Highlands Ranch Fire & Emergency Services Unification

Transcription

1 Highlands Ranch Fire & Emergency Services Unification History Service with Littleton Fire Rescue began in

2 History Stations built in Highlands Ranch Station Station Station History Metro District: Builds and owns stations Buys and owns engines and ambulances Contracts for firefighters and paramedics 4 2

3 History Good partnership Metro District and Littleton Fire Protection District (LFPD) had input Littleton final decision Share of budget based on assessed value and number of calls 5 Challenges 6 3

4 Challenges 7 Challenges 8 4

5 Challenges 9 Challenges Adopted Master Plan 2015 Two new stations Several new units Additional firefighters and paramedics Partial implementation New station with engine Littleton Three additional medic units Response times steady 10 5

6 Challenges Funding LFPD using reserves to fund LFR budget City of Littleton zero new hires, zero increase for 2018 budget Master Plan stalled Commercial/Public building inspections not appropriately funded Battalion chiefs not appropriately funded 11 Challenges 12 6

7 Metro District Board Evaluated Alternatives Form a new two partner fire and emergency contract with existing partner Create a Highlands Ranch Fire Department Contract or merge with West Metro Fire Rescue All were more expensive and deemed not feasible. 13 Board Unanimous Unification with South Metro Fire Rescue is best solution LFPD CITY OF LITTLETON (COL) LITTLETON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT (LFPD) COL LFPD HIGHLANDS RANCH METRO DISTRICT SOUTH METRO FIRE RESCUE (SMFR) SMFR 14 7

8 Unification Nationwide Trend South Metro will build, equip and staff a new station in Highlands Ranch. 16 8

9 2. Highlands Ranch voters will be able to: Vote to elect SMFR board members, and Run for office as a SMFR board member Improved response times: 90 th percentile Highlands Ranch currently 9 minutes 30 seconds South Metro Fire Rescue currently meeting the 7 minutes 42 second standard 18 9

10 4. More frequent commercial and public building safety inspections Reduced costs for administration, training and equipment purchases 20 10

11 6. Littleton firefighters and paramedics will become employees of South Metro More battalion chiefs on duty for on scene leadership 22 11

12 8. South Metro is one of the 14 internationally accredited fire and emergency services providers in Colorado. 9. South Metro has the highest possible ISO rating = Improved capacity to respond to large scale or multiple emergencies 24 12

13 11. Improved firefighters health and safety South Metro financially stable a. Stable mill levy of 9.25 can only be increased by voters b. Higher percentage commercial property 26 13

14 Unification Cost Current Annual Metro District taxes per $100,000 appraised value: $ With Unification Annual Metro District taxes per $100,000 appraised value: $80.70 Annual South Metro taxed per $100,000 appraised value: $66.60 TOTAL: $ Annual increase per $100,000 appraised value: $16.30 Monthly increase per $100,000 appraised value $1.35 Example: A home in Highlands Ranch with an appraised value of $500,000 would pay an additional $6.75 per month or $81 per year. 27 Pros & Cons Pros: New fire station Vote for Board and/or run for Board Improved response times Increased commercial and public building safety inspections Reduced costs for administration, training and equipment Littleton firefighters and paramedics will become SMFR employees More battalion chiefs SMFR internationally accredited SMFR highest possible ISO rating Improved response capacity Improved firefighters health and safety Fiscal stability Cons: Additional cost 28 14

15 Elections Tuesday, May 8, 2018 from 7 a.m. 7 p.m. South Metro Fire Rescue Inclusion 29 Elections Five polling places open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Absentee ballots available * District Office Building * Westridge Recreation Center * Highlands Ranch Mansion * Eastridge Recreation Center Southridge Recreation Center * 30 15

16 Elections South Metro Absentee Ballot Applications are available at the District office and online at 31 Elections If inclusion passes Highlands Ranch residents and property owners will be eligible to be elected to South Metro Fire Rescue Board of Directors during the May 2020 election 32 16

17 Questions? 33 Opportunities Abound 34 17