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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 28, 2001 Page 5 t Minneapolis Fire Chief Forte introduced the staff that accompanied him this evening. He indicated that 2 he was present to share a concept that has the City of Minneapolis providing fire protection for the City 3 of St. Anthony. 4 Fire Chief Forte explained that the City of Minneapolis is faced with budget cuts and it was felt that 5 having the Minneapolis Fire Department service to St. Anthony could be of benefit to both 6 communities. 7 Fire Chief Forte continued that the concept suggested that Minneapolis provide the service out of 8 Station 15, which is approximately one and a half minutes from St. Anthony's city limits. He added that 9 there has been talk about closing Station 15 due to low number of calls. 10 Fire Chief Forte indicated that the cost to the city would be $400,000 annually for three years and 11 could possibly add another two years for a total of five years for$400,000 per year. For future years, 12 increases would be based on salary and benefit adjustments from the union contracts. 13 Fire Chief Forte stated that if the City of Minneapolis were to provide fire services for the City of St. 14 Anthony, it would save the City of St. Anthony about $150,0004200,000 per year. He continued that the City of St. Anthony would also be able to decide what to do with the fire equipment and fire *6 station. 17 Fire Chief Forte indicated that the City of Minneapolis Fire Department has one of the best response 18 times in the country, averaging three and a half minutes. He estimated that the average response time 19 for the City of St. Anthony, under the service of Minneapolis, would be a four to eight minute response 20 time. 21 Fire Chief Forte added that the City of Minneapolis could provide the City of St. Anthony with more 22 resources. He exemplified this by detailing the number of firefighters that arrive at the scene of the 23 various fire alarms. 24 Fire Chief Forte stated that the City of St. Anthony and Northeast Minneapolis have the worst 25 ambulance response time in the County. He added that if they combined services he would look at re- 26 constructing Station 15, and add an ambulance bay. 27 Councilmember Horst asked if St. Anthony would be the first to combine forces like this. Chief 28 indicated that they would be the first. 29 Councilmember Horst asked if the concept presented this evening would be a benefit to them, or simply 30 a loss of their services. Fire Chief Forte indicated he felt the only negative was that they would lose one 0 minute on response time, but the rest of the concept was to their advantage. 32 Fire Chief Forte reiterated that he had a great deal of respect for the firefighters of the City of St. 33 Anthony.