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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN NOV 21 2006 M I N U T E S - CITY OF BEAUMONT Andrew P. Cokinos,At-Large GUY N. GOODSON, MAYOR Becky Ames, At-Large Lulu L. Smith, Ward I CITY COUNCIL MEETING Nancy Beaulieu, Mayor Pro Tern,Ward II Audwin Samuel,Ward III November 21, 2006 Bobbie J. Patterson,Ward IV Tyrone E. Cooper, City Attorney Kyle Hayes, City Manager Rose Ann Jones, City Clerk The City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in a regular session on November 21, 2006, at the City Hall Council Chambers, 801 Main Street, Beaumont, Texas, at 1:30 p.m. to consider the following: OPENING Invocation Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Presentations and Recognition Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items 1-6/Consent Agenda Consent Agenda Mayor Goodson called the council meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Rev. Carlos R. Phillips of the St. James United Methodist Church gave the invocation. Mayor Pro Tem Beaulieu led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was made by Rose Ann Jones, City Clerk. Present at the meeting were Mayor Goodson, Mayor Pro Tern Beaulieu, Councilmembers Smith, Ames, Samuel and Patterson. Absent: Councilmember Cokinos. Also present were Kyle Hayes, City Manager; Tyrone Cooper, City Attorney; Rose Ann Jones, City Clerk. Proclamations, Presentations, Recognitions "Winter Wonderland, Stars Over Beaumont Day" - December 2, 2006 - Proclamation read by Mayor Goodson; sponsored by the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, Beaumont Enterprise and the City; accepted by Christmas Holiday Parade Committee Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items 1-6/Consent Agenda. None CONSENT AGENDA Approval of minutes - Minutes of November 14, 2006 Confirmation of committee appointments - None A) Approve a resolution to allow Capital One Bank to release security as collateral for City accounts which is held at the Federal Reserve Bank - Resolution 06-353 Minutes-November 21,2006 Mayor Pro Tem Beaulieu made a motion to approve the ConsentAgenda. Councilmember Ames seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR GOODSON, MAYOR PRO TEM BEAULIEU,COUNCILMEMBERS SMITH, AMES, SAMUEL AND PATTERSON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED GENERAL BUSINESS 1. Consider approving a contract forthe construction of the Central Park Community Center- Resolution 06-354 Administration recommended the award of a bid to McInnis Construction of Silsbee, TX in the amount of $748,540 for furnishing all labor, materials and equipment necessary to construct a community center at Central Park located at the corner of Fannin and 4 th In 2005, the Central Park Community Center was damaged by Hurricane Rita. A new community center was designed by Rob Clark of Architectural Alliance. The new community center consists of a large assembly room, a rear catering entrance, patio, kitchen, storage, and restrooms. The seating capacity accommodates 200 assembly style, 150 seated at rectangular shaped tables and approximately 100 seated at round tables. In addition, there will be new exterior lighting and expanded parking. The first of several new community centers to be constructed in over twenty (20) years will provide citizens with a functional as well as an attractive centerpiece to the park. McInnis Construction plans to subcontract approximately 13% of the project to certified Minority Business Enterprise companies. Work is expected to commence by the end of December and be completed in approximately 160 days. Funds for this project are available from insurance proceeds and the Capital Program Fund. Councilmember Patterson moved to APPROVE RESOLUTION 06-354 THATTHE BID SUBMITTED BY MCINNIS CONSTRUCTION OF SILSBEE, TEXAS, FOR A CONTRACT TO FURNISH ALL LABOR, MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO CONTRACT COMMUNITY CENTER AT CENTRAL PARK LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF FANNIN AND 4T" STREETS IN THE AMOUNT OF $748,540 BE ACCEPTED BY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. Councilmember Samuel seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR GOODSON, MAYOR PRO TEM BEAULIEU,COUNCILMEMBERS SMITH, AMES, SAMUEL AND PATTERSON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Page 2 of 8 Minutes-November 21,2006 2. Consider approving the purchase of Police Department patrol vehicles - Resolution 06- 355 Administration recommended authorization for the purchase of twenty-seven (27) patrol vehicles from Philpott Motors of Nederland through the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) cooperative purchasing program for $20,798.65 each. Twenty-five (25) of the patrol vehicles requested will replace units that are used in daily operations by the Patrol Division while the remaining two (2) will be used by the Street Crimes unit. The vehicles to be replaced are on a scheduled replacement cycle in order to keep serviceable vehicles available at all times. The new vehicles are 2007 Ford Crown Victorias with the police package. Delivery is expected in approximately ninety (90) days. Funds are available in the Capital Reserve Fund. Councilmember Ames made a motion to APPROVE RESOLUTION 06-355 THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HEREBY APPROVES THE PURCHASE OF TWENTY-FIVE (25) PATROL VEHICLES FOR USE BY THE PATROL DIVISION AND TWO (2) PATROL VEHICLES FOR USE BY THE STREET CRIMES UNIT FROM PHILPOTT MOTORS OF NEDERLAND THROUGH THE HOUSTON-GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL (H-GAC)COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAM IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF$561,563.55. Mayor Pro Tem Beaulieu seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR GOODSON,MAYOR PRO TEM BEAULIEU,COUNCILMEMBERS SMITH, AMES, SAMUEL AND PATTERSON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED 3. Consider authorizing payment to Entergy for the relocation of overhead utility lines at the M.L. King Park site - Resolution 06-356 Administration recommended approval of a resolution authorizing payment to Entergy in the amount of$80,674 for the reduction of overhead utility lines at the M.L. King Park Site. Within the proposed M.L. King Park site is a wooden pole that supports Entergy overhead electrical lines. The line runs north and south through the approximate center of the park site. The location of the existing pole conflicts with proposed park improvements and needs to be relocated or removed. Entergy is proposing to install two (2) poles near the north and south boundary of the park, terminate the overhead service at these locations and bury the electrical lines through the park site. This work would eliminate the existing pole and remove the overhead electrical line through the park. The cost to install the poles and bury the electrical lines is $80,674. Funds are available in the Capital Program. Page 3 of 8 Minutes-November 21,2006 Mayor Pro Tern Beaulieu made a motion to APPROVE RESOLUTION 06-356 THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HEREBY APPROVES PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $80,674 TO ENTERGY FOR THE RELOCATION OF OVERHEAD UTILITY LINES AT THE M. L. KING PARK SITE. Councilmember Patterson seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR GOODSON, MAYOR PRO TEM BEAULIEU,COUNCILMEMBERS SMITH, AMES, SAMUEL AND PATTERSON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED 4. Consider authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission for vehicles for the Best Years Senior Center-Resolution 06-357 Administration recommended approval of a contract with the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission which provides the City with $61,000 for new vehicles for the Best Years Senior Center. Emergency Disaster Relief Funds were made available through a federal social services block grant to the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission. The eligibility guidelines allowed staff to seek funding for a new senior center, along with vehicles to support center activities. The Regional Planning Commission was not able to approve funds for the center, but did approve $61,000 for the vehicles included in the request. The grant will provide the Best Years Senior Center with funding for two new passenger vans with step lifts and a smaller service van. The cost for these vehicles will be fully reimbursed by the grant. Councilmember Patterson made a motion to APPROVE RESOLUTION 06-357 THAT THE CITY MANAGER BE AND HE IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $61,000 WITH SOUTH EAST TEXAS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION FOR TWO NEW PASSENGER VANS WITH STEP LIFTS AND ONE(1)SMALLER SERVICE VAN FOR THE BEST YEARS SENIOR CENTER. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR GOODSON, MAYOR PRO TEM BEAULIEU, COUNCILMEMBERS SMITH, AMES, SAMUEL AND PATTERSON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED 5. Consider granting the City Manager authority to implement the contribution rate changes for retirees in the medical plans This item was deferred until next meeting. Page 4 of 8 Minutes-November 21,2006 COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS COUNCILMEMBER SMITH - NONE MAYOR PRO TEM BEAULIEU - REQUESTED THAT THE CITY CLERK COLLECT THE PUBLIC COMMENT SPEAKER SLIPS IN ADVANCE AND READ THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE SPEAKER COUNCILMEMBER AMES - NONE COUNCILMEMBER SAMUEL - THANKED THE CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, MR. [TOM] WARNER AND THE FIRE UNION FOR THEIR COMING OUT [TO ATTENDING THE FIREMAN UNION INFORMATIONAL FORUM] AND GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS IN A VERY AMICABLE, PROFESSIONAL MANNER AND FOR THEIR TIME; THANKED THE MEDIA FOR PROVIDING THE COVERAGE TO THE PUBLIC SO THEY WOULD HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AS WELL COUNCILMEMBER PATTERSON - NONE CITY ATTORNEY COOPER - NONE CITY MANAGER HAYES - NONE MAYOR GOODSON - ATTENDED THE US CONFERENCE OF MAYORS, URBAN DESIGN INSTITUTE THIS PAST WEEK; WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE IDEAS AND DESIGNS PRESENTED; FELT THAT BEAUMONT HAS RECOGNIZED THE EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT FUTURE GENERATIONS DESIRE IN THEIR CITIES AND THAT BEAUMONT IS MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT GROUP AS WELL AS WORKING WITH CONCORD EASTRIDGE; ALSO CONCERNED WITH A CITY-WIDE CLEAN-UP;WOULD LIKE THE KEEP BEAUMONT BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION TO MEET ALONG WITH ANY INTERESTED CITIZENS TO HELP MAKE SOME MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS AREA ALONG WITH HELP FROM MUNICIPAL COURT AND VOLUNTEERS Public Comments (Persons are limited to three minutes) The following public speakers spoke on firefighter concerns. They took turns reading from handout attached - see "Exhibit A" John Werner 1 Oakleigh Blvd. Beaumont TX Brian Hebert 1003 Govert Drive Lumberton TX Page 5 of 8 Minutes-November 21,2006 Carl Whitehead Jr. 29028 Hwy 124 Hamshire TX Keith Nolan 1240 Galway Beaumont TX Patrick Kadilis 5350 Laurel Beaumont TX Patrick Schroeder 412 County Woods Circle Sour Lake TX Kerry J. Avie 3035 Elinor Beaumont TX Prayer for City Tommy May 4670 N. Main Vidor TX Retired Captain of Beaumont Fire Rescue-appreciated the opportunity for the Firefighters along with the City to present both sides, felt that it was fair but had issue with the one part on safety being used to cover up issues in regard to the contract; feels that safety and staffing has been an issue through the years and that this issue had been addressed to Council in the past as well as many presentations made through out the community Hannah McMahon 1975 Shady Lane Beaumont TX 11 year old daughter of firefighter-feels that the family members of firefighters are always worried about their family member and knows how much time her father spends working while at the fire station, taking care of people who are injured or just by checking on them in their homes, helps to keep the fire station in good condition, conducts training for others and supports the City of Beaumont; knows that other families feel the same way and knows the firefighters are very hard workers Carrie McMahon 1975 Shady Lane Beaumont TX Was proud of her daughter and the fact that she wanted to speak before Council and be involved in the community; appreciated the prayer from today's minister, the job that Council does, the job that the Fire Department does and here to support them, appreciated the meeting held yesterday and all the work and consideration going into this Joe Lewis PO Box 62 Beaumont TX Feels that the City should support the Fire Department and that staffing should be in accordance with the Fire Standard; expressed that City taxpayers want service for their tax payments Roberto C. Flores 2425 Buchanan Beaumont TX Wants better communications with the police; feels that individuals who have lived their lives in their homestead for most of their lives, now live there in fear; concerned about the health and safety of citizens not the aesthetics of the community Open session of Council meeting was recessed at 2:35 p.m. Council then entered into the Executive Session. Page 6 of 8 Minutes-November 21,2006 EXECUTIVE SESSION Consider matters related to contemplated or pending litigation in accordance with Section 551.071 of the Government Code: Curtis Breaux, et al v. The City of Beaumont, Texas, et al; No. D175,609 In the Matter of Arbitration between The City of Beaumont and Beaumont Police Officers Association, Lance Tiner and Teddy Ratcliff, No. 70 390 00354 06 The City of Beaumont vs International Association of Firefighters, Local Union No. 399 Roy Cooper v. City of Beaumont, et al; No. 105324 Southwestern Bell Telephone v. City of Beaumont Cause No. A-176610 Open session of Council meeting was reconvened at 4:04 p.m. 6. Consider approving the settlement of the lawsuit of Curtis Breaux, et al v. The City of Beaumont, et al - Resolution 06-358 Council approved a resolution authorizing the settlement of the lawsuit of Curtis Breaux, et al v. The City of Beaumont, et. al, providing for the promotions of officers to the rank of Lieutenant. Council discussed this lawsuit in an Executive Session held on November 14 and 21, 2006. There are sufficient funds in the General Liability Fund to address this settlement. Councilmember Samuel made a motion to APPROVE RESOLUTION 06-358 THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY BE AND HE IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO SETTLE THE LAWSUIT TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROMOTION OF OFFICERS TO THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT. Mayor Pro Tern Beaulieu seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR GOODSON, MAYOR PRO TEM BEAULIEU, COUNCILMEMBERS SMITH, AMES, SAMUEL AND PATTERSON NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED With their being no further business Council adjourned at 4:06 p.m. Audio tapes are available upon request in the City Clerk's Office. Page 7 of 8 Minutes-November 21,2006 Councilman Samuel, Mr. Hayes, Chief Bertrand, Members of the Media, and Guests: Thank you for the opportunity to appear and discuss the matters of public safety and public concern that we have been bringing up at the City Council over the last couple of months. You had asked us to prepare a list of ten questions and we have done so and as you can see, there are three main areas of current concern with City staffing levels and policies. They are: FIRST ISSUE 1. FIREFIGHTER SAFETY AND PUBLIC SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS OF UNDERSTAFFING FIRE ENGINES WITH ONLY THREE FIREFIGHTERS The City's current policy of having only three Firefighters assigned to an Engine is not in compliance with current safety standards. The "Two-In, Two- Out" rule, which is the minimum safety standard allowed under OSHA and adopted by the State of Texas, calls for two firefighters to be outside and available for rescue operations when there are two firefighters inside a structure fire performing an interior attack. "Two-In, Two-Out" is a physical impossibility when an Engine arrives as first response to a structure fire and there are only three Firefighters on that Engine. SECOND ISSUE 2. THE ISO PUBLIC PROTECTION CLASSFICIATION SYSTEM AND HOW REACHING FULL STAFFING CAN PROVIDE A FINANCIAL SAVINGS TO CITIZENS ON INSURANCE PREMIUMS AS WELL AS IMPROVE SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF FIRELRESCUE RESPONSE The ISO "Public Protection Classification"rating is the rating relied on by the insurance industry to calculate the risk of property damage loss from fire. Based on the ISO risk rating, homeowners and property insurers adjust the premiums they charge. The better the ISO risk rating, the lower the premiums, and vice- versa. Beaumont currently holds a"4`h Class"or"4" ISO rating, and according to a study presented to the City in 2005, the single factor which has the most negative effect on the rating is the lack of full staffing in fire suppression. Assigning a fourth Firefighter to the Engines would make an ISO "2 rating a easily reachable goal, which would in turn mean an estimated 11-12% decrease in homeowner and business property insurance premiums. THIRD ISSUE 3. WHY CITY BUDGETING PRIORITIES WRONGLY FAVOR EXPENSIVE "WANTS"PROJECTS (BECAUSE THEY CAN BE EXPENSED OVER DECADES) INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING ISSUES WHICH REPRESENT CURRENT NEEDS AND CURRENT IMPROVEMENTS TO ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES Exhibit A There is only one thing standing in the way of having four firefighters to an Engine company and only one thing standing in the way of improving the City's ISO Public Protection Classification rating — the City Manager and City Council's spending priorities. Nobody can seriously claim that there is any drawback to having four firefighters on an Engine or improving the City's ISO Public Protection Classification rating, except for one thing — it affects the City Manager's budget. We have with us, for your consideration, part of his testimony during the arbitration hearing. He said that the reason Beaumont doesn't have four Firefighters on an Engine is that it's"economically not feasible"to do so. He also stated that "we don't go into a fire without the four people there so "it doesn't make much sense" to have four people on an Engine. Either he is not aware of the way that the Fire Department is run, or he is once again not being straight with US. City Council must, in its own decisions and in the way it directs the City Manager, come to the understanding that issues of proper staffing levels within Fire/Rescue are firefighter safety issues and citizen safety issues that are needs, not wants. Similarly, improving the Public Protection Classification rating is more than just a savings on insurance rates; it reflects actual increased protection for residents and their homes and businesses. The current budget scheme allows the City Manager to wrongly prioritize expensive "wants" projects. Since the City of Beaumont is, as has been widely reported, in its best financial shape ever, the available funds should be directed to public safety and public service needs first,with the"wants"projects given lower priority. 1. FIRE/RESCUE SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS IMPROVEMENTS FROM FULLY-STAFFED FOUR MAN ENGINE COMPANIES The first of the three issues is the firefighter-safety and public-safety considerations of having Engines with three-firefighter Companies. Right now, official Beaumont policy and staffing levels are that, in fire stations throughout the City,there are stations that have only three people in them and one piece of apparatus—an Engine. For decades, as a matter of common sense, it has always been understood that when it comes to responding to a structure fire or other emergency, what you want are the most people and the best apparatus arriving in the quickest possible time. However, during the late 1990s and up through 2002, safety organizations have made it official and widely known that having FOUR firefighters is necessary to perform a safe and effective interior attack or rescue at a structure fire. The OSHA minimum safety standard, which was adopted in 1998, was also adopted by the Texas Legislature in 2001 and was also incorporated into the Texas Commission on Fire Protection Standards in 2002. This minimum safety standard requires that when firefighters perform an interior attack or rescue at a structure, there should be "24n, 2-Out". This means that there must be two firefighters making the attack into the home or business to perform a rescue or to control a fire before it gets out of control, so they can act as backup for each other. ALSO, and equally as important, it is recognized that there should be two firefighters outside. When the two firefighters are performing the interior rescue or interior attack without incident, the two outside firefighters remain busy keeping the engine and water supply in proper order and also possibly providing an outside attack. But if something goes wrong during the interior attack and the firefighters are in danger themselves, or if it becomes necessary to have more personnel in to perform a rescue, the"2-Out"personnel must go inside the burning structure as well. It is a simple, obvious fact that when there are only three people in an Engine Company, they can not perform a safe, proper "24n, 2-Out" interior attack. So, what do they do? The OSHA rule—which, again, is a bare minimum standard below which the City can be fined or cited by the government — contains an exception which basically states that when there is someone in inside, Firefighters may perform the interior attack. It is a strange rule — it says "yes, we know it is unsafe to do this, but if you have to, go ahead and commit an unsafe act in order to try to save someone's life." Firefighters have always been willing to put our own safety in jeopardy to save someone else; that is part of our job description. But when it comes to the OSHA exception, the City's stated policy of only putting three firefighters in an Engine company means that the exception has swallowed the rule and that firefighters regularly have to take unnecessary risks by performing an interior attack or rescue when there is only one person on the outside. The scenario of a three-man Engine company responding to a structure fire means that Firefighters are faced with a series of unnecessary and difficult predicaments where the wrong decision can lead to death, injury,or the loss of someone's home. The first predicament is faced by the Captain of the three-man Company, who acts as Incident Commander when arriving on scene. He must decide if there is a need to invoke the life-saving exception so that an interior attack or rescue can be performed before other firefighters from other stations arrive. Rarely, if ever, is the decision clear- cut. Structure fire scenes are usually filled with commotion and confusion and fear, and it is often difficult to know whether anyone is inside. Senior citizens, children, or injured or disabled adults may be unable to escape or may, out of terror, have retreated to a bathroom or closet seeking temporary safety. If the Fire Captain of a three-man Company orders an interior attack, and there is nobody inside, he has risked the safety of the two Firefighters who go in without proper backup of two men outside. Even worse, however, if the Fire Captain holds off on the interior attack, and there IS someone inside, this will lead to a near-certain, preventable death of a Beaumont citizen. Another predicament is faced by the two firefighters making the interior attack if there is a problem during the attack or if the rescue can not be accomplished quickly enough with two people bunkered out in full firefighting gear Do they call for backup, knowing that there is only one person out operating the pump system on the Engine; or do they try to deal with the situation themselves? If they try to deal with the situation themselves, they run the risk of the situation getting out of control to the point where backup can no longer help them. But if they call for backup, what this means is that the one person remaining outside has to come into the structure fire–alone–and try to resolve the problem that has led the first two firefighters to call for backup in the first place. Because of improvements in firefighting gear and breathing apparatus, firefighters can make deeper interior attacks and rescues than ever before; but that means that the single backup firefighter has to go that much further inside and that there is that much more ground to cover before the entire three-man Company (and the citizen or citizens that might be inside) can reach safety. These scenarios force Fire Captains into making split-second decisions that have life-and-death consequences – but none of these decisions would be necessary if the Engines were properly staffed with a four-Firefighter crew. And there would be a benefit even when there is not a life-or-death situation. Right now, under the City's policy of three-man Engine Companies, and the OSHA rule that has an exception only if there is an emergency rescue situation, if it is clear that there is no danger to anyone, the Firefighters must stay outside and perform o—X an exterior attack until backup arrives from another station. A delay of even a minute or two in performing an interior attack can mean the difference between a manageable remodeling job and having a family's home completely go up in flames. Once again, if Engines were fully staffed with four-firefighter crews, an interior attack would be allowable as soon as the Engine arrived, which is not the case currently. Achieving full staffing with four-man Engine crews, like putting safety belts on School Buses, costs money. But Beaumont should not continue to disregard this safety issue until tragedy strikes one of its firefighters or citizens. The City Council should address this issue without delay, and certainly before giving final approval to the proposed $35,000,000 "special projects" bond that is currently under a public comment period. 2. THE ISO PUBLIC PROTECTION CLASSFICIATION SYSTEM AND HOW REACHING FULL STAFFING CAN PROVIDE A FINANCIAL SAVINGS TO CITIZENS ON INSURANCE PREMIUMS AS WELL AS IMPROVE SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF FIRE/RESCUE RESPONSE The previous discussion shows how increasing to full staffing and four-man Engine crews promotes firefighter safety, public safety, and effectiveness of fire suppression and rescue efforts. The only arguable "downside" to having full four-man Engine Companies is that it costs money. But, although budgeting should never stand in the way of providing adequate, effective and necessary resources to deal with public safety issues, in this case there is an extra benefit to reaching full staffing - in terms of passing on insurance savings to the residents and businesses in Beaumont. The ISO Public Protection Classification is a Safety Rating that measures how effective a City's fire protection is. These ISO Safety ratings play a large role in determining what residents and businesses get charged for homeowners or property insurance. Beaumont's ISO Safety rating, which has been in effect since 1990, is "4" or "0 Class", with "1" being the best. In 2005, the City commissioned the Pietsch study which looked at how we might improve our safety rating and lower insurance premiums in the process. The Pietsch study concluded that it is probably not realistic for us to be able to obtain a ISO "l" safety rating at this time, but that a ISO "2" safety rating is a realistic goal for the City. Further, it concluded that if Beaumont was able to reach that ISO "2" safety rating, that would mean a 11-12% insurance premium savings for homeowners and businesses in Beaumont. The Pietsch study concluded that the single most deficient item within the entire rating process of the City of Beaumont is the lack of firefighters resWnding to structural alarms of fire. This is at page 11 of the report. Right now, according to the Pietsch study, if Beaumont asked for a re-rating we would score only 6.83 points out of 15 points available on the item of"Company Personnel". In percentage terms, that is a 46. That's an F in the classroom. We are leaving over 8 points on the table. If the City were to implement full Engine staffing, the City would be able to pick up 5.55 points on that one issue alone. According to the Pietsch study, we would then be at 79.88 points and would only need less than a quarter of a point more in one of the other areas to reach 80 which means we get the ISO "2"rating. The Firefighters are ready, willing and able to help the City get this ISO "2" rating. According to Chief Bertrand, the City plans to have an ISO rating team come down in 2007. The time is NOW for the City to implement these changes. But the Firefighters can only do so much. We can't control the City's decision on staffing levels, which once again is the single most deficient item within the entire rating process for the City of Beaumont. Safety should always be a priority over budget issues. But when it comes to issues of Staffing and ISO Safety Ratings, the City of Beaumont can "do well by doing good." We estimate that with the City's stated $4,000,000,000 property value base, that decreasing insurance premiums by 11-12% can mean a collective savings of$4,400,000 to $4,800,000 per year for the city's residents and businesses. It may even be higher than that; but this rough estimate shows nearly $5,000,000 in savings per year in addition to the most important benefit which is increased Safety and Public Protection. These ISO numbers may be called"ratings"but they have been developed over a long period of time and they reflect real improvements in Public Protection and Public Safety. The fact that there is an economic side benefit only makes improving our ISO Safety Rating a more obvious decision for the City of YeAuinont. Guy'N. Goodson, Mayor - 4��",� Rose Ann Jones, TRMC Cj City Clerk Page 8 of 8 Minutes-November 21,2006