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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-01-19 PACKET 04.C.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING ITEM # Lj DATE 01/19/11 PREPARED BY Public Safety Craig Woolery ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST City Council pass a motion to approve the Cooperative Agreement and authorize execution of the agreement between the City of Cottage Grove Fire Department and Washington County with respect to the use, storage and maintenance of an airboat owned by the County. STAFF RECOMMENDATION City Council pass a motion to approve the Cooperative Agreement and authorize execution of the agreement between the City of Cottage Grove Fire Department and Washington County with respect to the use, storage and maintenance of an airboat owned by the County. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS MEMO /LETTER: Deputy Fire Chief Redenius ❑ OTHER: Cooperative Agreement ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: �) City Administrator Date APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER City of The Washington County Sheriff's Office has been in contact with the Cottage Grove Fire Department reference their agency providing our department use of an airboat in our jurisdiction. The Sheriff's Office has a goal to have three airboats strategically placed throughout the county. There are currently airboats stationed at a Forest Lake Fire Station and the Stillwater Fire Station. The Sheriff's Office would like the airboats placed and manned by fire personnel for a few reasons. First, generally a high number of personnel are available for an incident when needed. Second, most of the fire departments in the county have a space available indoors for placement of the airboat and can be accessed by the Sheriff's Office if need be. The ability of having one of the airboats in our jurisdiction would benefit the citizens because of the versatility of the vehicle. The airboat works not only well on water but certain land situations and of course any type of ice rescue we may be called to assist on. Our jurisdiction has numerous water locations where we may be called upon to respond for an emergency and having this piece of equipment will make our response that much better. With regards to training and personnel involved with the airboat. We foresee approximately 11 personnel to be trained as boat operators with the remaining personnel trained as support people in an incident. Having a core group of persons trained in the operation of the airboat will allow us to track training and usage issues if they should arise. The airboat is something that will need extra training on. This is a specialized piece of equipment and will be treated as such. Training will be done year round so each member is comfortable in operating the airboat in most weather conditions. Open water rescues, ice rescues, and possible fire fighting incidents are just some of the situations we will train on. I will be in charge of overseeing this program for our department and will report to Chief Byerly on anything that we may need or any concerns I may come across. I believe that this is a great benefit for our community. This is a low cost program for our city as we are charged with the training of personnel which will be wage based and fuel costs whereas the cost of maintenance and repairs will be handled by the Sheriff's Office if or when it is needed. I believe that the agreement proposed by the Sheriff's Office be recommended for acceptance by the City Council as the benefits of this opportunity for our city out weigh the costs associated with it. Cooperative Agreement This Agreement, entered into by and between Washington County, Minnesota, hereinafter referred to as County, and the City of Cottage Grove, hereinafter referred to as City, both parties being governmental and political subdivisions of the State of Minnesota. WHEREAS, the County owns and operates airboats; and WHEREAS, the City through its Fire Department agrees to provide an indoor facility for storage of the airboat and trailer; and WHEREAS, the City would like to utilize the airboat to respond to emergency situations; and WHEREAS, the airboat provides for the public safety through its ability to respond to waterborne and remote emergencies; and WHEREAS, the ability of the County and City to have access to the use of the airboat provides enhanced protection to the general public. NOW, THEREFORE, the County and City pursuant to the authority contained in the Joint Powers Act, Minnesota Statutes Section 471.59 agree as follows: I. PURPOSE. The purpose of this agreement is to define the rights and obligations of the parties with respect to the use, storage and maintenance of an airboat owned by the County. II. CITY'S OBLIGATIONS A. The City shall through its Fire Department provide to the County the use of an indoor storage facility adequate for the storage of an airboat and trailer owned by the County. The County's Sheriff's Office shall be the sole determiner of whether the facility offered by the City is adequate for the storage of the airboat and trailer. B. The City shall be allowed to use the airboat, but its use of the airboat shall be limited to members of its Fire Department. The City Fire Department shall identify those employees that are fully trained to use the airboat and will only 1 allow those individuals to operate the airboat. The City shall be responsible for developing a training protocol and ensuring their employees are properly trained prior to using the airboat. The City shall keep written record of trained individuals. C. The City Fire Department shall operate the airboat only in the following instances: 1. To assist the Washington County Sheriff's Office by responding to marine incidents. 2. To assist the Washington County Sheriff's Office in the performance of the Sheriff's duties pursuant to Minnesota Statute Section 86B.105. 3. To respond to emergency situations where the utilization of the airboat would be warranted. 4. To conduct planned training exercises with the objective of improving firefighter skills in piloting the airboat or of enhancing crew members proficiency in response and rescue techniques that are unique to an airboat. 5. The airboat shall be used only in response to Washington County events. Any use of the airboat for situations outside the county shall require prior approval by the County Sheriff s Office. D. The City shall provide the County with full and unconditional access to the airboat twenty -four (24) hours a day and seven (7) days a week. III. COUNTY'S OBLIGATIONS A. The County shall be responsible for routine maintenance and upkeep of the airboat and trailer. B. The County will provide operational information on the airboat to the appropriate City personnel. C. The County shall provide the property coverage for the airboat and trailer. IV. LIABILILTY A. The liabilities of the parties under this agreement shall be governed by Minnesota Statute Section 471.59, subd. la. To the full extent permitted by law, actions by the City and County pursuant to this Agreement are intended to be and shall be construed as a cooperative activity and the City and County each expressly decline responsibility for the acts or omissions of the other. It is further stated that each party will be responsible for its own acts or omissions and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the other party against all claims, losses, damage, suits, judgments, costs and expenses including all attorney's fees by reason of the use and operation of the airboat by its officers and employees. V. DURATION A. The Agreement shall remain in effect until terminated by either party giving the other party 10 days notice of termination. B. Upon termination of this Agreement, the airboat and trailer shall remain property of the County. County of Washington City of Cottage Grove Chair, Washington Board of Commissioners Mayor Washington County Administrator Chief, City of Cottage Grove Fire Department Washington County Sheriff Approved as to form: Approved as to form: Assistant County Attorney City Attorney