ABERFOYLE – While Puslinch is moving forward in preparation for a west side fire station, chances are a fire hall will not appear in 2019.
On Dec. 12 Puslinch councillors spent roughly an hour during a capital budget meeting discussing a staff report on the proposed satellite fire station costs.
The report recommended council approve the purchase of land in 2019 for $400,000 – $80,000 funded through the township levy and $320,000 funded through fire services development charges.
The report also recommended council approve the purchase of a building and associated equipment at a cost of $741,750 in 2020, funded through tax levy and/or debenture.
If approved, it would allow Puslinch to end its fire protection agreement with Cambridge in 2021.
The service is currently funded through a special area tax levy, which had a cost of $137,800 in 2018.
For local ratepayers, this would mean an increase in the Fire and Rescue Services operating budget beginning in 2021 to cover costs associated with servicing the newly assumed portion of the township and Highway 401.
Puslinch Fire and Rescue Chief Luis Gomes explained that in 2017, council requested that the fire department look into the cost associated with a west end fire station.
The report was brought forward and deferred to the 2019 capital budget cycle.
Gomes said the report recommends the purchase of land in 2019 and for construction of a building in 2020.
The goal, would be to have an operational satellite fire station in service that would operate in conjunction with, and be supported by the current Aberfoyle station.
The proposal would have 11 of the current volunteer firefighters transfer from the Aberfoyle station to the proposed satellite station.
This would reduce the Aberfoyle station from 36 to 25 volunteer firefighters.
At that point, the township would need to bump up the number of volunteer firefighters at both stations.
Staff state a compliment of 15 firefighters at the new station would be sufficient as it will be supported by the Aberfoyle station and mutual/automatic aid.
Councillor Matthew Bulmer noted Cambridge fire does not offer a tanker shuttle service accreditation.
Gomes explained that because Cambridge is an urban fire service, the department did not feel it was necessary, since the city operates on pressurized services/hydrants – “It is not a big of a concern there as it is for us.”
Councillor Jessica Goyda asked where the township would be able to purchase 1.5 to 2 acres of land for about $400,000. She said she is aware of one-acre lots selling for $500,000.
Goyda also questioned the timeline of discontinuing the fire service contract with Cambridge.
“Would it not make more sense to acquire the land first and negotiate to build the new fire hall before discontinuing the service with Cambridge?”
Gomes agreed, saying nothing would be done to discontinue the contract until Puslinch had a fully-functional west end satellite station.
Councillor John Sepulis also expressed concern with the cost of the land and the building and asked if there is potential to partner with other municipalities such as North Dumfries or Guelph-Eramosa.
Gomes said North Dumfries currently has no plans for a satellite station in that area of the township – and did not appear interested in the idea of a joint fire station.
“With Guelph-Eramosa, they are currently developing a fire master plan and we will look at opportunities there,” Gomes said.
He added discussion regarding a satellite station came about because one portion of the township pays a special levy for fire protection.”
Sepulis said if the township wants to proceed it must “have a proper assessment done and go back to the public with those costs.”
Councillor Ken Roth agreed, stating, “before I can make a decision of this magnitude, I have to have a lot more information.”
Roth said the proposal only comes into play should council wish to enhance service in that part of the township – “I don’t think council has yet made that decision.”
Roth asked if “the real reason for the satellite station” is to “ decrease response times or to generate cost savings?”
Gomes said, “for the area affected, and being charged a special area levy, I feel they receive very good fire protection from the city of Cambridge.”
Unlike Puslinch, Cambridge operates with full-time firefighters at each station. Because of that, Gomes agreed “our response times cannot match those response times.”
At the same time, Gomes said there is a portion of the township not covered under the contract, where response times are much longer.
“Our average response times across the municipality are 18 to 19 minutes. We need to shoot for a 14-minute response to every area.”
In order to accomplish that, Gomes said the township either needs to extend the contract area or build a satellite station at the west end.
Roth said “if we have to build a satellite station at the west end, why would we not be required to build one in the east end?”
Gomes explained the reason the west end discussion was before council was a means of dealing with the special area levy charged to residents.
“But that special area levy is something people in that area agreed to,” Roth countered. “Putting a satellite station in will provide a cost savings to those residents, but it will be an expense to the rest.”
Roth said the municipality should be talking with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario or the Ontario fire chiefs to get provincial legislation requiring the closest fire department to respond to a structure fire.
Gomes believed “that would be a very prudent request.” He said most fire departments in Ontario are municipally owned or funded.
“Looking at the opportunity of having one large provincial fire department, to me, makes sense,” Gomes said.
That way, the closest fire station would respond and the closest resources would be on hand, he added.
Roth suggested contracting out to other municipalities might, in the long run, still be cheaper than building numerous satellite stations.
Mayor James Seeley asked if residents in the west end are aware that having a satellite station serve them could potentially mean slowing response times to calls.
Gomes said in Cambridge, the preferred response time is four to six minutes for the first vehicle -and responding to Puslinch calls, could add on a few more minutes.
Gomes agreed that currently residents are getting the best possible response time as they are responded to by full-time firefighters.
Seeley explained his earlier comment was not a knock at the staff or volunteers.
He said that even with a satellite station, it could take firefighters six to seven minutes to reach the hall, gear up, then attend the emergency.
“There is going to be a difference in service,” Seeley said. “I also have concerns with the idea of building an east station or west station.”
Seeley asked if there was ever a costing made to move the current fire hall in Aberfoyle to a more eastern location.
Seeley also asked if Cambridge and Guelph were interested on a per capita basis of providing additional fire services to the east and west.
Gomes said staff was directed by council to look at those opportunities in 2016. His understanding is Guelph was not interested as it did not make financial sense for the city.
He said Cambridge was approached on a cost basis – and the township was given a cost of $3,000 per hour per truck, with six vehicles to attending structure fires.
In short, the cost would have been $18,000 per hour for each structure fire.
“I’m not sure what the result of that discussion was,” Gomes said.
CAO Karen Landry said when the information was presented to council of the day, the decision was to carry on with the existing contract with Cambridge.
Seeley favoured the idea of the entire tax base absorbing the special area levy, suggesting, “The people who agreed to pay the levy probably don’t live there any more.”
Seeley also agreed costs would need to be phased in and he said he would really like to know the per capita costs before making a decision. Until then, Goyda suggested the township could continue the agreement with Cambridge.
“The land itself will never go down in value,” she said, but it is the construction of the building which would create the most significant tax impact.
The report on costs was received for information.
Sepulis recommended a proper analysis for land and station costs and that staff look at a means by which the existing area levy could be phased in to spread the cost across the township.
On petitioning for legislation to require the closest fire station to respond, Roth said he is willing to work with staff on a motion.
Landry recommended council discuss phasing in the levy during budget talks.
