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FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MINUTES
JUNE 21, 1999
CITY OF KITCHENER
The Finance and Administration Committee met this date, chaired by Councilor J. Ziegler, commencing at
4:10 p.m., with the following members present: Mayor C. Zehr, Councillor G. Lorentz, Councillor Jake
Smola, Councillor John Smola and Councillor C. Weylie. Councillors T. Galloway, J. Haalboom, K.
Taylor-Harrison, B. Vrbanovic and M. Yantzi were in attendance for part of the meeting.
Others present: Ms. R. Schumacher, Messrs. J. Gazzola, J. Hancock, N. Kuntz, T. Bernier, P. McGough,
D. Trask, R. Pedersen, T. Clancy and Ms. D. Gilchrist.
1. REVIEW OF FIRE DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS
The Committee was in receipt of a report from Messrs. J. Hancock, Fire Chief and N. Kuntz,
Deputy Fire Chief dated June 16, 1999, attached to which were several appendices.
Mr. J. Hancock introduced the report and reviewed the intricacies of the report. He noted that at
the Finance and Administration Committee of April 26, 1999 the Committee had requested a
comprehensive review of Fire Department operations. He noted that all the Divisions of the Fire
Department are reviewed in this report. Mr. Hancock then referred to the 1995 Fire Station
Location Study which recommended six fire stations that could cover 94 per cent of the City using
the response time criteria. It also recommended the addition of one full crew of four fire fighters at
the Lancaster Street Station (2). This concept was based on the recommendation of the Office of
the Fire Marshall as required to assemble a fire attack of at least ten firefighters in six minutes.
The total staffing recommended in this Fire Station Location Study was 37. Mr. Hancock reviewed
the steps that had taken place from Council's approval in principle of the 1995 Fire Station
Location Study, which happened on March 29, 1995, to 1998 budget deliberations at which time
Council expressed concern regarding the hiring of fire fighters to open Station No. 7, in
conjunction with the impact of Provincial downloading. As a result of these budget deliberations
the 1998 Operating Budget eliminated an aerial device from service while approving the hiring of
four additional fire fighters to be attritioned upon closing of Station No. 5. Following the closure of
Station No. 5, minimum staffing again reverts to a minimum of 33 fire fighters on duty.
Councillor M. Yantzi and Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison entered the meeting at this time.
Mr. J. Hancock then advised that under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, the Ontario Fire
Marshall has developed guidelines called the Comprehensive Fire Safety Effectiveness Model,
which can assist communities in evaluating their level of fire safety. Mr. Hancock noted that fire
suppression has been left to the municipalities, with education and prevention coming under the
new legislation. He advised that Council's by-law of 1998 pre-dates this new legislation and the
by-law should be re-written. He noted that there could be two different styles of by-law to choose
from, one, which would list everything, or one, which is done with broad-brush strokes.
Mr. N. Kuntz then addressed the Committee and dealt with operations. He advised that in order to
provide for effective emergency response and the most efficient fire attack team when vehicles
and staff are committed, a number of procedures are deployed. He then proceeded to explain
these procedures or protocols: cover-off/move-up, call-in, mutual aid and he advised hopefully, in
the near future, automatic aid.
Councillor J. Haalboom entered the meeting at this time.
With the assistance of Ms. R. Schumacher and a computer presentation, Mr. Kuntz then gave
three scenarios where these different protocols would be used. These scenarios were actual
cases which had taken place.
Mr. Kuntz then identified the fire areas that would exist in the year 2000, with a six-station
configuration. He noted that Station No. 5 and Station No. 2 would meet each other and that
Headquarters would cover off and be a secondary response for every station. Mr. Kuntz then
reviewed some backup station response times. Mayor C. Zehr questioned what the longest
response time would be and Mr. Kuntz responded that in a worst case scenario the response time
would be ten to twelve minutes. Mayor Zehr questioned whether this happens in other
municipalities of similar size and Mr. Kuntz responded that he did not believe that there was any
municipality who would not be in the same situation.
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CITY OF KITCHENER
REVIEW OF FIRE DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS - CONT'D
A brief discussion then took place on worst case scenarios and Mr. Kuntz identified the downtown
as being an area of the highest risk as it has the highest call-out volume. Mr. J. Hancock noted
that one of the worst case scenarios is a severe thunderstorm and that natural disasters stretch
resources to the limit.
Mr. J. Hancock advised the Committee that the Kitchener Fire Department costs $82.00 per capita
and it is just reaching its stride. In comparison he noted that Waterloo has a per capita cost of
$72.00 but they are opening another fire station and need twenty more employees. The per capita
cost for the Fire Department in Cambridge in $105.00. The average cost across Ontario is
$100.00.
Councillor G. Lorentz noted the Regional Fire Study and questioned how a Regional Fire Service
would help the City of Kitchener. Mr. Hancock noted that the advantage to the Regional model is
education, training and communications would be better. With respect to deployment of fire
suppression the situation is better now than under the Regional Fire Study. A discussion took
place with respect to assisting other municipalities and Mr. Kuntz noted that the Kitchener Fire
Department does get called to other municipalities, not necessarily through mutual aid. He
pointed out a legal and moral obligation to do this and noted that was the reason the Emergency
Plan was changed last year, which would give the Fire Department the authority to act in these
situations.
Staff then reviewed the Communications section of the report giving a background to the
combined dispatch with Waterloo. It was noted that there would be a report in the near future on
emergency communications operations.
Councillor T. Galloway entered the meeting at this time.
Staff then reviewed the Fire Prevention portion of the report particularly dealing with the new
legislation, Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997, which was the first significant change to the
fire service legislation in the last forty years. It was noted that the new Act makes fire prevention
and public education mandatory for fire departments within municipalities. Mr. Hancock noted that
this is a reactive service at this time and that is all they can cope with. To be pro-active would
require a tremendous increase in staff. Councillor Jake Smola questioned whether this would fall
under a problem for risk management and Mr. Hancock responded that they are going to
Management Committee for a risk analysis.
Staff then reviewed the various aspects of fire prevention, as contained in the report including,
public education, The Fire Safety House, The Fire Safety Education Van, The Fire Education
Centre and the Fire Prevention annual budget. Councillor Jake Smola questioned whether the
$9,000.00 is reactive or pro-active and Mr. Kuntz responded that it is reactive. Councillor Jake
Smola then questioned whether it would be possible to look at other municipalities and see what
they are doing and Mr. Kuntz recommended looking at Brockville. Councillor Jake Smola asked
for a report from staff on the history and budget for public education through the Fire Department.
Mr. N. Kuntz then reviewed the Training section as contained in the report noting that training
comes under a lot of scrutiny. He advised that the Department's strategic plan noted training as
the second top priority and he outlined the four sections in the strategic plan under Training. The
Regional Multi-service Training Facility was discussed and Mr. Kuntz advised that staff would be
coming back soon with a plan to put that facility together.
Mr. J. Hancock then reviewed the conclusions and recommendations contained in the staff report.
The Committee then reviewed the five recommendations contained at the end of the report and a
discussion took place with respect to the Risk Manager conducting a risk assessment. Councillor
John Smola spoke of the response to the downtown and noted that in the last four years there has
been more activity in the downtown and more demand there. He felt that some area was not being
covered and that the City should be looking at the staffing requirements again. He noted that
cover-off and training leaves various areas uncovered and staff are scrambling for resources. He
asked that the Committee look at increasing Station No. 2
REVIEW OF FIRE DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS - CONT'D
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MINUTES
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CITY OF KITCHENER
to eight staff rather than six.
Councillor J. Ziegler reviewed the five recommendations in the report. Mayor C. Zehr referred to
the by-law and questioned whether language was the only problem. Mr. Hancock noted that a
fundamental decision needed to be made and felt that the risk assessment audit would help with
the wording of the by-law. Mr. N. Kuntz requested that the Committee not wait for the total audit to
re-write the by-law but that the by-law should be written as things are done now. He noted that the
by-law should identify the level of staffing provided.
The issue was raised as to what costs would be involved in implementing these recommendations.
Mr. Kuntz advised that with respect to Item #2, there would be no cost involved. Councillor K.
Taylor-Harrison moved all five recommendations contained in the staff report and she thanked
staff for coming forward with this report.
Councillor C. Weylie had several questioned about responses, including 911 calls, the downtown
area and the various response rates to different forms of residential development. Councillor T.
Galloway had various questions about risk management audit and the ability of the City's Risk
Manager to conduct such an audit.
On a motion by Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison -
it was resolved:
"That the recommended staffing levels in the 1995 Fire Station Location Study be revisited
and reported on; and,
That a review and update be undertaken for the Fire Department Establishing and
Regulating By-law; and,
That the Fire Department continue to explore opportunities to enhance the effectiveness
and efficiency of Fire Prevention and Public Fire Safety Education Programs; and,
That the Master Training Plan be adopted to provide the guidance and resources for
effective and efficient training within the Fire Department; and further,
That the Fire Department along with the Risk Manager conduct a Risk Assessment Audit
utilizing the Comprehensive Fire Service Effectiveness Model."
ADJOURNMENT
On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
D. H. GILCHRIST
COMMITTEE ADMINISTRATOR