TAMRMS#: B06
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Fire Hall #4
Notice given by: Mayor Heron
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BUDGET POSTPONED MOTION:
recommendation
Firehall #4 - Motion to proceed with land acquisition for $2.5 million in 2020 and delay design, construction and all related mobile equipment by one year to commence in 2022.
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POSTPONED MOTION ADMINISTRATIVE BACKGROUNDER
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Administration’s Understanding of Intent Motion:
That the land acquisition proceed for $2.5 million for Firehall #4 but the design and construction of fire hall #4 and all the related mobile equipment be delayed by one year from the original schedule. The entire project budget will remain as presented in the proposed budget for approval by Council so that an overarching borrowing bylaw can be secured with the understanding that each project will proceed based on the timelines indicated in the motion and in the chart below.
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2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
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FH#4 |
2,500,000 |
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1,477,000 |
12,364,000 |
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Tanker |
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|
779,000 |
|
|
Aerial |
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|
|
2,469,800 |
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Engine |
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|
1,540,500 |
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*Note escalation estimations described under the financial implications section are not included in the chart above but rather the existing charter values have just been shifted by 1 year. At the time of procurement, a budget adjustment may be required.
If this motion passes and Council approves the entire project as recommended, the 10 year growth capital plan for 2021 will not include items related to Firehall #4. Should Council wish to amend timelines on the various components of the project, a Council motion will be required.
Operational or Organizational Impacts if Motion is Approved:
Service levels could be impacted through increased response times
Financial Implications of Motions:
Tax impacts from debt for design and construction and related mobile equipment will be delayed by one year. Utilizing the Hanscomb Escalation Watch (based on the non-residential Building Construction Price Indices - Stats Canada) the estimated increase for construction for buildings such as Fire Hall 4 is approximately 3.35% per year. Based on this data the projected cost of the actual design and build will increase from $1,477,000 to $1,533,383 (increase of $56,383) and $12,364,000 to $12,778,194 (increase of $414,194) respectively. It would still be recommended that we proceed with a complete borrowing bylaw to encompass the entire project and related equipment. Establishment of a borrowing bylaw does not commit the municipality to borrowing the dollars should future decisions delay or cancel any of the charters.
Stakeholder Consultations:
N/A
Background:
Original Station 4 construction start date of 2012 was established in the 2002 Long Range Plan. In 2009, the City undertook a Service Level Review for Fire Services and that date for Fire Hall 4 is now slated for 2019-2022.
The impacts of postponing the construction of Firehall 4, as well as the associated fire apparatus, would include inadequate response times in north St. Albert and the proposed future growth areas until such time as Firehall 4 is built. There would be an inability to achieve the goal as set out by Council Policy C-PS-1 which states that Emergency Services responds to 90% of fire and emergency medical calls within 9 minutes.
Currently, if Station 1 were completed in its new location, meeting Council Policy C-PS-1 will still be unattainable in some areas in northern St. Albert. The 9 Minute Total Response Time Coverage Model below identifies areas in the north where the SAFS is having difficulty achieving this target. The Service Demand Heat Map below identifies areas of highest call concentration in the City between Q1 2014 and Q3 2019. As can be seen, an area of concern is the call volume increase in northern St. Albert. Further expanded growth and densification in the north will lead to increased call volume in that area. The concern is that as call volumes increase in the north without adequate response times, risk increases.
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Report Date: November 21, 2019
Author(s): Bernd Gretzinger
Department: Emergency Services Department
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer: Kerry Hilts
Chief Administrative Officer: Kevin Scoble