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FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMATION SHEET CITY OF MISSOULA $5,740,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND ISSUE ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 8, 2005 The City of Missoula is asking its citizens to allow the City to issue general obligation bonds for a twenty year period for the construction of a new Fire Station 5 and purchase of firefighting apparatus, the demolition and construction of Fire Station 2, and the addition to and remodel of Fire Station 3. The projects to be financed are as follows: Fire Station 5 and apparatus $2,814,652 Fire Station 2 $1,836,192 Fire Station 3 $ 928,155 Bond Issue Costs $ 85,000 Underwriting $ 74,620 Rounding $ 1,381 Bond Issue Amount $5,740,000 The annual cost to a homeowner is projected as follows: Property Value Average Annual Cost $175,000 - $200,000 $12.50 - $13.50 Although Montana State Law allows cities to encumber debt up to 1.51% of the assessed valuation, Missoula and other Montana cities have historically been very frugal with issuing debt. The debt as a percentage of assessed valuation as of June 30, 2005 for the City of Missoula is 0.58%. If this $5,740,000 bond issue is approved, the debt as a percentage of assessed valuation would become 0.78%. The last bond referendum for fire stations was held on November 3, 1992. Missoula voters approved this bond issue referendum. Ballot Language: Shall the City Council of the City of Missoula be authorized to issue and sell general obligation bonds of the City in an amount not to exceed $5,740,000 payable semi-annually over a period of twenty (20) years, for the single purpose of designing, constructing, and acquiring equipment, including a fire pumper and a wildland fire engine for a new fire station (Fire Station Five) in the Linda Vista Miller Creek area to serve the southwest part of the City; demolishing existing Fire Station Two (247 Mount Avenue) and designing, constructing, and equipping on the site a new Fire Station Two; remodeling, expanding and equipping Fire Station Three (1501 39th Street); and paying related costs and costs associated with the sale and issuance of the bonds. FOR ISSUANCE AND SALE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AGAINST ISSUANCE AND SALE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS For more information, please contact Chief Thomas Steenberg or Assistant to the Chief / Planning Administrator Jason Diehl Station #1 625 E. Pine Missoula, Mt. 258-4709 FIRE FACILITIES AND APPARATUS BOND ISSUE NOVEMBER 8, 2005 PURPOSE To construct and equip a new Fire Station 5, demolish and construct Fire Station 2, and add-on and remodel Fire Station 3. GOAL To allow the Missoula Fire Department to improve response times and maintain the quality of emergency services it provides to all citizens. ---PAGE BREAK--- HISTORY AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION After consultation with Fire Department staff and careful review and approval of planning, design, and cost estimate documents, the Missoula City Council voted to place a bond issue on the November ballot for the construction and associated additional equipment for a new Fire Station 5, the demolition and construction of Fire Station 2, and the addition to and remodel of Fire Station 3. The last Missoula fire station bond issue was on the ballot in 1992. Since then there has been a dramatic increase in the number of emergency calls, as shown below: • 1954 - 239 calls • 1977 - 1245 calls • 1991 - 2500 calls • 2004 - 4705 calls FIRE STATION 5 (Linda Vista / Miller Creek Area) The proposed new Fire Station 5 will primarily serve the rapidly growing Linda Vista/ Miller Creek area. Fire response for this area is currently provided from Fire Station 3 located at 39th and Russell. Response times from Fire Station 3 to this area average 11 minutes. An additional station in the Linda Vista/ Miller Creek area will bring response times within the Missoula Fire Department’s established goal of six minutes or less. A fifth station will also benefit the community as a whole by providing additional on-duty resources to respond to emergencies anywhere in the City at all times. The 1999 Southwest Missoula Annexation Study identified the need to address fire department response times as the Linda Vista/ Miller Creek area developed. In addition, the 2001 Fire Station Location Study identified the need for an additional fire station in this area. FIRE STATION 2 (247 Mount Avenue) Fire Station 2 was constructed in 1954 and has served the community well for over 50 years. This station has been in need of upgrades for decades. The plumbing and heating systems are aging and inefficient; the station lacks a third bay for additional apparatus. It has been determined that it would be most cost effective to demolish the existing station and build a new station in its place. The 2001 Fire Station Location Study identified that Fire Station 2 is in an appropriate location. The engine company housed in Station 2 has consistently been the busiest engine company in the City. FIRE STATION 3 (1501 39th Street) Fire Station 3 was constructed in 1975 and is also in need of upgrades. The heating system is aging and inefficient; the training/public meeting room is not adequately separated or secured from the apparatus bays. The proposed addition and remodel will provide a third apparatus bay for a wildlands engine and lengthen existing bays to allow adequate space for larger modern ladder trucks. It will also provide for a separated and secured training/public meeting room with a dedicated public entrance. COST ESTIMATES AND CONTROLS A detailed design and development process was conducted to ensure the most accurate estimate of costs. An Owner’s Representative has been hired to monitor and control costs in order to keep projects within budget during construction. IMPORTANCE OF RESPONSE TIME For both fire and medical emergencies response time is an essential factor. Our goal at the Missoula Fire Department is to provide initial resources at the scene of an emergency in six minutes or less 90% of the time. Included in this six-minute response time is one minute for 911 to receive and dispatch the call, one minute for firefighter turnout, and a travel time of four minutes or less. RESPONSE TIME: FIRE For the survival of occupants and the safety of our firefighters, it is essential that the first engine arrive at the fire scene before “flashover” occurs. A fire will double in size approximately every 30 seconds. Flashover occurs when all surfaces reach ignition temperature and the fire spreads rapidly throughout the space. The following graph illustrates fire growth. RESPONSE TIME: SURVIVAL For survival during a medical emergency, it is vital that help arrives at the scene as quickly as possible. The graph below illustrates how rapid intervention increases the likelihood of survival during a cardiac emergency.