
I CAME AND ASKED FOR A LITTLE FUNDING.
WE DIDN'T GET THAT, THAT'S OKAY.
WE RETOOLED AND DID SOME OTHER THINGS.
I THINK THERE'S ECONOMIES OF SCALE.
I'M WORKING WITH JOHN ON AND JAMES, OR TOWN MANAGER, TO FIND WAYS TO UTILIZE DIFFERENT METHODS TO DO THAT.
WE'LL FIND OUT IN JUNE, AND I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE COMMITTEE ON HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE ROLLED OUT AND WHAT COMPLIANCE LOOKS LIKE.
BUT FEAR NOT, I THINK WE'RE WELL ABOVE WHAT THE COMPLIANCE WILL BE ALREADY.
BUT THIS YEAR, WE'RE ABLE TO FUND 50 MULTI-CANCER DETECTION TEST.
WE TOOK EVERYBODY 40 AND OLDER.
WE IMAGED THEM, FIRST OF ALL, HEART AND LUNG.
WE DID THE 1580 PHYSICAL IN FPA 1580 PHYSICAL.
THEN WE ALSO GAVE THEM THIS CANCER TEST, WE'RE DOING THAT RIGHT NOW OVER THE COURSE OF TWO MONTHS. WE'LL BE DOING THAT.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT'S UNKNOWN, AND SO WE'LL SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
APPARATUS REPLACEMENT COSTS IS HUGE, AND EVEN THE AVAILABILITY FOR THAT, TO GET THESE APPARATUS IS HUGE, AND WE'LL TOUCH ON THAT HERE IN A MINUTE.
IT WAS IN THE COMMUNITY IMPACT JUST THIS WEEK THAT WAS 35% INCREASE IN CITIZENS OVER THE AGE OF 64, BETWEEN 2019 AND 2023.
YOU'LL SEE SOME STATS ON WHAT WE'RE RUNNING ON.
THE ISO CONSTRAINTS FOR ISO 1.
THERE'S A LOT OF INVESTMENT IN THAT.
AS WE TALK ABOUT ISO, I'LL GET INTO WHAT MY GOAL IS.
THEN STRATEGIC GOAL NUMBER 2, WHICH GOES THAT APPARATUS REPLACEMENT.
HOW DO WE INCREASE THE LIFESPAN OF THESE ASSETS TO MITIGATE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING? WE'VE LOOKED AT SPECIAL UNITS, SQUADS, AND MINI PUMPERS.
I BROUGHT THAT TO COUNCIL, I THINK LAST YEAR.
I SAID, WHAT IS OLD IS NEW AGAIN? IF YOU'RE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER EMERGENCY, JOHNNY ROY, THAT WAS THAT WHOLE SQUAD CONCEPT.
IT WORKED THEN, AND IT CAN WORK NOW.
STRUCTURE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE, WORKING WITH JP TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT, AND TO MAKE BEST USE OF BILLY'S TIME AND HIS PEOPLE'S TIME.
MAYBE LOOKING AT STOCK OR REFURBISH UNITS.
IF WE CAN TAKE THAT ENGINE AND JUST GIVE ME A NEW ENGINE, GIVE ME A NEW PUMP, AND MAKE SURE THE TRANSMISSION IS NEW, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
IT MEETS BILLY'S SPECS, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SAVE A LOT OF MONEY THAT WAY.
WE'RE LOOKING INTO THAT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS GOING TO REALIZE YET.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE HEDGE FUNDS AND PRIVATE EQUITY BUYING UP THESE RESOURCES, SO I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF VENDORS NOW THAT I CAN CHOOSE FROM TO BUY A FIRE APPARATUS, AND WE'RE ON THEIR TERMS. I KNOW THE IFC IS WORKING THIS PROBLEM TO GET BETTER, WHETHER IT'S LEGISLATION OR BREAK THESE THINGS UP TO WHERE WE HAVE MORE CHOICES.
USED TO, YOU CAN GO ON THE SHOWROOM FLOOR TO FIRE SHOW, AND THERE WAS 80 FIRE ENGINES THERE FROM 80 DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS THAT YOU CHOOSE FROM.
NOW YOU'VE GOT ABOUT THREE, MAYBE FOUR.
WHAT DOES THAT DO TO THE MARKET? IT FORCES US AND OUR TAXPAYERS TO FUND AN UNREALISTIC THING.
WHEN I GOT IN THE SERVICE, AN ENGINE WAS LIKE 300,000, I THOUGHT THAT WAS A LOT OF MONEY.
NOW THERE ARE 1 MILLION, AND I CAN'T CONTROL THAT, BUT I CAN CONTROL MAYBE HOW WE USE THEM.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A BEST CASE SCENARIO IF YOU GAVE ME A SQUAD UNIT FOR EVERY STATION.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S REALISTIC THOUGH.
WE COULD SAVE THE WEAR AND TEAR OVER THEN IT GIVES BILLY SEVEN OR EIGHT MORE APPARATUS OR UNITS THAT HE'S GOT TO TAKE CARE OF AND PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE.
I HAVE AN IDEA OF AN EAST AND WEST SQUAD, THAT IF WE ADDED THAT PERSON THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE,
[00:55:03]
THEN MAYBE WE CAN NOT HAVE TO TAKE ANYTHING OUT OF SERVICE, BUT WE COULD PUT A SQUAD IN SERVICE WHEN IT'S NEEDED TO CHASE AN AMBULANCE, SAVE THE TILLER, SAVE THE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE TILLER, AND THE TRUCK.SOME OF THE LAST PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE THEY HAVE IS A $30,000 BILL EACH BECAUSE OF THE WORK IT NEEDED.
THE IDEA IS, HOW DO WE KEEP THEM FOR WHEN THEY'RE NEEDED, BUT ALSO MAKE SURE WE MAKE THE RESPONSE WHEN IT'S NEEDED AS WELL, BECAUSE KEEP IN MIND I HAVE THREE STATIONS THAT DO NOT HAVE AN AMBULANCE.
THEY WILL NEED TO FIRST RESPOND IN SOMETHING TO GET THERE FIRST.
PART OF THAT ALL POINTS TO ISO.
I GOT TO HAVE HYDRAULIC CAPACITY IN CERTAIN DISTANCES, OR WHEN THEY GET TO THE FIRE, I GOT TO HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND THE PROPER AMOUNT OF HYDRAULIC CAPACITY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MEETING ISO 1.
AGAIN, THE IDEA IS, IF I CAN GET US UP A LITTLE BIT, I CAN REDUCE OUR MINIMUMS, MAYBE, AND THAT FOURTH GUY THAT'S ON THE TRUCK CAN GO TO THE SQUAD AND STILL BE THERE IF AN EVENT HAPPENS.
TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO UTILIZE OUR PERSONNEL IN A MULTIFACETED WAY, NOT JUST WHEN THE TRUCKS THERE ARE ONLY FOR TRUCK, IT NEEDS TO BE EVERYTHING IT NEEDS TO BE.
IT NEEDS TO BE WHAT OUR CITIZENS NEEDED TO BE IN THE MOMENT IT NEEDS TO BE THERE.
I MY GOAL IS IF WE TAKE $1 IN TAXES, MAYBE WE GIVE BACK $3 IN SAVINGS AND INSURANCE.
IF YOU LOOK AT ISO 2-1, THIS IS VERY HARD TO CODIFY AND COOPERATE BECAUSE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE ALL OVER, AND TDI THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE THIS DATA.
BUT FROM OUR DATA, WE'RE LOOKING 2-11.
NOW IF YOU WERE A 10, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL BE WORTH $60 MILLION, BECAUSE 10-1, NO FIRE DEPARTMENT TO AN EXCELLENT FIRE DEPARTMENT.
BUT 2-1, WE'RE LOOKING PROBABLY AT 2%-5% OF SAVINGS FOR HOUSEHOLD INSURANCES, BUT COMMERCIAL, YOU'RE LOOKING 12%-20% SAVINGS.
TALK ABOUT THE WHOLE TOWN OF FLOWER MOUND HAVING NO SAVINGS.
MAYBE WE'RE GIVEN A LITTLE BIT BACK FOR THE TAX SOLD THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR BECAUSE WE HAVE AN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS ALIGNED WITH MAKING SURE WE CAN DO THE BEST JOB POSSIBLE.
FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT, THAT'S HUGE.
IF THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE ISO 1 VERSUS ISO 2 AND EVERYTHING ELSE BEING EQUAL, THEY'RE GOING TO GO FOR THE ISO 1 EVERY TIME.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO INTO THAT.
IT'S NOT A FIRE DEPARTMENT THING.
I CANNOT DO THAT WITHOUT CHIEF C OUT, CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT HIS DISPATCH.
I CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT BRIAN AND MANNY AND THEIR WATER.
40% OF THE GRADE, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT IS 50% OF THE GRADE.
IT IS A FULL TOWN EFFORT, AND I'M VERY PROUD THAT WE'RE A ONE AGAIN OR WILL BE A ONE AGAIN.
I CAN'T WAIT TO STAND IN FRONT OF YOU AND HOLD THAT UP, BUT IT IS A HUGE TOWN ACCOMPLISHMENT.
THE OTHER THING IS OUR AGING POPULATION.
THIS IS DATA THAT CHANGES BECAUSE I PULLED THIS TUESDAY, AND IT'S ALREADY INCREASED A LITTLE BIT.
BUT THIS IS LIFT ASSIS IS EMS CALLS TO SOME OF OUR SENIOR FACILITIES, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THOSE TO MAKE SURE, AGAIN, THE ROLE THAT EMS DEPUTY CHIEF, ONE, THEY'RE NOT CALLING US FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE WHEN IT'S NOT AN EMERGENCY.
FINDING WAYS TO CHARGE THEM IF IT IS.
THAT'S ANOTHER IDEA THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AND BRING TO YOU IN THE FIRST QUARTER ON MAYBE HOW WE INCREASE SOME OF THOSE FEES AND WHO'S RESPONSIBLE IF THEY DIDN'T NEED TO CALL US, BUT THEY DID FROM THESE FACILITIES.
WE'RE TRAINING THEM ON MAYBE THEY NEED TO HAVE A NURSE OR SOMEBODY THERE THAT CAN TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THOSE THINGS IF WE'RE RUNNING ON NON-EMERGENCY STUFF CONTINUOUSLY.
GETTING BACK TO WHAT I CALL THE BIG EIGHT.
IT'S ANOTHER WAY THAT I CALL IT TEAR RESPONSE, OR I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE TERM CAME FROM.
I'VE JUST ALWAYS CALLED IT THE BIG EIGHT.
THE IDEA IS, YOU ALWAYS GET THE QUESTION, DID THE FIRE ENGINE HAVE TO COME WITH TO THIS CALL, OR WHY WERE THEY THERE WITH THE AMBULANCE, AND THOSE THINGS, AND ON THOSE BIG EIGHT, WE NEED ALL THE HANDS WE CAN GET.
HERE'S THE BIG EIGHT PLUS OVERDOSES.
WE THREW OVERDOSES UP THERE BECAUSE THE OPIOID CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING.
YOU CAN SEE WE DON'T RUN A LOT OF THOSE, BUT I THREW IT UP THERE SO YOU GUYS CAN SEE IT.
BUT THE OTHER BIG EIGHT THERE IS ALTERED BERT, CHEST PAINS, ABDOMINAL RESPIRATORY, CPRS, THOSE CARDIAC ARREST, SEIZURE STROKES.
[01:00:04]
WE NEED A LOT OF HANDS TO DO A LOT OF THINGS.BUT THERE'S A LOT OF CALLS THAT WE DON'T NEED THAT.
NOW, WE TRIED THE BIG EIGHT, YEAR AND A HALF AGO, MAYBE TWO YEARS.
THE REASON IT FAILED WAS A COUPLE OF THINGS.
NOW THAT CHIEF STRICKLAND HAS TAKEN OVER AND LISA, THEY'RE PHENOMENAL, AND I THINK THEY CAN MAKE A GO AND MAKE IT WORK, AND SOME OF THE CAD IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY'VE MADE WILL MAKE IT WORK.
WHAT WE'VE DONE IS SAID, PUT IT ON THE CAPTAINS, CAPTAIN, IF YOU SEE THE CALL NOTES AND YOU DON'T NEED TO GO, GO.
IF YOU SEE THE CALL NOTES AND YOU NEED TO GO, BUT THE AMBULANCE IS GOING TO THERE FIRST, TURN OFF THE SIRENS AND DON'T PUT OTHERS AT RISK OR YOURSELF AT RISK.
THE OTHER PIECE OF THAT IS THEY HAVE SUCH A SERVICE-ORIENTED CULTURE.
I PUT THAT IN LAST SLIDE UP THERE.
THEY FEEL THAT PUT THOSE PEOPLE ON THAT CALL IS A SERVICE ENHANCEMENT TO THE CITIZENS, THEY'VE NOT HAD TO BE A SYSTEM THAT WAS SO BUSY THAT THEY COULDN'T DO THAT.
WE'RE AT A CROSSROADS NOW, WE ARE GETTING BUSY.
BUT THERE'S OTHER CONSTRAINTS ON THIS AS WELL.
THE COST OF APPARATUS, WE'VE GOT TO SAVE THEM.
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BEING GOOD STEWARDS, AND THEY ARE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE-WISE.
THEY TAKE CARE OF THESE THINGS LIKE THERE.
THEY TAKE CARE OF THEIR ENGINE BETTER THAN THEY DO THEIR HOME CAR.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT, ESPECIALLY OUR ENGINEERS.
BUT THEY ALSO HAVE TO REALIZE THAT THERE'S GOT TO BE A CHANGE.
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE A CHANGE BECAUSE THE TAXPAYER CANNOT KEEP FUNDING THESE EXPENSIVE FIRE APPARATUS IN PAYING THE RATES THAT WE'RE PAYING.
THERE'S GOT TO BE ANOTHER SOLUTION, AND I'M OPEN FOR THAT DISCUSSION.
I WELCOME ANY FEEDBACK, AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK INTO TO HELP THAT SITUATION.
BUT PLEASE KNOW WE ARE LOOKING WE IDENTIFIED THAT SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND MEG'S BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH TO FIGURE OUT OTHER SOLUTIONS.
UPCOMING, I KNOW WE'VE GOT TWO IN THE QUEUE.
WE'VE GOT A 2015 THAT'S UP FOR VERVE IN I GUESS THREE YEARS WOULD BE.
THEN WE'VE GOT 32017 MODELS THAT WILL BE UP AFTER THAT, MAYBE 29, 30 TIME FRAME.
WE HAVE A LITTLE TIME BEFORE WE HAVE TO ORDER ANY MORE HEAVIES, BUT IT'S A PROBLEM WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND LOOK AT.
IF WE CAN START A TAILOR FIRE ENGINE COMPANY, MAYBE WE CAN FIGURE OUT A BETTER WAY TO DO IT.
THANK YOU FOR TONIGHT. WELCOME TO ANY QUESTIONS, AND HOW CAN I HELP?
>> I'M SURE COUNSEL HAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS. WHO WANTS TO BEGIN?
>> I HAVE A QUICK ONE, I THINK.
IT WOULD BE PAGE, I THINK IT'S 25.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS, AND I GUESS I'M NOT SEEING PARAMEDIC, AND MAYBE YOU HAD COVERED THAT PREVIOUSLY.
>> THE BIG ON THE SIDE THERE IS PARAMEDIC.
WE HAVE 120 PARAMEDICS, 31 OF US ARE LICENSED PARAMEDICS, THE REST.
>> THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LICENSED PARAMEDIC AND A REGULAR PARAMEDIC IS A DEGREE.
BUT 120 OF US ARE PARAMEDICS; EVERYONE IS REQUIRED TO EVENTUALLY BE A PARAMEDIC IN THIS SYSTEM.
>> PERFECT. SORRY. I MISSED THAT, THANK YOU.
>> CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE SQUAD CONCEPT? I KNOW YOU MENTIONED IT. WHAT WAS THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR? LAST YEAR, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT.
CAN YOU JUST REFRESH YOUR MEMORY AND HOW YOU WOULD ENVISION THAT AN EAST SIDE AND THE WEST SIDE SQUAD CONCEPT, HOW THAT COULD SIR.
>> IDEA WOULD BE THAT THE SQUAD IS RUNNING AND CHASING THE AMBULANTS AND PROVIDING PERSONNEL TO PERSONNEL TO ASSIST WITH WHATEVER NEEDS TO HAPPEN, WHETHER IT'S THE BIG EIGHT OR LPT ASSIST OR WHATEVER IT IS.
THE ENGINE OUR TRUCK WOULD STILL BE THERE, AVAILABLE TO MAKE A CALL.
RIGHT NOW, I DON'T HAVE THE PERSONNEL YET, OR THE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE PERSONNEL TO DO THAT WITHOUT OVERTIME, OR SOME OTHERS ARE SHUTTING DOWN THE APPARATUS.
BUT THE IDEA WOULD BE THEY WOULD BE IN A SUBURBAN OR PICKUP TRUCK TYPE VEHICLE WITH ALL THE THINGS THEY WOULD NEED TO DO THAT.
WHEN WE RAN IT IN FRISCO, WE HAD THE BRUSH TRUCK, AND WE JUST PUT A LOT OF EQUIPMENT ON THERE SO THEY COULD FIRST RESPOND.
THAT ONE HAD A PUMP ON IT SO IT COULD DO SOMETHING IF IT NEEDED IT.
I'M NOT SAYING WE HAVE TO GO THERE BECAUSE OUR CALL VOLUME IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
BUT WHEN THE SQUAD IS EMPLOYED, IT GOES OUT.
I'VE TALKED TO THE TOWN MANAGER A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.
WE HAVE AN IDEA TO HAVE A PILOT PROGRAM USING OUR BRUSH TRUCK AS THE GUINEA PIG, AND SAY,
[01:05:01]
IF WE WERE TO RUN THIS AND MAYBE TAKE THE FOURTH GUY OFF THE TRUCK AND PUT THEM ON THAT SQUAD AND JUST SEE WHAT IT DOES FOR US, AND COME TO COUNCIL WITH REAL NUMBERS.WE'VE WORKED WITH BILLY TO FIGURE OUT A TAHOE PER MILE COST IS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN A BIG HEAVY.
OUR BIG HEAVES, I THINK, ARE PRETTY EXPENSIVE PER MILE.
>> I GOT SOME DATA FOR YOU, JUST MAYBE PUT IN PERSPECTIVE.
AN ENGINE PER MILE IS ABOUT $2.23.
IF YOU LOOK AT 2000 CALLS, LIKE STATION ONE WOULD BE ABOUT 2000 CALLS.
IF WE TOOK THAT TAHOE INSTEAD OF THAT ENGINE, IT WOULD SAVE US ROUGHLY IT'S ABOUT 4,500 FOR THE ENGINE, AND IT'S ABOUT $580 FOR THE TAHOE.
BUT WHAT IT REALLY DOES IS YOU ASK ANY APPARATUS MANUFACTURER, THEY ARE NOT DESIGNED TO CHASE AMISYS, THEY'RE DESIGNED TO PUT OUT FIRES.
IT'S GOING TO SAVE US ON SHACKER BOLTS BREAKS EVERYTHING ABOUT TRANSMISSIONS.
>> THE TRICKLE DOWN COSTS THAT PROBABLY BILLY AND BRETT WOULD BE A LOT MORE ADEQUATE TO TALK ABOUT WOULD BE ABLE TO PERHAPS TO KEEP THESE APPARATUS IN SERVICE LONGER THAN OUR 15 YEARS AS THEY ARE RIGHT NOW.
>> I THINK BILLY COULD PROBABLY CODIFIED A LOT BETTER THAN WE COULD.
BUT IF YOU HAD THAT ONE EXTRA YEAR IN SERVICE, HOW MUCH ARE YOU SAVE IT.
AGAIN, IF IT'S OUT OF SERVICE, COULD YOU THEN KEEP IT AND MAYBE MOTHBALL IT UNTIL YOU MIGHT NEED IT, OR REFURB IT OR DO SOME OF THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT MAKE SENSE.
BUT I THINK THE ABILITY TO PILOT THE SQUAD AND COME TO YOU WITH REAL DATA MAKES SENSE.
WE WERE RACKING OUR BRAINS ON WHAT WE COULD USE IT FOR.
I CAN'T USE THE TIFF MS BRUSH TRUCK, BUT WE HAVE A BRUSH TRUCK THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO MODIFY A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE SOME OF THOSE CALLS TO PROOF OF CONCEPT.
BUT IF WE HAVE ONE ON THE EAST SIDE AND ONE ON THE WEST SIDE, IT ALSO HELPS OUR RESPONSE TIME.
AS CHIEF DUFF JUST MENTIONED, THESE ARE BUILT TO A SPECIFIC SPEC FOR ROLLOVER PROTECTION, FOR SAFETY OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
AS YOU KNOW, THEY CARRY 500,000 GALLONS OF WATER IN THERE.
WATER WEIGHS EIGHT POUNDS A GALLON.
THAT'S A LOT OF MOVEMENT AND IT'S GOT TO BE BAFFLED CORRECTLY, AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS.
THEY'RE NOT MEANT TO DO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH THEM, AND IT'S TIME TO RETHINK OUR RESPONSE MODEL.
>> THE 1,300 OR SO SENIOR FACILITY CALLS, IS THAT MOSTLY CLUSTERED AROUND STATION 1?
>> STATION 1 WOULD BE A GREAT.
>> STATION 1 OR 4, THEY BORDER.
WHETHER YOU DID STATION 1 TRUCK OR STATION 4 TRUCK, I THINK THAT'S THE BEST USE OF THAT.
FROM WHAT I GAVE YOU GUYS, I REDID THIS ONE SLIDE, JUST SO IT MAKES A LITTLE MORE SENSE, 54% OF OUR CALLS DID NOT NEED A FIRE APPARATUS.
NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE SENT A FIRE AS OF THOSE.
I DIDN'T GO BACK AND LOOK AT EVERY CALL.
AGAIN, IT'S BEEN CAPTAIN'S DISCRETION.
IF IT'S MRS. SMITH AND SHE HAS A SUMP TOE, YOU DON'T NEED TO GO.
I KNOW SHE BAKES GOOD COOKIES, BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO GO.
THEIR CULTURE IS ONE OF SERVICE AND THEY DO IT BETTER THAN ANYBODY I'VE EVER SEEN.
[OVERLAPPING] I THINK SOMETHING.
>> ANY OF THE RIGHT TOOLS AND IT'S NOT A FIRE ENGINE, IT'S A SMALLER TAHOE OR A BRUSH TRUCK OR SOMETHING.
>> THAT'S GOING TO BE AN INVESTMENT TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE STILL NEED THE FIRE ENGINES.
WE JUST WON'T NEED THEM ON THOSE TYPES OF CALLS.
IT'S FINDING THE SWEET SPOT, AS YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT A LOT ON MONDAY.
WHAT IS THE SWEET SPOT FOR BILLY AND US TO DO THAT? I THINK IN EAST AND WEST REALLY MAKES SENSE BECAUSE YOU CAN COVER THOSE TWO DISTRICTS PRETTY READILY AND YOU'RE GOING TO SAVE SOME WEAR AND TEAR ON THESE.
BUT AT STATION 7, FOR INSTANCE, THEY HAVE AN ENGINE AND THEY DON'T HAVE AN [INAUDIBLE], AND SO THEY GET A CALL DOWN THE ROAD, THAT'S ALL THEY TAKE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THEY HAVE.
>> I HAVE THIS ARTICLE HERE FROM THE NORTH TEXAS SUN AND IT SAYS THAT IN 2019, WE COULD GET A FIRE TRUCK IN 14 MONTHS.
BUT TODAY, WE'RE WAITING ON A TRUCK AND IT'S BEEN THREE AND A HALF YEARS, THAT'S ACCURATE?
>> I THINK IT'S DOWN TO THREE YEARS.
IF I MAY PONTIFICATE A LITTLE BIT, IT'S FRUSTRATING TO ME THAT THE MANUFACTURER CAN CHARGE ME WHAT THEY CHARGE ME TODAY FOR A TRUCK THAT'S GOING TO BE HERE THREE YEARS.
YOU KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF COST IN THERE THAT SOMEBODY'S BUYING A LAKE HOUSE WITH THAT, I DON'T KNOW.
[01:10:03]
BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO OUR TAXPAYER, AND IT'S A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM.IT'S NOT A FIRE PROBLEM, AND IT'S NOT JUST ONE MANUFACTURER DOING IT.
AGAIN, WHEN YOU HAVE PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS BUYING THEM ALL UP, IT'S A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM.
I THINK OURS NEED TO BE STOCK UNITS OR SMALLER UNITS BUT WE STILL NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY MEET THE SPECS TO TAKE CARE OF AND PROTECT OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
>> I WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH ONTO THIS TOPIC AND NOT ONLY DID THEY RAISE PRICES, BUT THEY SHUTTERED MANUFACTURING.
THEY DID IT DURING COVID WHEN WE WERE ALL GETTING GRANTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THEY BASICALLY RAMPED DOWN PRODUCTION.
THE CONSOLIDATION TOOK A LOT OF THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING OUT, SO IT DROVE THE PRICE UP OF EVERYTHING.
THEN INSTEAD OF RAMPING UP PRODUCTION TO MEET DEMAND, THEY JUST LET THE TIMELINE STRETCH.
IS IT ALSO TRUE THAT IN SOME CASES THEY'LL RAISE THE PRICE ON YOU UPON DELIVERY THAT THEY CAN CHANGE THE PRICING FROM BEGINNING TO END?
>> NOT WHO WE USE, WE LOCK IN OUR PRICE AND THEY'RE PRETTY GOOD ABOUT HONORING THAT PRICE.
WE TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PREPAY DISCOUNT WHICH SAVES US A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY.
BUT JOHN AND MEG ARE RUNNING THOSE NUMBERS ALL THE TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT MAKES SENSE FOR US.
WE ALWAYS, OF COURSE, RELY ON THEM TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THE SMARTEST THING.
NOW WHAT WE'RE DOING IS JUST BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY THE WHOLE TIME, WE'RE INVITING OTHER MANUFACTURERS IN TO SAY, WHAT'S YOUR PRODUCT AND THAT SORT OF THING.
ANY ONE OF MORE FIT NEED, AGAIN, IT'S AN ENGINE, IT'S A TRANSMISSION, AND IT'S A FIRE PUMP. THEN A BIG TOOLBOX.
AN ICE CAP, SAFETY CAGES, AND ALL THAT STUFF.
BUT ESSENTIALLY, THEY'RE THE SAME THING.
WE'RE NOT MARRIED TO A PARTICULAR MANUFACTURER, WE WANT QUALITY, WE WANT GOOD VALUE FOR A SYSTEM.
WE'VE GOT TO TAKE OURSELVES OUT OF THAT SYSTEM AND RETHINKING IT.
I KNOW WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES WITH THE SQUAD MODEL, WHERE WE'RE BRINGING OUT MORE APPROPRIATE VEHICLES.
THIS IS DEFINITELY WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO HEAR THIS STRATEGY AND I WOULD LIKE US TO MOVE FORWARD AND QUICKLY.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. WE'RE WORKING WITH TOWN STAFF TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE DO IT, WHAT METRICS WE NEED TO CAPTURE, AND HOW WE CAN SHOW IT BENEFITS, RESPONSE, AND ENSURES THE SAFETY OF OUR GUYS AS WELL.
>> YOU HAD MENTIONED REFURBISHING.
ARE THERE COMPANIES THAT ARE ACTUALLY DOING FIRE? [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE ARE. THEY'RE POPPING UP BASED ON THE MARKET, AND THEY'RE SEEING WHAT DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM IS SEEING THAT THE PLACE IS FILLED WITH WHAT'S GOING ON.
HE'S EXACTLY RIGHT. SOME OF THE THINGS IN THE RESEARCH SHOW THAT.
THEY CONTROLLED SUPPLY AND THE DEMAND WAS STILL THERE.
IT'S ALMOST TAKEN FOR GRANTED THAT CITIES AND TOWNS NEED FIRE ENGINES, AND SO NOT TO THROW ANY MANUFACTURER UNDER THE BUS, BUT WHERE WE'RE SERVICE FOCUS, THEIR PROFIT FOCUS.
TO YOUR QUESTION, THEN THESE HAVE POPPED UP TO GET IN THE MARKET TO SAY, HEY, HOW CAN WE REFURBISH THOSE? THAT'S NOT MY HAT OF EXPERTISE.
THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING TO LEAN ON BILLY AND SAY, BILLY, IS THIS A SMART MOVE.
WE BROUGHT THAT TO HIM LAST YEAR AS AN IDEA AS THESE ENGINES ARE COMING UP WE'VE TALKED TO HIM AND THEY'VE GONE TO A PLACE AND TOWARD IT TO SEE WHY AND HOW THEY DO THAT.
BILLY HAS SOME CONCERNS THAT THEY'RE WORKING BACK AND FORTH ON TO GET ADDRESSED TO SEE IF IT'S A VIABLE OPTION FOR THE UNITS THAT WE MAY PURCHASE IN THE FUTURE, OR TAKE ONE THAT WE WERE GOING TO AUCTION AND JUST REFURB IT IF IT'S MAKES SENSE.
>> WHAT'S FAILING ON THE ORDER TRUCKS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW? DIESEL GAS?
>> A BIG PROBLEM IS DIESEL, AND SO THAT DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER IS EXPENSIVE.
WE DO A GOOD JOB OF PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE.
OUR SHOP DOES A GREAT JOB OF PREVENTING MAINTENANCE.
BUT IT'S A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS THAT WE HAD A LOT OF TURBOS GO OUT, WE'VE HAD A STUFF GO OUT.
THEY'RE HEAVY, AND THEN WE PUT LOTS OF TOOLS ON THERE.
THEY'RE HEAVIER, A LOT OF WATER ON THERE.
SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. BILLY'S THE EXPERT TO SPEAK TO ALL THAT.
I KNOW HE HAS A REPORT ON WHAT IT IS.
I JUST GET THE DOLLAR. I GET THE BILL.
IN OUR BUDGET, I SEE THAT AND IT'S INCREASING.
CHIEF D, JUST MENTIONED SOMETHING.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE DID, I BROUGHT THIS TO COUNCIL SEVERAL YEARS AGO IS WE SWITCHED AMBULANCE MANUFACTURERS
[01:15:03]
FOR THE SAME REASON BECAUSE SOME OF THEM WERE THE SAME COMPANIES.WE SWITCH TO A COMPANY WHERE I COULD REFURB THE BOX.
WE WANT TO TRY TO GET MAYBE 5-6 YEARS OUT OF THE CHASSIS IN THE BOX, TAKE THAT BOX, REFURB IT, PUT IT ON THE NEW CHASSIS.
THAT'S GOING TO SAVE US ABOUT 80 OR $90,000.
NOW WE'VE EQUIPPED ALL THOSE AMBULANCES THAT WAY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
WE SWITCH FROM DIESEL TO GAS AMBULANCES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE DISTANCES THAT SOME NEED THOSE DIESELS FOR, BECAUSE OUR HOSPITALS ARE REALLY REALLY CLOSE.
IT MAKES SENSE. IT'S A BETTER PER MILE COST FOR US.
IT ALSO HELPS WITH NOT HAVING DIESEL PARTICULATE PROBLEMS WITH THE DEAF FLUID AND THOSE THINGS.
>> I'M SLOW TONIGHT BECAUSE I'M HAVING A HARD TIME COMING UP WITH THE RIGHT WORDS TO CONVEY HOW DEEPLY I APPRECIATE YOU AND OR WHOLE FIRE FAMILY.
YOUR DATA DRIVEN DECISION MAKING, YOU CAN TELL BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A POKER FACE.
BUT I LOVE HOW DETAILED YOU ARE IN LEAVING NO STONE UNTURNED AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ALWAYS LOOK, HOW CAN WE GET BETTER? WE'RE DOING THIS NOW, WE'RE DOING WELL, BUT HOW CAN WE DO BETTER? I CAN BARELY EVEN EXPRESS HOW HAPPY I AM AND HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO YOU AND EVERYONE IN FIRE FOR DOING THAT IN ADDITION TO ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU DO AS WELL.
I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS.
I'M VERY THRILLED ABOUT YOUR ISO 1.
I'M EXCITED FOR YOU TO COME BACK AND TELL US WHEN IT'S ALL OFFICIAL.
MY QUESTION IS NOT THAT ANYTHING REALLY KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT LIKE IT'S COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLED.
I KNOW SOME THINGS DO KEEP UP AT NIGHT JUST BECAUSE HOW YOUR BRAIN WORKS.
BUT IS THERE ANYTHING LOOMING OR IN YOUR PERIPHERY THAT IS A CONCERN THAT WE HAVEN'T QUITE ADDRESSED YET THAT YOU NEED MORE HELP FROM US IN ADDRESSING?
>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THOSE KIND WORDS, AND I DRIVE THESE TWO CRAZY BECAUSE OF THAT, JUST SO YOU KNOW BECAUSE I DO NEED TO BE BETTER AT TAKING TIME TO CELEBRATE OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
I NEED MY WHOLE CREW, ALL 148 BEAUTIFUL SOULS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
IT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO THEM, IT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO FOR THEM, BETTER EDUCATION, BEING BETTER AT YOUR JOB, GETTING MORE SKILLS, JUST EVERY DAY, FIND ANY WAY TO BE BETTER FOR THE CITIZEN.
THERE ARE SOME AREAS IN THE TOWN THAT DON'T HAVE A WATER SUPPLY BUT WE HAVE CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR THAT AND WE HAVE RESOURCES FOR THAT, AND I'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM THAT PLANS FOR THAT.
MINE IS THE THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT THAT I WON'T BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF? THAT'S WHAT KEEPS DRIVING ME TO THE NEXT ACCOMPLISHMENT OR THE NEXT THING.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN SO RESPONSIVE WHEN WE COME UP AND IF I TELL YOU THERE'S A NEED, YOU GUYS HELP ME FEEL THAT NEED.
TOUGH QUESTIONS, AND I WELCOME TOUGH QUESTIONS BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S THAT VALUE PROPOSITION FOR THE CITIZEN, AND WE'VE GOT TO BE THERE FOR THE CITIZEN.
WE'RE HIRING A LOT OF YOUNG FOLK, AND THEY'RE GREAT, THERE'S A LOT OF TIME THAT GOES INTO TRAINING THEM.
IF I HAD ONE FEAR IS THAT WE'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH TO GIVE THEM EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF STRESS IN THESE JOBS.
THEY HAVE TO SEE THE THINGS THAT NO HUMAN SHOULD HAVE TO SEE, AND I'M SO INCREDIBLY SORRY FOR THEM.
BUT WE SIGN ON FOR THAT, WE SIGN UP TO DO THAT.
IT'S MAKING SURE THAT THE RESOURCES ARE THERE FOR THEM TO LIVE A LONG, HEALTHY LIFE IN A FULFILLING CAREER TAKING CARE OF OUR FLOWER MANE CITIZENS.
>> DUB TELL IN ON THAT REAL QUICK, THE MENTAL HEALTH PIECE OF IT.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE SUFFICIENT MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR YOUR OFFICERS?
>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S THAT. [OVERLAPPING] BUT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE IMPLEMENTED.
PD DOES A WONDERFUL JOB, AND THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE FOR US IF WE NEED THEM.
WE HAVE A CHAPLAIN THAT WE PUT ON BOARD AS A VOLUNTEER.
THEY HAVE SEVERAL CHAPLAINS, AS YOU KNOW.
THEY COME AND PRAY EVERY COUNCIL MEETING THAT WE COULD LEAN ON.
WE ALSO HAVE PEER SUPPORT THAT WE INVESTED IN AT THE GUYS GIVE THEM THE TRAINING THEY NEED.
WE HAVE A DENTON COUNTY PEER SUPPORT AS WELL.
THERE'S CALLS THAT ORGANICALLY IT HAPPENS.
YOU DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONE THAT JUST PUTS THAT PERSON THERE AND THEY'RE NOT COMFORTABLE TALKING TO THEM, THEY NEED TO TALK TO SOMEBODY THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH.
THERE'S A WHOLE HOST OF DOORS,
[01:20:02]
AND THEY CAN USE THE TOWN'S EAP IF THEY NEED TO.IF IT'S SOMETHING WHERE THEIR MARRIAGE OR THEIR FINANCES, OR THEY CAN PULL DOOR NUMBER 2, AND IT'S A CHAPLAIN OR DOOR NUMBER 3 IS A CLINICAL PSYCHIATRIST.
WHATEVER THAT IS, AND JUST HAVING ALL THOSE DOORS POPULATED.
WE USE A LITTLE APP CALLED LIGHTHOUSE TO BE THE SIGNPOST FOR THAT.
IF YOU NEED HELP, YOU NEED HELP AND THERE'S SOMEBODY YOU CAN TALK TO.
OF COURSE, THAT DOESN'T GET USED A LOT, BUT I CRY ON JERRY SHOULDER EVERY DAY.
BUT THERE'S A LOT THERE, AND THEN THERE'S THE PROFESSIONAL THINGS.
IFF HAS A CENTER THAT A COUPLE GUYS HAVE GONE TO WHEN THEY'RE STRUGGLING.
WE'RE SO FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN THE METROPLEX.
THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT WE CAN SEND THEM TOO.
>> I HAD THE SAME QUESTION, BRIAN.
I KNOW A YEAR AGO, I THINK I WENT TO ONE OF THE TRAININGS THAT I OBSERVED YOU HAD A COUNSELOR THERE AND YOU WERE DOING TRAINING WITH THE STAFF AND FAMILIES.
THAT WAS A COUNSELOR THAT DID THAT TRAINING.
DO YOU STILL HAVE THAT? [OVERLAPPING]
>> FOR OUR ROOKIES WHEN THEY COME ON BOARD WE INVITE THEIR FAMILIES.
WE WERE INCLUDED IN THE PENNING, BUT BEFORE OR AFTER THE PENNING, WE'LL FEED THE FAMILIES AND WE'LL HAVE A COUNSELOR TALK TO THEM BECAUSE THE FAMILY MEMBER IS GOING TO BE ONE THAT SEES IF THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON IF THEY'RE STRUGGLING, AND GIVING THEM THE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE IT NUMBER 1, AND THEN SEEK TO GET HELP NUMBER 2, IF IT'S SOMETHING THEY NEED HELP.
BUT FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, YOUR LEADERSHIP, THE ASSISTANT CHIEFS LEADERSHIP, ALL THE WAY TOP TO BOTTOM, TOP BATCH ORGANIZATION.
THANK Y'ALL DO A GREAT JOB, AND I DO LOVE THAT YOU'RE STRIVING, AS A MENTIONED TO CONTINUALLY GET BETTER, FIND OUT WHERE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE DAY TO DAY, THE EMS RUNS, THE FIRE, THE PREVENTION, THE EDUCATION PIECE.
YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, BUT WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? WHAT ARE THE PLANS? IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE OUTLIER EVENTS, A TRAIN DERAILMENT? WE HAD A SMALL AIRPLANE GO DOWN A FEW YEARS AGO.
LUCKILY, IT WASN'T A TRAGIC SITUATION, BUT WE HAVE A FEW AIRPORTS AROUND US.
THOSE BIG TYPE OF EVENTS THAT WE DON'T SEE EVERY YEAR, WE DON'T SEE EVERY DECADE MAYBE, BUT HOW DO WE KEEP THAT TOP OF MIND AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TRAINED AND PREPARED FOR THOSE SITUATIONS? GOD FORBID IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN.
>> GREAT QUESTION. I'LL PUT ON MY EM HAT FOR A MINUTE.
WE PLAN FOR THE WORST AND PRAY FOR THE BEST.
BUT WE JUST HAD A BIG EXERCISE FOR THE WHOLE NORTH TEXAS METROPLEX, INVOLVED IN THAT WITH OUR AMBUS.
I FORGET WHAT THE EVENT WAS THIS YEAR, BUT WE GO TO THAT EVERY YEAR AND WE TRAIN WITH THAT.
WE CONTINUALLY IN THAT 192 HOURS OF CE THAT WE EACH, INCLUDING THE CHIEFG HAVE TO GET, WE THROW SCENARIOS AT THEM.
OUR TRAINING DEPARTMENT DOES A GOOD JOB OF PROVIDING THE TRAINING, DETAIL TRAINING FROM TABLETOP EXERCISES TO FULL SCALE EXERCISES.
WE ALSO BRING EM IN, AND EVERY YEAR WE DO A EOC EXERCISE.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE DON'T DO PUBLICLY WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT WE'RE DOING MONTHLY.
WE HAVE A WHOLE TRAINING CHIEF CALLS AND WORK GROUPS THAT GET TOGETHER AND PLAN THESE THINGS AND FIGURE OUT, WELL, WHAT IF THIS HAPPENED?
>> FROM THE TIME I WAS A LIEUTENANT TO NOW, YOU ALWAYS DRIVE BY.
WHAT IF WE HAD A JOB IN THAT BUILDING? HOW DO WE TAKE THAT ON? THAT IS ENCOMPASSING IN OUR PREFIRE PLANS, UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE THREATS COULD BE.
THEY DO A WONDERFUL JOB WITH ACTIVE SHOOTER, AND WE HAVE SWAP MEDICS THAT ACCOMPANY THEM, AND SO WE TRAIN ON THAT EVERY YEAR.
BUT WE TALK ABOUT WHAT IF I THINK THE EXERCISE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WAS SEVERE WEATHER AT THE INDEPENDENCE FEST.
WE DID ONE WHERE A PLANE CRASH RIGHT THERE AND ALL THESE SCENARIOS.
SOMETIMES THE KIDS GET AGED UP AND IT'S A FUN DAY FOR THEM.
WE DO SHATTERED DREAMS AS WELL FOR DRUNK DRIVING AND AWARENESS, BUT THAT HELPS US WITH OUR SKILLS AND OUR EXTRICATION SKILLS BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY GOOD AT I DON'T MEAN TO MEAN ANYTHING, BUT THE BREAD AND BUTTER.
THE THINGS WE RUN ALL THE TIME.
LEARN TO DO THAT BECAUSE YOU GET TO PRACTICE IT.
IT'S THE THINGS THAT WHAT IF THIS HAPPENED? WE HAVE HOW MANY PLANES FLIERS EVERY DAY, AND THERE'S ONLY A FEW THAT HAVE THE R SPECIFICATION OR THE AIRCRAFT RESCUE.
D IS OUR FIRST CALL, BUT WE KNOW HOW TO SET UP THE SCENE FOR SAFETY UNTIL THEY GET THERE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE THE EXPERTS IN EVERYTHING. WE CAN'T BE.
[01:25:01]
AND WE'VE GOT THINGS, POLICIES, PROCEDURES THAT ARM THAT CAPTAIN WITH SECURING THE SCENE AND MAKING SURE THE FIRST INTERVENTIONS, WHICH ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ARE DONE UNTIL THE OTHER HELP GETS THERE.>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? GUYS. THAT ISO INFORMATION WAS REALLY GOOD BECAUSE WHEN I DO COMMUNITY EDUCATION, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE ISO RATINGS AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ISO 1 AND 2, AND HOW THAT AFFECTS THE SAVINGS FOR THE RESIDENTS AND COMMERCIAL.
THAT WAS REALLY GOOD INFORMATION.
IT WAS VERY THOROUGH INFORMATION.
I'M IN HEALTHCARE, SO I LOVE THIS STUFF.
BUT IS THERE ANYTHING TO DOVETAIL ON ANN'S QUESTION? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WOULD HELP THE RESPONSE TIME? RESPONSE TIME IS QUITE GOOD, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR, EQUIPMENT-WISE, THAT WOULD HELP RESPONSE TIME?
>> I TELL YOU WHAT TIME, WHAT'S BEEN A HUGE IMPROVEMENT IS, AND I DON'T OWN THIS.
CHIEF KLAN OWNS IT, BUT HE RESPECTS OUR NEEDS IN CAD.
WE'RE NUANCED IN CAD, AND THERE'S A LOT OF IF THEN STATEMENTS.
IF THIS CALL HAPPENS, YOU GOT TO SEND THIS UNIT IN THIS UNIT, BUT IF THAT UNITS OUT, YOU GOT TO SEND THIS UNIT, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT TO DO THIS, YOU GOT TO DO A LOT OF STUFF THAT GOES INTO OUR RESPONSE MODEL.
THEY'VE MADE TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENTS OVER THERE.
THEY'VE LISTENED TO US, THEY'VE INCORPORATED OUR NEEDS.
WE HAD AN ISSUE WITH WHO WE CALL SAMANTHA.
THAT'S OUR ELECTRONIC DISPATCH.
THERE WAS A 32ND LAG THAT HAS THROWN OFF OUR RESPONSE TIMES.
BUT THE TIME THEY GOT THE CALL AND SAMANTHA TOLD US IT WAS A CALL.
WE FOUND THAT. IT WAS BUGGING CHIEF D AND I FOR A LONG TIME.
THEY FINALLY FOUND THE SOURCE OF THAT AS A PIECE OF ERRANT CODE, WE FIXED THAT, AND THAT TOOK A LOT OF COOPERATION BETWEEN CHIEF'S STAFF AND OUR STAFF.
WHY THE STATIONS ARE WHERE THEY'RE AT, AND SOME OF THEM ARE THERE JUST IN CASE, AND FOR RESPONSE TIME AND ISO COVERAGE.
THEY'RE NOT AS BUSY AS CENTRAL AND FOUR, AND THREE, BUT THEY'RE THERE BECAUSE WE GOT TO GET OUT QUICK.
REALLY, IT'S JUST ARMING PEOPLE WITH KNOWLEDGE AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S A SEAMLESS TRANSITION FROM CALL TAKING DISPATCH, THEY'RE JUST UNSUNG HEROES BECAUSE THEY GOT TO GET IT, THEY GO TO GET IT LOGGED, AND DISPATCH IT.
CAT IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL.
I THINK FROM THE OTHER THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE QUICKER IN A SQUAD BECAUSE THE AMBULANCE CAN GO PRETTY QUICK AS CHASSIS, TAKES A LITTLE BIT MORE TO GET THAT ENGINE OUT.
THOSE TYPES OF THINGS AND WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT.
BUT I CAN PROMISE YOU IF IT'S GOING TO WORK, WE'LL SHOW YOU THE DATA AND WE'LL INVEST IN IT IF WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO WORK.
THAT'S ON OUR MINDS ALL THE TIME.
THERE ARE SOME AREAS IN THE TOWN THAT ARE PROTRACTED.
WE HAVE HIGHLAND VILLAGE HELP US.
THE TOUR 18 TO GET ALL THOSE ROUNDABOUTS. THAT'S 8 MINUTES.
YOU KNOW HOW SIX IS CLOSE, BUT IT'S STILL A WHILE TO GET UP THERE.
IT'S THOSE TYPES OF CHALLENGES AND WORKING WITH JASON BOLEJACK WHO LINES THESE THINGS OUT WHEN THEY COME AS DEVELOPMENT.
EIGHT IS GOING TO HELP THAT IN THE FUTURE AS THAT STARTS DEVELOPING, WE TO FIX THAT PROBLEM.
PLACES LIKE POINT NOBLE THAT ARE JUST EXTENDED TO GET TO AND WE'RE JUST KEEP DOING OUR BEST TO GET THERE.
BUT I THINK AS I TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS AND THOSE THINGS, IF WE HAVE TRIED AND TRUE DATA THAT SAYS, WE'LL START ENGINE THAT WAY EVENTUALLY AND GET THERE QUICKER.
>> HOW ABOUT WITH THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW TO FACILITATE RESPONSE TIMES AS WELL, IS THERE ANY REDUNDANCY IN STREET NAMES OR IS THERE ANY TRANSPORTATION ISSUE THAT.
>> WE'RE PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THE STREET NAMES AND MAKING SURE THAT IN OUR DATABASE, THAT IF THERE'S ANY ISSUES, WE FLAG THAT AND ALERT OTHER TOWN STAFF TO THAT? BUT WE'RE NEVER AFRAID TO RAISE A CONCERN.
WE GOT A LITTLE OPTICS, SO WE CAN CHANGE THE LIGHT WHEN WE NEED TO.
BUT IT'S AN EDUCATION PIECE TO FOR MY GUYS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT TUNNEL VISION TO THAT EMERGENCY BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S EXCITING.
BUT IN THE MOMENT YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THINGS SAFELY, AND USE THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS IN THE RIGHT WAY.
[01:30:02]
THEY DO A GREAT JOB OF THAT.THEY LOVE THEIR SIREN SOMETIMES.
BUT, IF THERE'S ISSUES THAT POP UP, WE WORK WITH STAFF TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE CORRECT.
WE HAVE A HYDRANT INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM WORK SESSION THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE.
>> IF I COULD, JUST BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO TRIPLE TEAM THIS ONE.
THANK YOU. I HAVE ASSISTANT CHIEF BOLEJACK START OFF.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MANNY PALACIOS AND OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO END UP WITH JOSE MENDEZ.
BUT ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, WHEN YOU DRIVE AROUND TOWN, YOU'LL HAPPEN TO NOTICE YOU'LL DRIVE BY A HYDRANT THAT HAS A BLACK BAG OVER IT OR A SUBTLE RING THAT SAYS OUT OF SERVICE ON IT.
DO OCCASIONALLY GET CALLS, YOU ALL AS COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY RECEIVE EMAILS FROM FOLKS THAT SAY, I GOT A BAG ON THE HYDRANT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.
NATURALLY, THE RESPONSES I'M CONCERNED.
YOU'VE HAD FOLKS FILE OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS, TRYING TO GET INFORMATION, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
WE DO HAVE RESOURCES ON OUR WEBSITE THAT HAS ALL THIS INFORMATION, HAS A NUMBER THAT YOU NEED TO CALL FOR THIS INFORMATION.
I DID IS, I WANTED TO PUT THIS ON HERE TO HAVE A PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND THIS IS GOING TO INFORM WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT ON OUR WEBSITE.
WE WANT FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE DO AS FAR AS MAINTAINING THESE ASSETS AROUND TOWN.
BUT ALSO MORE IMPORTANTLY, GET SOME ASSURANCES BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED, WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S A FIRE, AND I CAN ASSURE PEOPLE, YOU'RE GOING TO BE FINE.
AS YOU SAW, CHIEF HENLEY'S PRESENTATION, WE'RE PREPARED FOR ANY SCENARIO.
WE'RE NEVER GOING TO SHOW UP TO FIGHT A FIRE, AND CAN'T FIGHT IT.
WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT DONE.
BUT THIS JUST GIVES A SENSE OF HOW WE MAINTAIN IT, AND IT'S A HANDOFF BETWEEN MULTIPLE WORK GROUPS.
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IN PARTICULAR, THE GROUPS HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO STAY ON TOP OF BASICALLY 4,700 HYDRANTS IN A TOWN OF FLOWER MOUND.
JUST WANTED TO SET UP THE BACKGROUND AND WHY WE'RE BRINGING THIS PRESENTATION OUTWARD AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO ASSISTANT CHIEF BOLEJACK.
>> HEY, GOOD EVENING. HOW ARE Y'ALL THIS EVENING? TO GO OVER THE HYDRANT PROGRAM, WE JUST WANT TO WALK THROUGH WHAT THE PROGRAM IS, WHY IT MATTERS, AND HOW IT WORKS, HOW THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS WORK TOGETHER TO MANAGE IT.
HYDRANTS ARE ONE OF THOSE SYSTEMS THAT PEOPLE RARELY EVER THINK ABOUT UNTIL IT ACTUALLY BECOMES A PROBLEM.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE TONIGHT, AS JAMES HAS ALLUDED TO WITH THE BLACK BAGS AND STUFF.
THROUGH ANNUAL INSPECTIONS, FLUSHING, FLOW TESTING, AND MAINTENANCE, WE REDUCE HYDRANT FAILURES, PROTECT PROPERTY, AND SUPPORT THE TOWN'S ISO RATING.
OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THE HYDRANTS WORK EVERY TIME TO MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE.
WHY THE HYDRANT PROGRAM MATTERS.
FIRE HYDRANTS ARE THE TOWN'S PRIMARY CONTINUOUS WATER SOURCE.
PERFORMANCE FAILURES MAY LEAD TO DELAYS IN SUPPRESSION AND POSSIBLY HIGHER PROPERTY LOSS.
IF A HYDRANT FAILS, FIREFIGHTERS CAN LOSE TIME, PRESSURE, AND CONTINUOUS WATER SUPPLY.
THAT CAN INCREASE PROPERTY DAMAGE AND RISK TO LIFE.
THE PROGRAM DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE FIRE RESPONSE CAPABILITY AND ALSO SUPPORTS THE TOWN'S ISO RATING.
THIS IS OUR INVENTORY AND SYSTEM OVERVIEW.
WE HAVE 4,676 HYDRANTS IN FLOWER AMOUNT.
EACH ONE OF THOSE REPRESENTS AN ASSET THAT MUST BE CHECKED ANNUALLY.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS HYDRANTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC WORKS.
WE GO OUT AND DO THE INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE, AND TESTING, AND PUBLIC WORKS DOES THE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT.
PURPOSES AT A HIGH LEVEL JUST TO ENSURE OPERATIONAL READINESS.
BUT WE GO OUT TO ENSURE EVERY HYDRANT AND FLOWER AMOUNT IS FUNCTIONAL, ACCESSIBLE, AND CAPABLE OF DELIVERING A RELIABLE WATER SUPPLY.
THIS PROGRAM IMPROVES OPERATIONAL READINESS, PROTECTS LIFE AND PROPERTY, MAINTAINS IS CODE COMPLIANT, AND SUPPORTS LONG-TERM WATER SYSTEM PLANNING.
AS CHIEF HENLEY TALKED ABOUT IN HIS PRESENTATION, FLUSH VERSUS FLOW, WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER THAT A LITTLE BIT, AND WHEN IT'S REQUIRED, AND WHO REQUIRES IT.
IT'S JUST THE PROCESS OF OPENING THE HYDRANT TO FLOW WATER.
WE FLOW IT FOR A SET PERIOD OF TIME.
THIS IS TO REMOVE SEDIMENT DEBRIS AND STAGNANT WATER FROM THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.
FLUSHING IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF WATER.
IT VERIFIES HYDRANT OPERABILITY AND ENSURES THE HYDRANT VALVE BARREL AND WATER MAIN ARE FUNCTIONING AS INTENDED.
HYDRANT FLUSHING IS SIMPLY OPENING THE HYDRANT, FLUSHING THE WATER UNTIL IT'S CLEAR.
ISO AND NFPA REQUIRE 100% OF ALL OUR HYDRANTS TO BE FLUSHED ANNUALLY.
[01:35:03]
HYDRANT FLOW TESTING.THIS IS WHEN WE ACTUALLY HOOK UP TO THE HYDRANT WITH GAUGES.
WE FLOW A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT FOR A SET AMOUNT OF TIME, AND WE GET THE RESIDUAL PRESSURE AND FLOW RATE OF EACH HYDRANT.
THIS IS HOW WE VERIFY GPM TO THE HYDRANT.
FLOW TESTING TAKES THE STATIC RESIDUAL AND PT PRESSURES AND CALCULATING THE FLOW RATE AND GPM.
YOU COULD SEE THE FORMULA THERE THAT'S USED.
THIS ENSURES FIREFIGHTERS HAVE ADEQUATE WATER PRESSURE AND FLOW FOR EMERGENCIES.
THIS IS ALSO AN ISO & NFPA REQUIREMENT THAT 20% OF OUR TOTAL HYDRANTS ARE OR FLOWED ANNUALLY.
MAINTENANCE VERSUS A HYDRANT INSPECTION.
THIS IS INSPECTIONS FOCUS ON ACCESSIBILITY, LEAKS AT THE OUTLET.
MAINTENANCE ENSURES HYDRANTS REMAIN USABLE AND SAFE.
IT CHECKS THE THREADS, THE TOP NUT, AND MAKES SURE THAT THE HYDRO DRAINS PROPERLY BECAUSE IN OUR WEATHER, WE HAVE DRY HYDRANTS.
MAINTENANCE, WE CLEAN AND LUBRICATE THE THREADS.
WE ADD OIL AND GREASE IS APPLICABLE.
WE FLUSH THE HYDRANT CLEAR SEDIMENT AND DEBRIS, WE REPORT ALL WATER USAGE TO PUBLIC WORKS, SO THEY CAN TRACK THAT.
REPORT HYDRANT IMPAIRMENTS FOR REPAIR, AND WE ALSO HAVE THE HYDRANT PAINTING PROGRAM, WHICH I THINK YOU'LL ARE ALL AWARE OF.
THIS IS THE OUT OF SERVICE PROCEDURES.
THIS IS WHAT THEY WILL LOOK LIKE IF YOU ENCOUNTER THEM OUT IN THE TOWN.
YOU'LL EITHER SEE THE BLACK BAG OR THE BLACK RING.
WE REPORT ALL THESE HYDRANTS VIA THE HYDRANT MAINTENANCE OUT OF SERVICE FORM, WHICH IS A SHARED DOCUMENT RIGHT NOW.
IT'S JUST AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET THAT WE AND PUBLIC WORKS SHARE.
THE INOPERABLE HYDRANTS ARE COVERED WITH A BLACK BAG.
THIS IS DONE BECAUSE IT'S A QUICK VISUAL REFERENCE FOR FIREFIGHTERS COMING DOWN THE ROAD.
THIS IS THE AWWA STANDARD, BUT WE'VE ALSO JUST SWITCHED TO THE BLACK RINGS, WHICH ARE A LITTLE BIT LESS UNASSUMING, BUT ARE STILL A VISUAL KEY FOR US AS WE COME DOWN THE ROAD.
PUBLIC WORKS WERE ADDRESSED ALL THESE HYDRANTS IMMEDIATELY, AND THEN THE STATUS OF THE HYDRANT CAN BE FOLLOWED IN PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAM, WHICH IS CITY WORKS AND OUR PROGRAM, WHICH IS FIREWORKS.TROUBLESHOOTING.
IF WE DO GO OUT AND WE SEE SOMETHING, WE SEE A HYDRANT THAT IS NOT WORKING, WE WILL DO BASIC TROUBLESHOOTING BEFORE WE REPORT IT.
WE DON'T REPAIR THEM, WE'LL JUST TRY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO RIGHT THERE ON THE SPOT.
FOR HYDRANTS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO OPERATE OR TURN, WE'LL LUBRICATE THEM, WE'LL GREASE THEM.
SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO LET THAT SET FOR A WHILE.
WE MAY HAVE TO COME BACK A FEW HOURS OR A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER AND TRY IT AGAIN.
BUT WE'LL ALWAYS DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAINTAIN THEM BEFORE WE REPORT.
THIS WAS APPROVED IN THE BUDGET AND.
>> A HEAD FOR A SECOND. I'D RATHER WAIT UNTIL THE END TO ASK QUESTIONS, BUT I'M GOING TO INTERJECT HERE.
ON THOSE HYDRANTS THAT HAVE THE BLACK BAGS OR THE BLACK RING.
LIKE JAMES SAID, WE GET A LOT OF COMMENTS, WE GET A LOT OF EMAILS ON THAT.
I JUST WANT TO GET SOME VERIFICATION, AND JUST OUT LOUD, SO PEOPLE KNOW, SINCE WE GET THESE EMAILS.
WHEN THERE IS A BLACK BAG, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU ALL ALWAYS HAVE A HOSE THAT IS LONG ENOUGH TO EXTEND TO THE HOUSE FROM ANOTHER FIRE HYDRANT THAT IS NEARBY, BECAUSE YOU HAVE DIFFERENT LENGTHS, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW IS THAT THERE IS ALWAYS ANOTHER HYDRANT CLOSE BY THAT YOU HAVE A HOSE FOR THAT LENGTH.
>> THAT IS CORRECT, JUST FOR REFERENCE, PER ORDINANCE IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE HAVE HYDRANTS SPACED EVERY 500 FEET, AND THEN COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS, WE HAVE SPACED EVERY 300.
OUR ENGINES CARRY ANYWHERE FROM 800-1000 FT OF FIVE-INCH HOSE.
WE CAN ALWAYS GO TO THE NEXT HYDRANT.
IF IT'S BEYOND THAT FOR SOME REASON, WE CAN DO WHAT THEY CALL RELAY PUMPING.
WE CAN HAVE ONE ENGINE HOOK UP TO THE HYDRANT, GET ALL THE WATER FROM IT AND PUMP IT TO THE NEXT ONE.
WE CAN ACTUALLY CONNECT ALL THEIR HOSES AND PUSH IT THAT FAR.
>> IF I COULD, WE DON'T GET INTO THIS COMPONENT AND THIS PRESENTATION IS A LITTLE BIT DEEPER IN THE PROCESS.
BUT WHEN WE GO AND WE LOOK AT THESE HYDRANTS, THE RISK BASED APPROACH THAT WE TAKE WAS WE ENSURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TWO HYDRANTS THAT ARE IN OPERABLE NEXT TO ONE ANOTHER FOR THAT VERY REASON.
WHEN WE'RE ADDRESSING FIRE HYDRANTS,
[01:40:01]
IF WE HAVE TWO THAT ARE INOPERABLE ONE ANOTHER, WE'RE GOING TO GET ONE OF THEM ONLINE BEFORE WE WORK OFF THE LIST FOR THAT VERY REASON JUST TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE PROPER HOLES LINK.I DON'T THINK WE GET INTO THAT PRESENTATION, BUT THAT'S PART OF THE RATIONALE WE USE AND HOW WE PRIORITIZE THE FIRE HYDRANTS THAT WE ADDRESS.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. AS CHIEF SAID EARLIER, WE CARRY WATER WITH US.
OUR ENGINES CARRY UP TO 1,500 GALLONS, SO THAT'S ABOUT TEN TO 15 MINUTES' WORTH OF FIREFIGHTING RIGHT THERE THAT WE'RE BRINGING TO THE SCENE.
>> FIREWORKS. THIS IS NEW FOR US.
THIS IS OUR NEW RMS SYSTEM, WHICH IS OUR RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
THIS IS WHAT WE KEEP ALL RUN REPORTS, INSPECTIONS, EVERYTHING IN, BUT THIS ALSO MAINTAINS OUR HYDRANT DATA.
NOW IT'S A DIGITAL RECORD INSTEAD OF AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET.
THIS IS IT KEEPS ACCURATE DIGITAL RECORD INSPECTIONS, DEFICIENCY TRACKING AND REPAIR CONFIRMATION.
IT'S GIS-BASED HYDRANT MAPPING, WHICH WE GET FROM OUR GIS DEPARTMENT.
WHATEVER THEY'VE GOT ON THE MASTER MAP IS PUSHED DOWN TO FIREWORKS.
THE RESULT OF THIS BUSINESS IS IMPROVED RELIABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND READINESS ACROSS THE TOWN.
THAT IS MY PART, UNLESS YOU'LL HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ME.
I'LL PASS IT OVER THE REMAINING.
>> THANKS. I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC WORKS AS FAR AS THE FIRE MAINTENANCE ON OUR SIDE.
OF COURSE, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS TO CHIEFS AND CHIEF HENLEY, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER AND COMMUNICATE A WHOLE LOT BETTER ON THIS SO I JUST WANT TO START UP WITH SOME STATUS.
RIGHT NOW, LIKE I MENTIONED, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 76500 IN OUR TOWN.
AS OF NOW AS OF YESTERDAY, WE HAD ABOUT 65 OUT OF SERVICE.
NOW THAT NUMBER FLUCTUATES, AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOWERING THAT NUMBER SOONER OR LATER.
THAT'S ABOUT 1.39%. FIRING THAT NEED MAINTENANCE, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT JUST NEED MAYBE SOME FIRING THAT OPERATES, BUT JUST SOME MINOR MAINTENANCE, LIKE THE OIL PLUG IS BROKEN OR WHAT NUTS LOOSE OR SOMETHING, BUT THEY'RE STILL IN OPERATION.
WE HAVE THAT'S 107, AND THAT'S ABOUT 2.3% OF OF OUR TOTAL NETWORK.
YOU CAN SEE HERE, I THINK WE DISCUSSED THIS ON OUR PRESENTATION WITH PUBLIC WORKS, BUT FIRE HYDRANTS HAVE INCREASED IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
WE PROBABLY ADDED 343 FIRE HYDRANTS WITHIN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
WHAT YOU SEE THERE ON THE MAP, WE DO HAVE PUBLIC WORKS HAVE OUR OWN GIS BASED MAP WHERE WE CAN SEE FIRE HYDRANTS ON GIS, THAT WE CAN SEE WHICH ONES ARE LOCATION WISE, AND ALSO SEE WHICH ONES ARE NEEDS MAINTENANCE AND WHICH ONES ARE OUT OF SERVICE.
THE SERVERS ARE LABELED IN RED.
THIS HELPS US IN OPERATION WISE, AS IF I'M GOING TO SEND A CREW, WE'RE GOING TO SEND A CREW TO GO CHECK A FIRE HYDRANT, THEN WE WANT THEM TO LOOK AT THE MAP.
THAT WAY THEY CAN SEE IF THERE'S ANOTHER ONE NEARBY OR SOMETHING OR NEEDS MAINTENANCE, THEY CAN TACKLE ALL OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME OR THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> WHAT'S OUR TYPICAL TIMELINE TO DO IN OUT OF SERVICE REPAIR?
>> I'LL GO HERE IN A MINUTE, BUT DEPENDING ON THE FIRE HYDRANT.
I'LL DISCUSS THAT HERE IN A MINUTE IN THE TYPES PRIORITY.
I JUST GO TO WANT TO SHOW YOU HERE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF HYDRANT THAT WE HAVE IN OUR TOWN.
YOU CAN SEE, THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT MAKES, DIFFERENT KINDS.
SOME ARE ON THE AGE, THEY'RE PRETTY I GUESS, I WANT TO SAY, PRETTY OLD.
THE MAIN THING I WANT TO CLARIFY HERE IS THEY'RE ALL LIKE THE CHIEF SAYS, AWWA, IT MEETS OUR STANDARDS.
ONE THING IS ATIKA COMMISSION ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REQUIRES THAT MUNICIPALITIES FOLLOW AW STANDARDS, WHICH ALL THESE FIRE HYDRANTS MEET THOSE STANDARDS.
THERE'S NONE THAT DOESN'T MEET STANDARDS.
EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE OLD OR THEY MAY LOOK BAD OR SO, THEY MEET OUR STANDARDS.
CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, ON OUR TOWN STANDARDS, WE HAVE THREE THAT ARE APPROVED.
EVERY TIME YOU SEE A NEW DEVELOPMENT COMING IN, THOSE ARE THE THREE THAT SHOULD BE IN PLACE IN DEVELOPMENT.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT ADDING ONE MORE TO THAT.
THAT'S THE CLOT FIRE HYDRANT THERE.
SOON LATER, WHEN WE UPDATE THOSE STANDARDS, WE'LL HAVE FOUR.
OF COURSE, WE'RE TRYING TO MINIMIZE THOSE STANDARDS.
THAT WAY WE DON'T HAVE SO MANY RANDOM OUT THERE.
ALSO, WE WANT TO KEEP JUST THREE OR FOUR,
[01:45:03]
SO THAT WE CAN HAVE PARTS AND FIRE HYDRANTS AVAILABLE IF WE NEED THEM TO REPLACE.I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS HERE.
BASICALLY, CHIEF SAYS, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOES OUT THERE ANNUALLY, THEY IDENTIFY, THEY INSPECT THE HYDRANTS.
THEY ENTER THE INFORMATION UNDER SOFTWARE FIREWORKS, AND THEN ONCE THAT GET THE INFORMATION, THEY'LL PUT THE INFORMATION ON A SPREADSHEET.
THIS IS JUST THE STANDARD EXCEL SPREADSHEET THAT IS SHARED BETWEEN US AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.
EVERY TIME THEY PUT SOMETHING IN THERE, WE'LL GO IN THERE DAILY OR A TWICE A WEEK AND CHECK THAT LIST TO SEE IF ANY NEW ONES POPPED UP AND SEE YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS AND WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED.
ONCE THEY SET THE PRIORITY FOR THE HYDRANTS.
AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, IF THERE'S TWO THAT ARE OUT OF SERVICE NEARBY OR SO, WE'LL TAKE THOSE PRIORITY, BUT THEN AGAIN, WE'LL RELY ON THEM TO LET US KNOW, WHICH WE NEED TO MEET MORE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
LIKE I SAID, WE'LL REVIEW THE SPREADSHEET.
FIRST THING WE'LL DO, WE'LL UPDATE OUR GIS MAP AND THEN WE'LL SCHEDULE FOR EACH HYDRANT TO BE INSPECTED.
I'LL GO HERE IN A MINUTE ABOUT THE ROUTE TRYING TO FIND AN ASSESSMENT FOR EACH HYDRANT, BUT IT'S PRETTY HAVING NINE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FIRE HYDRANTS, IT'S PRETTY WE HAVE IT'S LIKE I COMPARE LIKE FLEET.
YOU HAVE OLD CARS, NEW CARS, AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE AN OLD FIRE HYDRANT, IT'S ALREADY AT, IT'S HARD TO FIND PARTS.
WHEN YOU HAVE A NEW ONES IT'S PRETTY EASIER TO FIND PARTS SO IT'S AN ASSESSMENT.
IT'S A TIME ISSUE SO ONCE IT'S ASSESS, WE'LL KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.
ONCE THAT WORK ORDER IS PLACED, OUR STAFF IS PRETTY GOOD ABOUT PUTTING ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WORK ORDER.
PARTS NEEDED OR NEEDS TO BE FULLY REPLACED OR JUST NEEDS A NUT OR SO OR WHATEVER IT IS, SO THAT WAY WE CAN START ORDERING PARTS OR FIND A CONTRACTOR TO HELP US REPLACE IT OR OR REPAIR IT.
I LOST MY SPOT HERE. ONCE I REPLACE PUB WORKS, THEN, YOU KNOW, ONCE IT'S ALL WORK ORDER IS COMPLETED, WE'LL GO BACK TO THAT SHARED SPREADSHEET.
WE'LL UPDATE IT, AND THEN PROBABLY JUST SEND IT BACK TO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL THEN LOOK AT THAT SPREADSHEET AND UPDATE THEIR FIREWORKS SOFTWARE.
I WANT TO SHOW YOU THIS IS THE SAME PROCESS, BUT THE WORKFLOW.
THE ONE THAT I WANT TO SHOW YOU HERE THE MOST IS RIGHT THERE WHEN WHEN WE DO CONDUCT AN ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITIZE FIRE HUNDREDS.
THIS IS I THINK OF THE MULLER TYPE.
BUT WHEN MY CREWS GO OUT THERE AND ASSESS A FIRE HUNDRED, IT'S LIKE YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT IS EITHER OLD OR NEW, BUT THEY SOMETIMES THEY HAVE TO EITHER REMOVE THE BONNET HERE.
THEY HAVE TO LOOK INSIDE, PROBABLY LOOKING FOR ANY PARTS THAT ARE BROKEN ON THAT STEM.
NOW, YOU CAN SEE DOWN HERE AT THE BOTTOM, THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT SOMETIMES 4-6 FT DEEP.
USUALLY, WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU SEE THIS BOTTOM THAT STEM, WE CALL THAT THE VALVE.
THAT SPRING USUALLY GETS STUCK OR SOMETHING BREAKS DOWN HERE.
IF THAT HAPPENS, THAT MEANS THAT EITHER THEY HAVE TO EXCAVATE THE WHOLE FIRE HYDRANT OR PULL A SPECIAL TOOL TO UNLOCK THAT STEM.
IT'S REALLY SOMETIMES COMPLICATED DEPENDING ON WHICH ONE IT IS.
SOMETIMES IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT, WELL, YOU'RE EXCAVATING, YOU'RE LOOKING AT A WHOLE A BIG PICTURE, YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS.
THAT'S YOUR QUESTION. IT COULD TAKE PROBABLY A DAY TO ABOUT A WEEK JUST TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.
ONCE WE FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT, THEN THAT'S WHEN WE START LOOKING AT, WHICH PARTS DO WE NEED? WHAT DO WE NEED? ONCE THE PARTS ARE ORDERED, IT COULD BE ANOTHER COUPLE OF MONTHS OR TWO MONTHS OR THREE MONTHS.
>> I'M SURE THEY'RE ALL VERY DIFFERENT INTERNALLY TOO.
>> YES, THEY ARE. THIS IS LIKE OUR PROCESS OR WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW.
CURRENTLY, OUR CREWS, THEY'RE DEDICATING TWO DAYS PER WEEK TO ADDRESS THE OUT OF SERVICE HYDRANTS.
NOW, AS YOU KNOW, ULM, WE DO A LOT OF REPAIRS, WATER MAIN BREAKS, WE HAVE EMERGENCIES.
WE TRY OUR BEST TO DEDICATE OURSELVES TO THE FIRE HYDRANTS, RIGHT NOW OUR GOAL IS TO EVERY WEEK.
WE SENT A CREW TO THOSE OUT OF SERVICE ONES.
WE ALSO WANT TO HIRE CONTRACTORS FOR THOSE FIRE HYDRANTS THAT ARE PRETTY MUCH, NOT RE-VERBAL.
[01:50:05]
WE WANT TO HIRE THEM TO REPLACE THEM TOTALLY.JUST RECENTLY, THE COUNCIL APPROVED TWO CONTRACTS OR APPROVED ONE CONTRACT LAST WEEK.
THERE WAS ANOTHER CONTRACT THAT WAS APPROVED PROBABLY A FEW MONTHS AGO.
MOST OF THESE ARE MORE OF A REPLACEMENT OF FIRE HYDRANT, THE ONES THAT PROBABLY EITHER THE PARTS ARE OBSOLETE OR WE JUST CAN'T FIND THEM.
THOSE ARE ONES THAT WE WANT THOSE REPLACED.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR OTHER ULM PUBLIC WORK STAFF TO HELP OUT WITH THE MAINTENANCE.
NOW, THOSE MAINTENANCE, THE ONES THAT EITHER THE OIL PLUG IS BROKEN, ANY SOMETHING MINOR, WE CAN ALWAYS GET OUR OTHER PUBLIC WORK STAFF TO GO HELP OUT OUR ULM GUYS AND MAKE THAT FIX THOSE MAINTENANCE ONES CATCH UP TO THAT LIST.
ALSO, THE GOOD THING IS NOW THAT WE HAVE AN ASSET LIKE AN ASSET MANAGEMENT TEAM IN PUBLIC WORKS.
THEY'RE KEEPING UP WITH THAT GIS MAP, MAKING SURE THAT ALL THOSE OTHER SERVICE ARE LABELED THAT MAP, AND OUR STAFF ARE LOOKING AT THAT MAP SO THAT WE CAN HELP OUT WITH THE OPERATIONS.
ALSO, SAME THING AS CAPTURING ALL THOSE MISSING FIRE HYDRANTS AND ADDING ALL THE NEW ONES WITH THE DEVELOPMENT.
AS YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS HAVE STAFFING CHALLENGES.
WE'RE DOWN STAFF, SO WE ALWAYS TRY OUR BEST TO KEEP UP WITH THOSE CREWS, KEEP UP WITH THE WORK ORDER WITH THE WORKLOAD AND EITHER WITH A SHORT STAFF SOMETIMES, BUT WE'LL TRY OUR BEST TO KEEP UP WITH IT AND THAT I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MAN. EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL.
JUST LIKE THE SIMPLE GRAPHIC, IT INSERTED ITSELF INTO THIS PROCESS.
AS PART OF OUR REVIEW OF HOW CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS MANAGED, WE IDENTIFIED A TECHNICAL GAP BETWEEN THE INSPECTION IN PUBLIC FIRE AND THE PUBLIC WORKS MAINTENANCE FOR FIRE HYDRANTS.
WITH RECORDS MAINTAINED SEPARATELY, IT REQUIRED MANUAL COORDINATION.
TO ADDRESS THIS, THE TOWN IS IMPLEMENTING AN AUTOMATED WORKFLOW THAT CONNECTS THE INSPECTION FINDINGS DIRECTLY TO THE MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES THROUGH A SINGLE AUTHORITATIVE GIS SYSTEM.
THAT'S WHAT THIS GRAPHIC DEMONSTRATES.
THIS ENSURES THAT THE INSPECTION RESULTS IMMEDIATELY DRIVE MAINTENANCE ACTIONS WHILE REPAIR STATUS AND ASSET CONDITIONS ARE VISIBLE ACROSS DEPARTMENTS IN REAL TIME.
THE RESULT IS REDUCED MANUAL EFFORT, FASTER RESPONSE TIMES, IMPROVED REPORTING ACCURACY, AND BETTER ACCOUNTABILITY, WHILE LEVERAGING THE TOWN'S EXISTING TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A CONTRACTOR TO HELP US IN MATURING OUR ASSET LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT, AND THEY RECOMMENDED THE SOFTWARE.
THEN JUST TAKE THEIR WORD, WE CONFERRED WITH OTHER SIMILAR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, DENTON, DENT COUNTY, LOUISVILLE.
WE ALSO FOUND THAT OTHER LARGER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE AUSTIN, DALLAS, SAN ANTONIO UTILIZED IT.
THIS ALLOWS US TO MAINTAIN ACCOUNTABILITY AND INTERCONNECT THESE DESPERATE SYSTEMS AND VISUALIZE EVERYTHING IN OUR GEOSPATIAL MAPPING.
>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU ALL HAD THAT?
>> JUST APPROVED IT ON MONDAY?
>> WE DON'T HAVE ANY WE DON'T HAVE ANY UPDATED INFORMATION YET.
IT'LL TAKE WHAT, MAYBE THREE OR SIX MONTHS BEFORE WE REALLY SEE THE DATA?
>> THIS WILL DO WITH THE SHARED SPREADSHEET, RIGHT?
>> I'M GOING TO BELIEVE PORTION FOR QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY FOLLOW UP.
>> FOR THE NUMBER OF OUTER SERVICE FIRE HYDRANTS, ARE WE SEEING THAT STAY STEADY OR DECREASE OR INCREASE? I KNOW THE EAST SIDE IS AGING.
I WOULD ASSUME WITH THE SERVICE REQUEST FOR SEEING AN INCOME.
>> I THINK FOR NOW, WE'RE IT'S IMPROVING.
IT'S NOT LIKE I SAID, IF IT'S AN OLD FIRE HYDRANT, AND WE CAN REPAIR IT.
THE LIFESPAN OR THE LIFETIME OF A FIRE HUNDRED IS PROBABLY ABOUT 100 YEARS.
EVEN MAY BE AS LONG AS WE KEEP ON THE MAINS ON IT, LUBRICATING IT AND DOING ANYTHING WE CAN, I THINK WE SHOULD BE BUT TO YOUR QUESTION, WE'RE IMPROVING WE'LL GET BETTER.
>> IS IT RELATIVELY EASY TO GET SERVICE PARTS FOR THIS?
SOME KIND OF NEW ONES, PROBABLY FASTER.
THEN AGAIN, THE MAKE OF THE MODEL.
SOMETIMES DEPENDS ON THE LEAD TIME BECAUSE BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THEY'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT THE OTHER DAY, THERE'S PROBABLY LIKE 20 MANUFACTURED FIRE HYDRANTS, AND THEY'RE ALL OVER THE US, AND THERE ARE SOME IN NORTH OF US, SOUTH ALL OVER THE PLACE.
I GUESS YOUR QUESTION DEPENDS ON THE PART OF THE LEAD TIME.
>> JUST SOMETHING MAYBE TO CONSIDER WHEN WE EVALUATE THE FIRE HYDRANT SUPPLIERS THAT WE REQUIRE WITHIN FAR AMOUNT IS FINANCIAL STABILITY.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE AROUND FOR 100 YEARS,
[01:55:02]
SO WE CAN USE THEIR PARTS.BUT WELL, APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> MAY, IF I COULD, BEFORE WE WRAP UP.
THIS IS NOT A REACTIONARY COMPONENT.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE STARTED A MONTH OR TWO OR THREE AGO.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE WERE WORKING ON A BETTER PART OF TWO YEARS WHEN TWO GROUPS SAT AROUND AND WE JUST ASSESS HOW WE WERE GOING ABOUT IT, AND I WANT TO COMMEND.
BOTH CHIEF HENLEY, AS WELL AS BRIAN WALTENBERG, OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AND HIS PREDECESSOR.
BEING ON THAT LONG, CLAY RIGS FOR THEIR EFFORTS, WHERE WE SAT DOWN AND WE REALLY JUST FIGURED OUT, HOW DO WE HAND THIS OFF PROPERLY? HOW DO WE STREAMLINE THE PROCESS? WHAT WE SHARE TONIGHT IS A CULMINATION OF A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF WORK OVER TIME.
AGAIN, ULTIMATELY, THE MAIN THING IS THAT WE WANT THIS INFORMATION TO POPULATE OUR WEBSITE.
IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS, IF YOU GO TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE, THERE IS A LINK ON THE SIDE THAT TALKS ABOUT HYDRANTS, PAINTING, AND MAINTENANCE.
THERE IS A NUMBER THAT FOLKS CAN CALL.
IF YOU SEE A BAG OR OUT OF SERVICE OR YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT A HYDRANT, PLEASE CALL US AND TALK TO US ABOUT IT.
WITH THIS I CALL IT THE TECHNICAL TURN OF API.
WHEN WE HAVE THAT, WE WANT TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN SHARE IN REAL TIME WITH A RESIDENT, HEY, THIS IS THE STATUS OF YOUR HYDRANT, AND THIS IS WHEN YOU EXPECTED TO BE RESOLVED, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
REALLY THE ENGAGEMENT, I WAS JOKING WITH SOMEBODY OTHER DAY.
I WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
IT'S LIKE TRYING TO HIDE THIS.
IT'S VERY APPARENT WHEN A HYDRANT IS OUT AND WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH SOMEBODY REACHING OUT TO US.
GO TO THAT NUMBER ON THAT WEB PAGE.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS PRESENTATION, PUT IT ON THE WEB PAGE SO FOLKS CAN BE EDUCATED ON HOW THE PROCESS WORKS.
BUT AGAIN, JUST COMMEND THE TEAM FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS.
AGAIN, AS MUCH AS I WOULD LOVE FOR THE NUMBER TO BE 0.00%.
HAVE 4,700 ASSETS, MOVING PARTS, INTRICATE, THINGS ARE GOING TO GO OUT.
BUT IF WE CAN KEEP IT AT THAT 1% AND LOWER RATE, I FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT WHERE WE'RE AT AND LIKE WE SAID, WE TAKE THAT RISK BASED APPROACH.
JUST MAKE SURE THAT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS WHAT THEY NEED IF THEY GO OUT ON A CALL AND HOW WE PRIORITIZE AND NATURALLY, THE FACT THAT WE'RE GETTING THE IN ROWS THAT WE'RE DOING WITH SOME OF THE SHORTAGE THAT WE'RE HAVING ON THE ULM SIDE, IS ALSO SHOWS THE WORK THAT MANY AND HIS TEAM ARE DOING JUST TO TRY TO BALANCE EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE ON OUR PLATE.
BUT JUST WANTED TO STATE, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG PROCESS.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE PICKED UP A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNCIL DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING MORE ON THIS EVENING'S WORK SESSION TO ADD TO ANY FUTURE AGENDA TO VERIFY.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE THIS IS OUR FINAL VALUE OF MUNICIPAL WORK SESSIONS SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THE PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT.
I THINK WE LEARNED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT.
OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD BE VERY CONFIDENT IN OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR SURE.
THE TIME IS NOW 7:59, SO THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. GOOD NIGHT, FLOWER MOUND.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.