Showing posts with label fire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fire. Show all posts

Thursday, February 16, 2023

UPDATED 2/16: Council Authorizes Electric Fire Engine Purchase, Service By 2026

Electric Fire Engine, Pierce Manufacturing

On Feb. 7, 2023, Redmond City Council authorized the acceptance of a grant toward the purchase of the City’s first electric fire engine. The Fire Department applied for and received a grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology, which covers 25% of the costs of the electric engine
program

Redmond will be the first agency in the state to receive the grant, and the engine will be the first electric fire engine in Washington, as well as one of the first few in the country.   

The Pierce Volterra electric fire engine is the first to enter service and has proven effective in its years of use. The project’s total costs, including charging infrastructure, are $2.3 million, of which the grant will pay for nearly $600,000. It is estimated to take about 25 months to receive the new unit now that it has been ordered, as each Volterra engine is built to order. 

Madison, Wisconsin, currently has an electric unit in service, and new electric units will enter service this year in Portland, Oregon, and Gilbert, Arizona. In preparation for this project, Redmond Fire Department personnel visited Madison, Wisconsin, where a Volterra engine has been in service since 2021. They met with Madison’s fire personnel to discuss their experience with the electric engine and its benefits.

“We’ve learned the benefits of these new electric engines reducing fuel costs, and with its backup diesel engine, it will be even more reliable than a traditional diesel engine,” said Mayor Angela Birney. "Quieter operations also help our first responders communicate at the scene of an incident and keep our Redmond community safe." 

Redmond’s Environmental Sustainability Action Plan targets 2030 for city operations to achieve carbon neutrality. The electric fire engine will contribute towards this goal, and its location at Fire Station 12 will also reduce diesel emissions in the vicinity of the station. 

Redmond’s grant is from the Washington State Clean Diesel Program and Volkswagen Settlement Grant Program, in cooperation with the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) grants program administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The DERA program funds state and local governments to replace or modernize old diesel vehicles with alternative technologies.

-- Jill E. Smith, Communications Manager
    jesmith@redmond.gov, 425-556-2448 

NOTES:

$600,000 grant. Total project cost: $2.3 million

AMAZON may support the program in some way. 

Council Member David Carson was concerned about the short 18-month trial of the Michigan prototype and longevity of the batteries. Michael Despain, COR Fire Department, said the batteries will last 7-9 years and will require a second series of batteries in the lifetime of the truck.  (The typical lifetime of a Redmond fire engine lasts 20- 25 years.)   

It's hard to believe, but even with the diesel back-up, among other features, Despain said $8,000 per year will be saved in maintenance. 

Truck available ~late 2025

-- Bob Yoder, Notes, 2/15/2023

Source:  1/24/2023 "Council Committee of the Whole Meeting - Parks and Environmental Sustainability," CM David Carson, Presiding officer.  Meeting video and agenda:  https://redmond.granicus.com/player/clip/2495?view_id=2&redirect=true&h=b2a2ea34d14425db8f2aa904a2e709b8

Sunday, May 15, 2022

$1,308,150 Overtime Costs From Nine Firefighters Refusing Vaccination.

 


Quarterly Overtime Report January 1, 2021 Through March 31, 2022 

Citywide overtime costs are 130.3% of budget versus a 62.5% target for the biennium largely due to unanticipated overtime related to the Fire and Police response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Excluding unbudgeted costs that are fully reimbursable (i.e., related to the pandemic and development agreements), citywide overtime costs are 117.6% of budget. 

Fire Department Overtime costs are 145.1% of budget versus a 62.5% target for the biennium primarily due to the following: 

Extraordinary or Unanticipated Events: 

o COVID-19 Pandemic: $561,903 in unbudgeted overtime costs related to the staffing of vaccination programs and testing sites. These costs are fully reimbursable by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Washington State Patrol, King County Public Health, and Microsoft. 

o February 2021 Snow Event: $12,809 in unbudgeted overtime costs. 

o December 2021 Snow Event: $37,860 in unbudgeted overtime costs.

 o Vaccination Mandate: An estimated $1,308,150 in unbudgeted overtime costs to backfill for 9 positions that opted to not get vaccinated. 

Monday, March 21, 2022

2007 Public Safety Levy


A significant investment that has contributed to Redmond’s strong emergency services system
 is a property tax levy approved by voters in 2007. For more than a decade, this levy has provided essential support in keeping our Fire and Police Departments staffedincluding funding for 18 firefighters and 17 police personnel.

However, over the last 15 years the purchasing power of the levy has decreased over time. Revenue from the levy by law can only grow 1% every year – but expenses have increased approximately 5% every year, rapidly outpacing revenue. The 2007 levy can no longer support the same services it once did. Our growing community and evolving public safety needs require additional investments now to ensure a safe and supportive system for everyone.

 Retaining critical staff working to keep us safe, $3.5 million

  • The 2007 property tax levy approved by voters included funding for 18 firefighters (enough to staff an additional aid car and a new fire station) and 17 police personnel.

  • Revenue from the levy by law has only grown 1% every year, while expenses have increased approximately 5% every year, rapidly outpacing revenue.

  • $3.5 million will retain 18 firefighters (enough to staff a new fire station) and 17 police personnel.  

-- Bob Yoder, 3/21/2022
    `Source: Council meeting memo

The 2022 "Public Safety Levy" is: $10,392,872/year or ~ $28.33/month or ~ $340/year on a $1 million house.  Property taxes will be $0.34 per $1,000 assessed valuation.  $3.5 million will go to retaining 18 firefighters and 17 police personnel.

Saturday, March 19, 2022

Fire Chief Adrian Sheppard Describes Public Safety Levy Needs


"The 2022 Public Safety Levy will raise fire fighting capabilities by 50%"
-- Fire Chief Sheppard

Fire Chief Adrian Sheppard gave a brief presentation to the Council Committee of the Whole about his 2022 Public Safety Levy needs.

  • Mobile Integrated Health Full Time Employee (FTE)  $359,574
  • Upgrade Station #16 "Engine Company" 12 FTE  $2.1 million
  • Upgrade Station #17 "Engine Company" 5 FTE  $776.50 
  • Councilmember Anderson asked about the meaning of "Engine Company."  Response not heard.

TOTAL ANNUAL FIRE  LEVY COST $3,200,000 (31% of the 2022 Public Safety Levy.)

 If passed, the total annual "Public Safety Levy" is: $10,392,872/year or ~ $28.33/month or ~ $340/year on a $1 million house.  Property taxes will be $0.34 per $1,000 assessed valuation.

-- Bob Yoder, 3/19/2022, Source: CCOW - Safety, 3/15/2022