HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 11-17-1998 SpecialAdopted Minutes
Special Council Meeting
November 17, 1998
A special meeting of the Plymouth City Council was called to order by Mayor Tierney at
7:09 PM in the Public Safety Training Room, 3400 Plymouth Blvd., on November 17,
1998.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Tierney; Councilmembers Johnson, Spigner, Black
Bildsoe, and Councilmember—Elect Slavik. Councilmember Preus arrived at 7:30 PM.
Councilmember Wold arrived at 8:00 PM.
ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Johnson, Assistant Manager Lueckert, Public Works
Director Moore, Community Development Director Hurlburt, Parks Director Blank,
Public Safety Director Gerdes, Fire Chief Kline, Fire Administrative Officer Hurr, Public
Safety Education Specialist Cwyna, and Deputy City Clerk Hoffinan.
1. Plymouth Fire Department Issues
Fire Chief Kline introduced his staff and presented a history of the department. He
outlined the organization and functions of the present department as a paid -on-call, or
paid per call, agency.
He explained the challenges facing the agency: maintaining a diversified fire service
delivery with staffing which meets the city's needs, and meeting increased demands for
improved response time. He said the biggest barrier in response time improvement is the
location of fire stations.
Chief Kline explained the automatic mutual aid policy between neighboring cities, and
the deployment of Opticon technology in cutting transit time to sites.
Councilmember Preus arrived at 7:30 PM.
Chief Kline explained the duty crew program whereby firefighters schedule their own
time in three daytime shifts in an effort to make the best possible use of their shifts
on-call, and maintain predictable staff in order to reduce response time. He said the duty
crew staffing is popular and seems to be working well.
He reported that the agency is in the process of comparing its performance to the
performance of other agencies which provide similar services. He said there is an interest
in Maple Grove to develop a shared facility to serve that city and Northwest Plymouth.
Adopted City Council Minutes
November 17, 1998
Page 2
Public Safety Education Specialist Cwyna reported that daycare issues are an obstacle in
maintaining crews. She said the Montessori daycare on Old Rockford Rd. and Zachary
Lane is working to cooperate in a drop-in and scheduled basis for firefighter children.
Councilmember Wold arrived at 8:00 PM.
Staff and councilmembers discussed the idea of developing land around a fire station
dedicated to affordable housing for firefighters.
Staff and councilmembers discussed the schedule for deployment of the opticon systems
at all intersection lights in the city.
Staff and councilmembers discussed options for daycare providers to assist daytime
crews.
Chief Kline stated that developing a fourth fire station to serve northwest Plymouth,
either alone or in conjunction with Maple Grove should begin now. He said Maple Grove
is looking at a fifth station within three years.
Staff and councilmembers discussed the City code requirements for hydrant placement,
fire lanes, and the placement of sprinklers in buildings, and efforts to upgrade those
requirements.
Council went into a ten-minute recess at 9:10 PM.
2. City Council meeting rules and procedures
Councilmember Preus explained that he selected several areas of council rules and
procedures he wished to address before leaving office. Councilmember Preus reviewed
the City ordinances guiding the order of meetings. He reviewed the conduct of the
Plymouth Forum, the consent agenda, and the approval of the agenda. He reviewed the
process of motions and debate as directed by Roberts Rules of Order. He suggested
procedure for the Council to follow regarding interaction with speakers from the public.
Councilmembers discussed the process of appeals, the role of the presiding officer of the
meetings, the procedures of speakers gaining the floor, the consideration of motions, and
the time required for the conducting of the meetings.
Meeting was adjourned at 10:06 PM. Motion carried, seven ayes.
Kurt Hoffinan
Deputy City Clerk