HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Oro Valley Fire Advisory Board - 2/8/2001 MII�TUTES ORO VALLEY FIRE ADVISURY BOARD - REGIJLI�R MEETING C�MMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HOPI CONFERENCE ROOM � 11,000 N. LA CANADA DRIVE THURSD�IY, FEBRUARY 8, 2001 CALL TO ORDER: 6:00 P.M. ROLL CALL TOV STAFF: Terry Vosler � B OARD MEMB ERS PRESENT: John Barbee Lonnie Berry Ray Cottini Arlene Ozburn James McCormick � Richard Tracy AB SENT: Al Cook � � ; � Ron Koslowski � �, I / __ r� APPROVAL OF JANUARY 11, 2001 MIl�TUTES MOTION: Richard Tracy moved to approve the January 11, 2001 minutes. Arlene Ozburn seconded the motion. Motion carried 6—0. � Mr. Cottini was welcomed to the Board. Mr. Cottini stated his background consisted of 36 1/2 � years in the fire service and the last 31 years was at the City of Chicago Fire Department with 16 . of those years as a lieutenant. � VICE-MAYOR LASALA WILL ADDRESS THE BOARD Vice-Mayor LaSala stated he would support any decision the Council makes because they were . all elected to do the same thing. The recommendations he made, he felt very strongly about, but � - � for whatever reason, the Council chose to do what they did. That is the direction he is going in and the.,position that he is going to support. Hovvever, he did have a long talk with each council � �nember and none of them wish to go back to the days of the past in Oro Valley where things were split, sides vvere divided, names were called and things happened. There was no desire to� do that. He stated the Town is moving forward and we are moving forward. The Board has done ari amazing j ob to this point. What has been done, is done and the Board has an - - opportunity in the futu.re to do more good for the Town. He wants the Board to be smart and to� . � , . `��� .s do good things. He stated that when decisions are made, we need to move forward and when the � Fire Advisory Board Minutes 02/08/2001 Page 1 of 6 Council rnal{es a dec�sion that is contrary to what the Board might recommend, we need to lnove � forwardo The Board has the oppo�tunity to do a lot of good things, going back to �vhere everyone � dvas is not going to get us there. In speaking with 1VIro I�oslowski recently, to achieve the best fire � and emergency service for rJro Valley that it can prov�de is Mr. Koslowski's goal. Setting the standards that the Board comes up with and debating those standards will be part of getting there. �Tice�Ma�or LaSala stated that he is behind the Board and supports them and wishes them all the luck in the vvorld in tlze next couple months in�°inish�ng th.is task and moving forward into vvhatever recornxnendations corne from the Cou.ncilo �Ie expects this committee to be carrying those recom�nendations forth to the public and�vaving the flag on ito Questions were opened to the Board by the acting Chair, Mro Barbee. Ms e Ozburn stated she was not on the previous Fire Advisory Committee, but the�were given a task and they gave the Council suggestionss She felt that the Council did not get vvhat they wanted so now there is another Boarde She asked w]hen the cu�rent Board gives suggestions, what is going to happen? She told Vice-Mayor LaSala.that she believes that he �s vvent to the Council and told therr�his perception of the Fire Adv�sory�oard��eeting,then they called a rneeting and the Board went to it and got juxnped ono She said that no one asked what really happenedo She believes the Council only got the�Tice-IVlayor9 s side. She �s now questioning �vlletller the �oard�s�vorking in vain. She said tl�at s�nce Vice-1Vlayor I,aSala called a meeting the �oard no�v has eigll$ (�) �nerr�bers. Vice-Mayor LaSala stated that their work is not being done in vain. The Council wants what is best for the Town. I�e stated he did not intend for the Board to have eight(8) members. Richard Tracy stated that in spite of Vice-1Vlayor LaSala's previous comment about not wanting to be involved in this�za�ne calling stuff, as he re�nembers, there was a lot of back-biting and one thing that Vice-Mayor LaSala did not stop doing was back-biting. Wl1en he went to Council to take John Barbee off, he bit him right in the bacl{and it was a low down sneaky rotten thing to doo Mr. Tracy stated he felt it was beneath his role, outside of his role as liaison to Council, it certainly was not a reflection of anything that occurred in the Board lneeting. He stated that John Barbee put ilz a vast ainount of research for tlle Board. He stated that Vice-Mayor LaSala went behind the Board about Jol1n not being worthy as a Board member; unless the ,Vice-Ma�or wants to deny that he is the one that tried to engineer hirn off so that Ray could be number seven(7) on the Board. 1VIr. Tracy stated that 11e was offended by it and that he was initially a supporter of Vice-1Vlayor LaSala. 1VIra Tracy requested to l�ow why he did it and for Vice-Mayor LaSala to be honest with the Board. He asked hinz if anyone ox�the Board had complained to him about Jollns �ice-Mayo�LaSala stated he had two (2) conversations with Mr. Koslowski tellin�hirn that it vvas becolning an "us versus thean" and that 1l�Ir. Koslo�vski must to pull in John: He told 1VIr. Koslowski that John was bringing up too man� divisive issues. I-�e stated he had comrxients frol� both fire providers, he had comments from individuals on the Fire Advisory Board so he tall{ed to Mr. Koslowski, who doesn't recall it happening. There were things that were done and said that indicted to Vice-Mayor LaSala that it was probably not in the best interest of the Board. There was nothing personal against anyone there and he could care less if people agree or Fire Advisory Board Minutes 02/08/2001 Page 2 of 6 disagree,he doesn't rxiind when people disagree with him, as that is hovv things get done. He � stated h�s suggestion vvas to bring Jollri�n and talk to hirr�. It vvas suggested to him that this was being dealt with fo�a while, no progress was made, the term�vas over and it was time to move or1. He chose to do it all in one n�ght. 1VIr, Tracy asked who �uns the Boarde Do�s the �oard run it? Does the Staff run it`? Does �Vice- Ma�or LaSala run it? I�oes Council run it? Or does the Board rur�it? �Iice-l�ayor I,aSala stated that the Board governs itself. Mr. Tracy asl�ed if Vice-1l�Iayor LaSala if he felt that being the case, that they had a right to NOT revoke one of their ov�n members. He wanted to 1{now�vhy this was not discussed at a Board meetin�before.�t vvas brought to Council. Vice-Mayor LaSala stated he had that choice and maybe he chose the wrong path. Mra Tracy insisted he had yet to hear why he did ite Mro Tracy stated the �oard is independent thinkers, who bounce different opinions and different strengths of opinions until they arrive at a rnajority9 if not a consensus. , IVIr. Tracy told Vice-Mayor LaSala that he had denied them a voice by going behind their backs to get rid of one of their members, �vhich has no�v caused them to ha�e eight (8)members. IVIr. � Tracy wanted to know whose idea it was to recommend to Council that Barbee not be re- appointed a�zd whose idea was it to reco�nrnend to Council that Cottini be appointed? Vice- �Vlayor LaSala stated that it was his recorrimendationo I�e said Mra Cottini told hin�that if there were ever a position on the�oard that he vvould be vvilling to serve, Vice-1Vlayor LaSala asl�ed �11111$O �JU.�11��.Il a,p�JI1C�.t10I�. It was a xecommendat�on by staff and supported by hiln and it was a decision that�vas defeated by the Councilo IVIr. PI'racy said staff and Vice-IV�ayor LaSa1a did not run the�oard, the Council dide I-�e felt that Vice-Mayor LaSala should be responsive to them, He wanted to l�zow why Vice-Mayor LaSala did not tell the Council the truth. He wanted to - l�ow what�Tice-1Vlayor LaSala told the Councils �Iice-Mayor LaSala stated he did not want to � ���,---�' g�t 111t0 lt9 he would discuss it in private vvith hilno I�Iro Tracy said no, in private he would apologize, but out there he would not say the truth. I-�e wanted to l�1ow the truth on why he did not want Barbee on the Board, he did not want to hear what someone said in a private rneeting. Vice-Mayor LaSala stated that in his opinion and in the opinion of others some of the comments and recommendations.that Mr. Barbee made �vere very slanted in comparing the providers and not providing standards for the Town, but trying to separate the providers and show vvhich one is better than the other. That has never been the focus, IVIre Tracy asked if Vice-Mayor LaSala had ever read the votes, did he know what the recoralmendations to Council weres Vice-Mayor LaSala stated that is not the focus of the Board. The focus of the Board is to provide standards for the Tovvn. It is not to say who can do what, but to set the standards for the Town. After rec�uesting the Chairman to control th.e situation and that not happening; he chose the route through the Council. Mr. Tracy stated his problem was that Vice-Mayor LaSala served as liaison to the Board and according to the description of liaison, he vvas outside the scope of being liaison to the Boarde He did not give Council the�oard9 s vie�vv; he vvas giving Council his personal view, Vice-Mayor LaSala accepted that. Ii/Iro Tracy stated that he liked the v�ork Mro �arbee has done for the Board and that no one has done more work trying to get the facts and to get them on the table than Mr. Barbee has. Everyone knows that he has an opinion and that he has freely expressed his opinion, but he gave facts besides his opinion. Votes have occurred because of it. If the votes were read9 they were not unfair to anyone. I-�e suggests that if the Vice-1Vlayor has suggest�ons that he have the Chairman bring it up to tl�e Board and to let them vote on it. Vice- Mayor LaSala stated that he could have handled it better, but he did not feel that his motion , would have been any different. �, ; , . Fire Advisory Board Minutes 02/08/2001 Page 3 of 6 ;.`� Chief Fink, Golder Ranch�ire, stated that he took exception to Vice-l�ayor LaSala9 s comanent � �����"�� that he had heard frorri both providerse Chief Firil�wanted to clarify his cornxnents on Mre � �arbee, �hich were because Johr�was so vocal in h�s opinion that he supports one prov�der over t11e other, Chief�ink wanted to make it clear to Vice-1Vlayor LaSala that John Barbee was not his personal spokesman nor the spokesman for Golder IZancl�Fire, John Barbee had h�s own opinions and he�nay have voi�ced thern strongly9 but that did not rriean he was Golder Ranch � F�re�s spokesrnane Chief F�nk stated he�ool{offense to �Tice-1Vlayor LaSala using comments he made to him as support when he tr�ed to rernove 1VIxo �arbee fro�the Boardo I-�e let it pass at Council meeting, but he refused to let it pass againe �1ce-IVlayo�°LaSala replied that sorneone frorn �older l��.nch Fire told hirn that every t�rne 1VIro �arbee opens his�nouth he�nakes C�older l�anch Fire nervous. Chief�ink stated it�ni�ht be that person's opinion, but that does not rriean that anyone from his Department vvants IVIro �arbee or any other Board member rerrioved frorr� tl�e Boarde I�e felt the Board was doing a�reat j ob and while he disagrees vvith IVIr. Barbee and other Board mernbers at time�s, that is part of the process. None have had personal contact from him, they are ind�ependent thinkers and while they inay request research inforn�ation from him � � that is as far as it may�goes. � (A1�Cook arrived at 6e 13 p.m. and apologized for his lateness, which was due to being on another � � town con�rnittee that often coincides with the ]�ire Ad�risory�oard) (Mayor Loomis arrived at approximately 6:15 p.m.) � � � ��� Herb Rutt, an Oro Valley citizen, wanted to know what the mandate of the Board was, what the ����---��'` Council wanted, and if there was anything in writing on what�was to be done. He stated that �while Vice-Mayor LaSala felt the Board was off track, he has been to all the rrieetings excep�t one (1) and he has not seen where it was off track. �-Ie asked that Vice-Mayor LaSala explain how it vvas off the track. � � Vice-Mayor LaSala stated that Ron, Chief Sharp, and Councilman Wolff spoke with him�the previous week and they agreed the Board was where it should be. The Board has provided the � Council with the standards that the Council needs to have a Study Session. Short-term goals and � . �long-term goals are all going to take care of thernselves as the standards get flushed out. �'hey need to stay or�track and move forward. � � Johri Barbee ren�inded���e-1Vlayor LaSala of the July 20th meeting "Scope of Work"requested from the Board. �ased on that first meeting�s directive,the�oard has been Working�on those � � guidelines the entire time. His question to Vice-1Vlayor LaSala was with all�the Council � Members that he spoke to individually, has the�oard's results and information been provided to� � � � � them. �Tice-Mayor LaSala stated that this would occur during the upcoming Study Session. �-Ie � �nterpreted the�Scope of Work differently than IVIre �arbee. He stated it could be accomplished � without�the strong bias that was being presentede I�e believed it was taking the Board in a � � direction that he did not believe it should gos �ice-Mayor I,aSala stated he is supporting the Council's decision to keep the Board with eight (8) men�bers. He is listening and Watching what � is going on. Ms. Ozburn suggested having Council members take turns attending the meet�ings to � � � get an overall opinion of their work. � � � � � � �� �;� ; . �� � , ��r r Fire Advisory Board Minutes 02/08/2001 Page 4 of 6 DISCiTSSIOl�T Al�TD POSSIBLE AC�'IOl�T Ol�T�IE PQTENTIAL FOR A TIE VOTE MOTION: Lonnie Be�-ry moved to accept the language as wri�ten�n the l�ober�t's IZules as stated for a tie�ote per pages 400 and 401 e 1�1 Cook seconded the motiono A discussion occurred on the pros and cons of a tie vote. The �oard agreed that a compromise could be reached, as they have not had a problem in the past. Motioned �arried 7-0. (rnoved to item �'ive (5) for convenience of 1�1 Cook) DISCUSSION ON SUPPORTING UPGRADIl�TG OF WATER HYDRANTS AND MAINS The Town is lopsided in adequate water rnain servicea 1VIro Cook recommended proposin�to Tov�n Council the following: "Resolved, that the Town of Oro �Ialley be encouraged to maintain its effo�s already under way to impro�e the water distribution systen� of ex�sting anains and hydrants through.out the ToWn where they are belovv nationally recognized standards for fire flowa The Fire Advisory Board cons�ders these iinprovements a�natter of high priority and the To�vn's responsibility to coinplete as soon as possibleo99 MOTIOl�To Jol�Barbee moved to adopt�VIr. Cook's resolution into the current presentation to the Council. Seconded by �Ir, COtt11110 � � Discussion: This would be a long-term goals Mayor Loomis stated that the Water Company has ,--- passed their Master Plan, which has been approved by the Council and has priorities already set , and will be ongoing._ Upgrading the Oro Valle� Water I�istrict Nurnber One (1), which is the rnain area of concern that is beng talkin� about, is �n the budget for the futureo T'he T'oWn has kriown about the de�'iciency since the Town took o�er O�T 1 about two (2)to three (3)years ago, Part of the bonding that was used to purchase the company was also used to do the immediate upgradese Now the Town is proceeding to u�grade that area as the Water Company is able to afford it. The motion ca�ried 7-0. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION O�N RECOMMENDATION TO THE TOV'VN COUNCIL OF THE FOUR(4) PREFEI�.RED CHOICES FOR FIR� SERVICE ♦ Municipal Fire Department ♦ Oro Valley Fire District � ♦ Annexation into the Golder�Zanch F�re District ♦ One Provider l�Torth of Tangerine voted and was annexed into C�older Ranch Fire District. South of Tangerine has service provided, but it was not voted on. Legally the Town is fine, as the service provided is adequate. The Town is at 30,000 and is growing. It could benefit from a stable fire system. Jeff , Weir, Economic Development Director, has stated to Vice-Mayor LaSala that a single stable fire � ; .__�<< Fire Advisory Board Minutes 02/08/2001 Page 5 of 6 �` providin� ser�ice vvould help the Town as it pro�ides the nevv people vvith kr�o�vledge of vvhat ; `� they are gettin�o The Town's General Fund does not have the�noney for a single providero L ��--�� A single provider rneans everyone pays sorne type of assessment. There will be, with a single provider, a tax, The �'owr� can not afford to do �t on�ts o�vn. If the standards are basically the sa�nne as what vvere presented in the Strategic Plan,then basically�t is known vvhat it vvill cost. So all the vvork is done. If we do not start, we will never accornplish ite Mro Co�ini stated that the Tovvn�s past the point of having a fire department already, There vvill not be a vote at the Study Session, but it will be put on an a�enda and t�ie�oard will be given fu�-ther direction on what they vote one The question arose whether the Tovvn has the authority to open itself up to bids Town-wide, which would include the current Golder Ranch�ire I�istri�t within the Towne 1VIro Vosler�s to research this information for the Study Session. The Legal Department will provide the legal aspects on this issuea Vice-Mayor LaSala stated a proj ected tirnetable for a�°ire departrnent is approxi�nately two (2) years, if seriousa I!/�ro Barbee�equested to be on record that there have been a lot of serious c%t�zens in thYs T'own for four (4)years, that the To�rn needs serious council members. DISCUSSION REGARDING ITEMS TO BE I'Y�ACED ON NEXT MEETIl�TG AGENDA February 22, 2001 vvill be a Study Session��th the T"own Council and the Fire Advisor� Boardo � Terry Vosler vvill provide a brief presentation at the Study Session on what the�oard has accomplished. The Council will ask questions on recommendations made. The Fire Advisory Board will give the Council understanding of the work they have done and the rational for the � , -- o . . � recommendatlon(s)e � � ,,�_ .`:f� The agenda for the March 8, 2001 Fire Advisory Board Meeting will include: ♦ A�proval of the minutes. ♦ I�ebriefing on the Study Session ♦ Other ♦ Discussion of items to be placed on the following meeting ADJOURNMEl�TT MOTION: Al Cook xnoved to adjourn. Seconded by Richard Tracy. Motion carried 7 - Oe 1Vleeting adj ourned at 8:20 p.m. Respectfully subxnitted Diane Little, OVPI� Adrninistrative Secretary ��" � . .1 � '�.��" , Fire 1�dvisory Board Minutes 02/08/2001 Page 6 of 6