Among the City Council’s 1999-2000 Fiscal Year goals, was to determine exactly what will be required to improve the City’s ISO Rating from Class 4 to Class 3.

Per City Council direction, Staff employed the services of a Consultant who has previously served the City in the same capacity, and we were successful in 1991 of improving our ISO Rating from a Class 7 to a Class 4 which resulted in a significant fire insurance premium reduction for all residential and commercial properties. The Consultant was charged with evaluating the City’s current status of the City’s Fire Protection Rating.

The report describes the current status and offers methods by which to accomplish an improved rating of Class 3. Staff will offer Council options to achieve a rating Class of 2.

The objective of the Insurance Services Office (ISO) is to provide a tool for the Insurance Industry to measure quantitatively, the major elements of a City’s fire suppression system. The three (3) basic elements considered in the grading schedule are:

• Receiving and Handling Fire Alarms (Dispatch Center)

• The Fire Department

• Water Supply System

The consultant’s report provides two (2) simulations. Simulation one (1) represents the status of the community as it is currently with one exception, that a new fire station located near Main and Missouri is utilized in the distribution section of the report with a current Class 4 rating being maintained. Simulation two (2) considers the addition of a 105' fire apparatus aerial device which replaces the current 75' aerial, and utilizing the Ambulance District’s building to house a pumper truck, improve our fire hydrant testing on an annual basis, adding additional minimal cost equipment to the current fire apparatus, replacement of one (1) fire department engine company, additional personnel, and increased training and preplanning activities, thus achieve a Class 3 rating, nearly a Class 2.

Based on this Administrative summary, Staff will offer options for the City Council to consider in maintaining the current Class 4 rating, what the minimum requirements is to achieve a Class 3, and finally what issues face the community to achieve a Class 2 fire suppression rating, and the benefits.

• Receiving and Handling Fire Alarms (Dispatch Center)

The community has worked diligently to improve the method by which all emergency alarms are received and managed by the Dispatch Center. Included within this endeavor was upgrading the public’s notification method to an Enhanced 911 System and improvements in radio communications. A review of simulations one (1) and two (2), indicate significant improvements from the 1991 ISO rating credit of 5.30 points, improvements to the phone line from Dispatch to the Fire Department and printed statistics of the number of 911 calls answered within 30 seconds and dispatched within one (1) minute will result in 9.80 of the 10 points available for this element.

• The Fire Department

The Fire Department received 31.06 points in 1991 as compared to the 29.64 received this evaluation. The primary factors for a lower rating include a lack of adequate records, minor equipment deficiencies, the need to complete additional preplans, increase the staffs training hours, the undersized fire pump on unit 247 (1980 Chevrolet Rescue/Pumper) and the height of unit 226 (1975 75' Ariel Truck). Improvements to the deficiencies of record keeping, preplanning and equipment for apparatus, are underway. The deficiencies within the capital items of apparatus replacement and those recommendations of fire station location, staffing levels and improved training facilities will aid in achieving a Class 3 Rating.

• Water Supply System

The water supply system received the same point value as the 1991 survey of 34.96 points. As proposed an improved hydrant inspection and replacement program will increase to 39.30 of the 40.00 point value. The Fire Department has assumed the inspection responsibilities of the fire hydrants, and will report the number of double hydrants (those with only two (2) openings) that require replacing with triple hydrants (those with one (1) additional large connection) to the Public Works Department for future consideration.

Requirements to Achieve Class 3 Status & Projected Costs

- Telephone line from Dispatch Center to Fire Department supervised and recorded. Cost: $480 initially and $300 p/y thereafter.

- Printed statistics of the number of 911 calls answered within 30 seconds and dispatched within one minute. Cost: unknown at this time, however anticipated being minimal.

- Fire Apparatus equipment improvements. Cost: $350 - $500.

- Fire Department record keeping, training and preplans. Cost: minimal, primarily staff and time.

Assuming all the above items are completed, 72.62 points are anticipated, Class 3 point values range from 70.00 - 79.99 points.

Requirements to Achieve Class 2 Status & Projected Costs

- Replacement of unit 247 with similar size apparatus with increased fire pump capacity. Cost: $195,000

- Retain unit 247 as a reserve pumper and place at a remote location. Cost: maintenance and possible lease for storage.

- Replacement of unit 226 with a 105' ladder/platform and increased fire pump capacity. Cost: $650,00

- Retain unit 226 as a reserve ladder truck. Cost: maintenance.

- Implement a paid on-call program of two (2) full time personnel on- call 24 hours per day. Cost: $26,000 p/y.

- Increase the amount of time reserve fire fighters are allowed to work shift duty from two (2) per month to four (4) per month. Cost: $28,000 p/y

- Increase number of full time fire fighters by two (2). Cost: $

- Construct a new training tower and live burn structures. Cost: $86,000

The above improvements include capital outlay previously submitted by staff for continued enhancement and maintenance of apparatus, facilities and the protection of life and property. The report merges well with the work of the LMC (Labor Management Committee) and subsequent findings.

The attached form provides an overview of the percentage of premium savings for commercial structures. As noted, Class 2 has the greatest impact of savings.

ISO typically will re-evaluate a community every ten (10) years, for the purpose of being assured that no major changes have occurred. A community may request an earlier visit from ISO, if they can demonstrate that the community has made significant improvements within the related elements.

Rate Analysis Example - Restaurant

Note: Premiums will vary by state and territory

Premiums based on the following conditions: