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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />OCTOBER 9, 2013 <br />noted that typically day time response times are longer. Morelan indicated <br />that the Little Canada Fire Department's day time response time is <br />approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Morelan felt that this was a good response <br />time, but felt that in the future the City may not be as fortunate as it has <br />been in having people who can respond to week day calls. Therefore, the <br />Little Canada Fire Department would like to run a pilot program during <br />2014. This program would have one duty crew consisting 4 people, 4 <br />hours per week. Morelan indicated that the fire fighters would be paid $12 <br />per hour for this work. He noted that the annual budget amount is <br />proposed at just under $11,000. Morelan indicated that the Fire <br />Department would evaluate the program to determine if it is worthwhile. <br />Blesener indicated it was his understanding that the other cities that have <br />implemented duty crews have EMT's and put on these crews to address <br />medical calls. Blesener stated that he would have a difficult time <br />supporting the Fire Department's responding to all medical calls. FIe <br />suggested that the Department may lose a good share of its membership if <br />that were done. Blesener pointed out that the City agreed to support fire <br />fighters gaining EMR status, and only 16 of the 31 fire fighters have <br />participated. I.iebei stated that it is not the Fire Department's intent to go <br />to all medical calls. He also noted that the Department offered the EMR <br />training one time, and only 16 were available. Liebel estimated that there <br />are 5 of the 31 fire fighters that do not want to do the EMR training. <br />Liebel pointed out that the Lake Johanna Fire Department has duty crews, <br />and they do not respond to medicals. <br />Blesener stated that he was OK with trying duty crews on a trial basis, but <br />would not support expanding the program if the cost is not justified. Keis <br />suggested that there may be a savings in that the duty crew could respond <br />to a false alarm without calling out other fire fighters. Morelan did not <br />feel the pilot program would save other fire fighters from responding, as it <br />was unlikely that calls would come in when the duty crew was at the <br />station. Morelan reported that the duty crew would have assigned tasks <br />that they would be expected to complete that currently isn't getting done. <br />Liebel stated that the Department would like to give duty crews a try and <br />determine whether the expense can be justified. The Administrator asked <br />if the Department would be able to come up with some means to quantify <br />the expense. Morelan felt they would be able to. He noted that the <br />Department responds to approximately 250 calls per year, 95% of which <br />could be handled by one crew. He also noted the arrangement with <br />Vadnais Heights wherein both departments respond to structure fires. <br />Keis noted that the decision on whether or not to continue with duty crews <br />would have to be made when planning for the 2015 Budget. McGraw <br />2 <br />