HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-01-29 City Council Minutes - Joint Workshop Session\ \
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JOINT WORKSHOP SESSION
Caldwell City Council Members
8
Caldwell Rural Fire Commissioners
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Caldwell City Hall (205 N 6th Ave)
Council Chambers, Rm 100
Caldwell
AGENDA
WORKSHOP FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING
CALDWELL RURAL FIRE DISTRICT SERVICE ENHANCEMENT
Posted: January 16, 2025
CALDWELL CITY COUNCIL
JOINT WORKSHOP
City of Caldwell and Caldwell Rural Fire District
SPECIAL MEETING
JANUARY 29, 2025
4:00 p.m.
Mayor Wagoner opened the meeting in the Caldwell City Hall, Council Chambers, at 205 South 61 Avenue.
Council Members Present: Councilor Doty (virtual), Councilor Stadick, Councilor Register, Councilor Williams, Councilor
Allgood, and Councilor Dittenber.
Others in attendance:
Rural Commissioner Chairman Steve Jahn
Rural Commissioner Buzz" Beauchamp
Rural Commissioner Curt Krantz
Rural Administrative Chief Mark Wendelsdorf
Rural Treasurer Debra Steiner
Fire Chief Rick Frawley
Deputy Chief Bryan Daniels
Deputy Chief Alan Perry
Logistics Specialist Tom Carlsen
Chaplain Phil Whitbeck
Administrative Coordinator Lorina Herb
Project Coordinator Bianca Stevenson
IAFF Local 1821 President Kolby Kerbs
IAFF Local 1821 Vice President Cody Trosky
IAFF Local 1821 Treasurer Chase Jablonski
IAFF Local 1821 Member Bryan Walker
City Finance Director Raelynn North
(WORKSHOP FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING CALDWELL RURAL FIRE DISTRICT SERVICE
ENHANCEMENT)
Fire Chief Richard Frawley and Deputy Chief Bryan Daniels provided an overview of the partnership arrangement and
expansion plans with Caldwell Fire Department and Caldwell Rural Fire by use of a PowerPoint presentation. The following
information was provided:
• Most recently the partnership has been strengthened by the Rural Fire District's support to additional response
vehicles and the funding of refurbishment costs for a fire engine.
• As growth continues to challenge services throughout Canyon County, both agencies continue to look for ways to
enhance services and create a vision for the future.
• 2024 Number of calls: 8,068
0 85.3%- CFD City
0 12..21% Mutual Aid Response
0 2.33% Mutual Aid Responses
o Units Responses: 10,244
• Staff Initiative: Proposal to increase staffing with an additional Squad.
o Staffed with two personnel
o Response coverage across the City and Rural District
o Maintaining Water Tender staffing
o Goal to place personnel in service April 1, 2025
o Focus staffing to ensure experience personnel assigned
o Backfill positions with six new firefighters
o Notus Fire Station has been updated to support 24-hour staffing
o Apparatus purchased by the Rural District is available for staffing
o Staffing for the News Fire Station will enhance emergency coverage for the rural areas of Canyon County
o Additional personnel will support increased call volume needs by adding an available unit: Squad #18
o Current challenges with level zero would see a reduction in impact
o Water tender operations would be enhanced
o Additional staffing of a squad would reduce response needs for a larger fire apparatus
Cost Analysis
o Current contributions for Fire and Life Safety Services Agreement: $2,272,447
o Agreement designates Caldwell Fire Department as the response agency for the cities of News, Greenleaf,
and potions of Middleton
o In 2023, CFD approved the addition of a Wildland Division Chief, which is included in the service
agreement cost. Position was developed to enhance service delivery in the rural response area and aimed at
recruiting part-time or paid on call personnel.
o After unsuccessful recruitment for the Wildland Division Chief position, the Rural District sought a new
approach to meet its goals regarding personnel, response times, and staffing at Station 18.
District Proposal
BOOK 66 PAGE 21
o Eliminate the position of Wildland Division Chief and the part-time program, reallocating those funds tc
meet the increased service demands in the Rural District.
o Secure additional funding to cover the costs of hiring six firefighters, with a commitment to a long-term
funding source and relationship with the Caldwell Fire Department
o Agree to provide equipment, uniforms, and funding for the start-up costs associated with hiring new
personnel as well as upgrades to stations and facilities
Caldwell Fire Department Administration Team Efforts
o Plan and project three years of expected operational costs for service expansion as requested by the Rural
District
Caldwell Rura Fire District Actions
o CRFD is making improvements to Notus Fire Station #18 at the request of CFD. These incudes
modernization efforts and equipping the facility to expand services
o Costs all defined, including wages, benefits and overtime to provide staffing
o Finance, CRFD and Firefighters Union all brought to the table for discussion and verification of the
deployment models and cost plan
o All startup costs agreed to be fully funded by the Rural District, in addition to continuing the current Service
Agreement
Deployment Model
o Staff Notus with assigned Captain and Engineer (24/7)
• Leadership advantages
• Added flexibility to CFD daily staffing
Additional extra resources (water tender, brush fire response, personnel)
Staff Squad 12 and (2) Firefighters
Under the supervision of Station 12 Captain
Added flexibility to CFD daily staffing
Maintain a quick response model for lower acuity incidents
• Less wear & tear on engines
• Station 12 relief
• Building resources pool of personnel for Station 4
Next Steps and Requested Consideration
o Legal review and draft contract given terms and finances discussed today
o Approve stand-alone agreement for the provision of staffing Fire Station 18 in Notus at the February 18 City
Council meeting
o Begin staffing Station # 18 as soon as improvements are complete or near substantial completion
o Approve the addition of six (6) firefighters upon initiation of the contract (as funded by this agreement) and
authorize the CFD to begin the hiring process with anticipation of personnel starting March 25, 2025
In response to questions from Mayor Wagoner, Kolby Kerbs, IAFF Local 1821 President provided comments in support of the
proposal.
In response to questions from Councilor Stadick, Rural Fire Chief Wendelsdorf reported that Rural Fire is staffed through the
partnership with Caldwell Fire.
In response to questions from Councilor Williams, Raelyno North (Finance Director) reported on the financial aspects of the
proposal. He inquired if the possibility of sharing services with other communities such as Wilder and Sand Hollow had also
been considered.
In response to questions from Councilor Stadick, Ms. North reported that no ARPA funds would be obligated to the proposal
The workshop adjourned at 4:46 p.m.
APPROVED AS written THIS
Counci
DAY OF February 2025.
Councilor Dittenber
ATTEST:
Debbie Geyer, City Clerk