Explanation
This ordinance allocates $42,000 to the Division of Fire to purchase vehicle extrication tools at four fire stations around the city's outerbelt, and $15,000 to cover any potential overtime associated with speeding heavy rescue services to auto accidents, for a total of $57,000. Council considers this as transition step to protect lives, while at the same time creating a heavy rescue deployment team to address long-term equipment, personnel and deployment issues. The team's recommendations will be submitted by June 30, 2004.
Equipment funding is provided as follows: Council set aside $10,000 for this purpose in its January amendments to the administration's proposed 2003 budget, and $32,000 is available in the permanent improvement fund. $15,000 in overtime costs will be taken from City Council's own 2003 personnel account because of the significance of the need for this service. With equipment and staffing, the Fire Division will deploy this potentially life-saving equipment in stations near freeways to better serve areas with high accident rates.
Deployment calls for the daytime assignment of a fourth firefighter on four engines, at least during the transitional phase. The Division also has agreed to update training for certified rescue technicians as necessary, ensuring they are aware of the latest information on the use of extrication tools on all vehicles. This action will help the Division meet national standards for a response time of five minutes or less to auto accidents on freeways, and replicates similar recent deployments in Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia.
Title
To authorize and direct the appropriation of $32,000 within the permanent improvement fund and the transfer of $25,000 within the general fund, to the Division of Fire to speed heavy rescue services to auto accident, and to authorize the expenditure of $57,000 for said purpose, and to declare an emergency. ($57,000).
Body
WHEREAS, vehicle extrications are an important component of Fire rescue operations; and
WHEREAS, Council deems it necessary to expand the Division of Fire's capacity to address potential life-threatening automobile accidents by directing the Fire Chief to assign a fourth firefighter to four specific engines during daytime hours to better serve areas of high accident rates on freeways and to meet national response time standards of five minutes or less; and
WHEREAS, this direction is for a transitional period only until the end of 2003, with any 2004 resources for this effort being determined by the 2004 budget process;
WHEREAS, funds exist to purchase and staff the equipment from a combination of operational savings produced within the City Council budget by managed personnel expenditures ($15,000), funds previously earmarked by Council for this purpose ($10,000), and funds residing within the unallocated balance of the permanent improvement fund ($32,000), and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is submitted as an emergency measure to ensure the quickest deployment of said equipment for the public welfare, and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the City in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate and transfer funds to the Division of Fire to allow for the purchase of vehicle extrication equipment for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; Now therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That from the monies in the Fund known as the Permanent Improvement Fund, Fund No. 748, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources during the twelve months ending December 31, 2003, the sum of $32,000 is hereby appropriated within project 748999.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer said monies within the fund from Project 748999 to Project 340123, Fire Equipment, Division of Fire, Division 30-04, OCA Code 340123.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is authorized and directed to transfer the following amounts within the General Fund, Fund No. 010, to the Division of Fire as follows:
From: $15,000 from City Council, Division 20-01, Object Level 1 01, Object Level 3 1000, OCA Code 200105, and $10,000 from the City Auditor, Division 22-01, Object Level l 10, Object Level 3 5501, OCA Code 900365.
To: the Division of Fire, Division 30-04, $10,000 to Object Level 1 06, Object Level 3, 6645, OCA Code 301531 and $15,000 to Object Level 1 01, Object Level 3, 1131 OCA Code 301531 for the purchase and staffing of equipment used in Fire rescue services during response to auto accidents.
SECTION 4. This direction is for a transitional period only until the end of 2003, with any 2004 resources for this effort being determined by the 2004 budget process.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of the combined amounts of $57,000 in Funds 748 and 010 as stated above for this purpose is deemed authorized.
SECTION 6. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.