City of Coeur d'Alene - 2015 Public Safety General Obligation Bond

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2015 Public Safety General Obligation Bond

On May 19, 2015, Coeur d’Alene voters overwhelmingly supported a $6 million, 10-year public safety bond to fund needed capital expenditures for the Police and Fire Departments. The general obligation bond replaces a 10-year bond approved by voters in 2005. The expiring bond was approved for $7 million with an interest rate of 3.93 percent. The anticipated interest rate for the current bond is 2.96 percent. The lower bond amount and lower interest rate will result in a lower cost to property owners. After a homeowners exemption, the owner of a median priced home ($192,500) in Coeur d’Alene will pay $23.45 per year for the public safety bond. Under the previous bond, the rate on a home that price is $28.65 per year.

For more information, contact Keith Erickson at [email protected]

Links and Related Information:

2015 Proposed Needs

3 Fire Engines, (2 Replace 1 New)	$1,750,000
1 Ladder Truck, (Replacement)	$1,400,000
Fire and Police Shared Facility, (New)	$560,000
1 Fire Boat (Replacement)	$450,000
Camera Network, (New)	$315,000
Mobile Command Center, (New)	$300,000
Patrol Carports, (New)	$250,000
4 Command Vehicles (Replacement)	$250,000
SCBA, hose replacement (Replacement)	$245,000
1 Brush Truck (Replacement)	$225,000
2 Inspector Vehicles (Replacement)	$100,000
1 Battalion Chief Unit (Replacement)	$85,000
2 Utility Trucks (Replacement)	$70,000

Total	$6,000,000

Testimonials

“This bond will provide your Fire Department with the necessary equipment to meet the growing demands for service, while being mindful of taxpayer dollars.”

Chief Kenny Gabriel
Coeur d’Alene Fire Department

“The equipment funded by this bond will provide police officers with the tools needed to be more efficient and effective in responding to the public safety needs of our residents.”

Chief Lee White
Coeur d’Alene Police Department

Frequently Asked Questions:

How will the public safety bond complement the CDA 2030 Visioning plan?

The 2030 plan calls for maintaining a high level of police, fire and emergency services as our population continues to grow. This bond will support prompt, reliable services and facilitate our commitment to maintain the current level of service as the community grows. To learn more about the public safety portion of the 2030 plan <link 2030 health and safety vision on page 15 of the document. Here is the URL to entire plan, please just link to health and safety page. http://www.cda2030.org/inc/v2030small.pdf

Why do fire trucks respond to medical emergencies?

The countywide, fire-based, EMS system has a longstanding tradition of being very proactive in responding to emergency situations. When a 911 call is received, there is precious little time for firefighters and dispatchers to get a clear picture of the exact nature of the situation and condition of the patient. By dispatching firefighter/EMT first responders, we are able to handle any situation we encounter as effectively, efficiently and expediently as possible. Why do trucks respond?

How many days a year are fire trucks placed out-of-service for repairs?

An average of 20 to 30 days per year, per vehicle, depending on what breaks down. The time fire department vehicles spend in the shop has become more frequent in recent years as many of our fire trucks have more than 100,000 miles.

Why don’t you use smaller, cheaper, fuel efficient vehicles vs. expensive fire trucks to respond to medical emergencies?

Several fire departments around the country are testing pilot programs that dispatch smaller vehicles to non-emergency medical calls. We are monitoring these fire departments with patient outcome studies and will be evaluating whether we can provide the same excellent service without sacrificing firefighter safety and patient care.

What is the financial burden on maintaining the aging fire truck fleet?

Maintenance costs continue to increase as more of our fire trucks exceed 100,000 miles. This means more time in the shop and less reliability in responding to calls. This trend continues to increase as the age and miles and wear continue to increase and exceed the National Standards.

Why does the Fire department need to replace its existing fire boat?

The current vessel was built in 1974 and was acquired through government surplus in 2010. It was refitted to be in compliance with National Standards as a small fire boat. The small fire boat has a very limited weight capacity for a crew and patients. These weight limitations and hull design make this vessel unsafe for water rescue or retrieval incidents.

Why does the Police and Fire department need a Mobile Command/Crime Scene trailer?

Over the past few years the Coeur d’Alene Police Department has investigated a multitude of serious crimes and worked countless special events, often with our partners in the Fire Department. These are complex scenes and events and many of these include several agencies and hundreds man-hours to handle appropriately.

If acquired, we would be able to address the problems associated with communication and command at large scale incidents that require multiple agencies to cooperate under complex and demanding conditions. This vehicle will be outfitted to house computers, communications and other equipment that will allow us to efficiently administer law enforcement services under a multitude of situations.

Why does the city need more cameras and if we get them where will they be located?

Security cameras mounted in key locations would be utilized as both a crime deterrent as well an asset needed to solve crime. Security of our employees, buildings/grounds and equipment is vital. It is proposed that cameras could be installed and positioned at the north campus to include Police Headquarters and Fire Station Two, the Street/Water Department, Cherry Hill Park, City Hall, and McEuen Park at the parking facility.

Voters passed a Public Safety General Obligation bond in 2005. What benefits did the citizens get from it?

The citizens passed a $7 million Public Safety bond by a 74% margin in 2005. The FD spent the bond funds efficiently and on budget as promised. The 2005 General Obligation (GO) Public Safety bond provided:

GO, Public Safety funds were used to purchase capital items allowing current tax dollars to hire additional firefighters and police officers.
A regional Public Safety training facility for PD and FD was established and the FD formed a strategic partnership with NIC for use in fire science and EMT degree programs.
Fire station 2 was remodeled and brought into ADA compliance and provided gender specific living spaces and provides a community meeting room for the public.
Land acquisition, parking and building of FD headquarters contiguous to fire station 1 making the 300 block of Foster an ADA compliant campus with administrative offices, record storage and meeting room facility.
Remodel of the 30 year old Station 1 with offices and gender specific facilities.
Paid off the police station loan of $912,570
Paid off the fire station 3 loan of $1,130,355
Spent $1,147,500 on fire apparatus replacements
The bond allowed the fire department to keep pace with increased demands for service over the last 10 years.

Why don’t you save the money to replace fire vehicles or pay for it out of the general fund?

The City’s plan is to present the public safety capital needs to the voters every 10 years. The needs are voter approved and the financing matches the life of the asset.

How will the City of Coeur d’Alene pay for a new fire station and where will it be located?

The City will build Fire Station #4 with impact fees from development, growth paying for growth. The location will be on Atlas Road just north of Hanley Avenue.

How many new firefighters will be needed to open a new station? How much will that cost and how much will my taxes go up?

Nine new firefighter positions will be needed for the new station. This cost will be in excess of $772,000. A tax increase is a possibility and may be a part of the final solution

If the bond passes, how will it impact taxpayers financially?

Passage of the bond will lessen the cost to the taxpayer in regards to the public safety portion of the levy rate. The total dollar amount of the general obligation bond is $1 million less than the previous bond and the interest rate will be less than the voter approved bond 10 years ago.

Are the Coeur d’Alene firefighters handing out Public Safety Bond literature and answering questions “on duty” and getting paid?

No. The firefighters are not on duty and they have spent hundreds of man hours over the last 8 weeks attending meetings and going door to door “off duty” to give the public a chance to ask questions and provide them with answers to make an informed choice in this election.