May 5, 2008 MinutesCITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
May 5, 2008
After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council of the City of Denton, Texas
convened in a Special Called Work Session on Monday, May 5, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. in the
Council Work Session Room.
PRESENT: Mayor McNeill; Mayor Pro Tem Kamp; Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Mulroy; Council
Members Heggins, Montgomery, Thomson, and Watts.
ABSENT: None
1. The Council received a report and held a discussion with the Fire Department staff
regarding current operations, programs.
Ross Chadwick, Fire Chief, presented background information on the Denton Fire Department.
The Department's mission statement was to prevent harm, deliver exceptional services and
always be nice. To deliver exceptional services they looked at every opportunity to prevent
emergencies from happening in the first place. Customer service was number one with their
essential mission and the number one priority was to deliver the best possible service to their
customers. To deliver exceptional services the department thoroughly prepared for all the
emergencies that could occur, responded to execute a standard problem solving outcome that was
quick, effective, skillful, safe, caring and managed. They also went out of their way to help
customers recover after they had emergencies. Everyone was treated with respect, kindness,
patience and consideration. The department's vision was for an organization which provided a
dynamic and flexible response whenever called upon. The Department intended to create an
extraordinary fire and rescue service for Denton. It would be acustomer-centered service which
was committed to its mission and its common purpose of making Denton a safe and healthier
city, with everyone in the organization focused on and contributing to this mission. He presented
a five-year history of emergency responses and afive-year history of loss. In 2007, 64.6% of the
Department's responses were for emergency medical services. There were three divisions of the
Fire Department -Administration, Operations, and Prevention. Chief Chadwick reviewed a 10
year history of total budgeted positions and the various positions in each division. Response
time for EMS and fire calls was discussed. A review of total emergency calls by fire station, by
fire engine/quint, by ambulance, and by district was noted. Each community should establish its
own level of fire suppressions/rescue capability based on budget limitations, community fire
risks, total number of companies available, ISO, NFPA, OSHA or other criteria.
Council discussion included:
• Fire services provided at the universities.
• What was the determination of the designation of ISO Class 2 -Chadwick stated that the
designation included fire fighting capability, water supply and alarm system.
Chief Chadwick continued with determining minimum staffing levels -what was the minimum
number of personnel required to safely perform the associated functions of protecting life and
City of Denton City Council Minutes
May 5, 2008
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property. Currently a minimum of 37 people had to be staffed daily. Medical calls needed at
least 5-6 people answering the call. Emergency medical calls on the freeway would have 8-10
people on the call. Sixteen -nineteen people would be working a one or two family dwelling fire.
Council discussion included:
• What was the Chief's recommendation on the number of firefighters on an engine -
Chadwick stated that if money were not an object, four was good. Budget limitations might
restrict that number to 3.
• What was the cost to add a fourth firefighter to an engine -Chadwick stated that his major
concern was the deployment verses number of personnel.
• Provide the Council with a report on services provided to UNT and TWU -both fire and
of er services.
With no further business, the meeting as adj ourned at 1:15 p.m.
PERRY R. MCNEILL
MAYOR
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
JENNIFER WALTERS
CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS