Minutes 03/28/1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 28, 1995 To support these personnel additions, relocations, and other public safety needs, I am recommending a 3% increase in our city's real estate tax rate from $1.32/$100 to $1.36/$100. The new tax dollars generated will be specifically used for public safety. Fire As part of the "Portsmouth Fire Department Vision 2005 Strategic Plan," the Fire Chief has recommended the consolidation of the Jamestown Avenue and Port Norfolk fire stations. By consolidating these two stations, the Fire Chief plans to reassign staff to provide increased manpower throughout the city. The area serviced by the J~unestown Avenue fire station will be covered by Engine4 (Port Norfolk), Engine 7 (Grove Park), and Engine 1 (Fire Headquarters). This action will provide additional manning on each pumper and eliminate the need for a third engine company response on fire calls. With the closing of this station, the Fire Chief has recommended the renovation of the existing Cedar Lane fire station in order to house one engine company and one medic unit. This will increase coverage of fire demand zones by 17.1%. Since approximately 70% of all calls for assistance require emergency medical response, I am recommending that the fire department manage and operate the emergency ambulance service. A staff of nine (9) paramedics will be added to operate two (2) ambulances, twenty-four hours a day, with a third ambulance to supplement as needed. The staff analysis indicates that the consolidation of fire stations and a city operated ambulance service will save the taxpayers approximately $150,000. PUBLIC UTILITIES In the past year, the city has experienced declining in-town water sales and increases in chemical and electrical costs. Measures have been taken to reduce personnel and operating costs to hold the increase in the water rate to five cents per one thousand gallons ($0.05/1000 gallons) for FY 96. This increase would add just a little over three dollars per year to an average customer's bill ($3.14/yr.). The Utility Fund will need to raise over $1.5 million in additional funding in FY 96 to service the debt required to renovate the Lake Kilby Water Treatment Plant and maintain the aging water and sewer infrastructure. These mandates will have a significant impact in coming years which may result in rates rising in excess of 25%. An estimated increase of $0.05 is proposed for FY 97. All the communities within our region and across the nation face the same stringent regulatory standards for drinking water. The federal government, regulatory agencies, and our customers place the responsibility for a reliable and safe drinking water system squarely on the shoulders of local goverD_ment. STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PRO,RAM The Federal Clean Water Act mandates that municipalities implement a comprehensive Storm Water Progra/n to include water quality monitoring, operation and maintenance of the program, stormwater master planning, and system inventory. In response to this mandate, the City of Portsmouth implemented a Storm Water Utility to provide a funding source for this program.