Williams Lake Fringe Fire Protection Meeting

YOU STILL HAVE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE!

HISTORY
Approximate Residential Tax Rates Pre-Referendum Approximate Residential Tax Rates Post-Referendum

Rural - $190 per $100,000 City - $63 per $100,000 Example: $300,000 assessment:
Rural - $570 per year City - $189 per year

Rural - $129 per $100,000 City - $72 per $100,000 Example: $300,000 assessment:
Rural - $387 per year City - $217 per year

Tax Rates for Other Rural Fire Departments

Fire Department
108 Mile House Fire Protection Kersley Fire Protection Lone Butte Fire Protection Lac La Hache Fire Protection Bouchie Lake Fire Protection Deka Lake Fire Protection 150 Mile House Fire Protection Wildwood Fire Protection West Fraser Fire Protection Miocene Fire Protection $'s per Home $100,000 ($300,000) $ 47 $ 140 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 56 64 64 66 64 68 112 149 171 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 169 192 192 198 192 204 336 447 513

Tax Rates for Other Rural Fire Departments

Fire Department 108 Mile House Fire Protection Kersley Fire Protection Lone Butte Fire Protection Lac La Hache Fire Protection Bouchie Lake Fire Protection Deka Lake Fire Protection 150 Mile House Fire Protection Wildwood Fire Protection West Fraser Fire Protection Miocene Fire Protection $'s per Assessed Value $100,000 $ 47 $ 331,035,900 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 56 64 64 66 64 68 112 149 171 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 123,938,112 201,016,547 150,478,753 172,046,295 134,288,875 179,426,894 79,949,128 53,081,688 66,560,312

Tax Rates: Fire Protection Service Provided by Municipalities

Fire Department $'s per $100,000 Home ($300,000)

Quesnel => Red Bluff Fire Prot. 100 Mile House => 100MH Fringe Williams Lake => WL Fringe

$ $ $

54 $ 64 $ 190 $

162 193 570

Comparison of Williams Lake & Quesnel VFDs

Budget 2012 Expenditure Category Williams Lake Fire Dept. Operating Costs Capital Expenditures Debt Servicing Total Expenditures $ 1,379,290 111,240 512,500 $ 2,003,030 $ Quesnel Fire Dept. $ 864,969 35,000 54,725 954,694

Comparison of Williams Lake and Quesnel VFDs

Williams Lake Fire Dept. Quesnel Fire Dept. Total Expenditures $ 2,003,030 $ 954,694 (2012) Residential Cost for Rural Fire Protection/ $ 190 $ 54 $100,000 Similar levels of full-time paid staff Similar population levels Similar service areas Similar topography Similar climates Similar structure types

OPTIONS
1. Continue legal action to enforce the current agreement for the long term as was originally promised by the City; 2. Negotiate a new contract with the City; 3. Establish a separate fire protection service for the rural area. 4. No Fire Protection.

OPTION 1 Continue Legal Action

IF WE WIN: Rural residents get service as promised and as per the successful referendum (and pay approximately double what City residents pay). Costs will likely continue to increase until we reach the ceiling set by referendum, following which a decision will need to be made to either proceed to another referendum to increase taxes or consider alternatives.

OPTION 1 continued
IF WE LOSE: Ask court to require they deliver service until we can get alternative in place; or Negotiate a new agreement with City and proceed to a new referendum.

OPTION 1 continued
Costs expended to date include: $9,000 to prepare for and conduct referendum $15,000 to obtain court injunction Citys legal costs are unknown Costs to continue through a full civil action to have the agreement upheld are unknown.

OPTION 2 Negotiate a New Contract

PROS: The City would continue to deliver fire protection services.

OPTION 2 - continued
CONS: City seeking more than permitted by the referendum would require a new referendum with associated costs. Lack of accountability - no vote for the elected officials that govern the service. Lack of input - no vote in any future borrowing. Lack of ownership - dont own any of the assets youre paying for.

OPTION 2 - continued
COSTS: Referendum, while still high, was at least a formula based on something relatively neutral. It will be difficult to negotiate if the mandate tonight is to pay at any cost but we have no choice but to have that conversation with you.

OPTION 3 ESTABLISH A SEPARATE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE

PROS: Rural taxpayers have a voice in the delivery of the service as they have a voice in who they elect to represent their interests accountability. Rural taxpayers have a voice in any future borrowing.

OPTION 3 ESTABLISH A SEPARATE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE

PROS: Rural taxpayers own the assets that they pay for Estimated cost is less than $100 per $100,000. Same insurance reductions would apply.

OPTION 3 continued
CONS: Manpower to run a fire department must come from you the residents. This can also be a real pro and can build a sense of community and camaraderie, however, at this time, it has the possibility of being the single impediment to making this option the most viable, if sufficient residents do not agree to participate.

OPTION 3 - continued
Why is it so much cheaper for us to do it on our own? $7 million fire hall Apparatus needed primarily to service large structures as well as commercial/industrial properties (i.e. ladder truck) Municipal requirement to provide fire inspections Need to be accountable to taxpayers

MANPOWER
Recruit Training: 2 hours/week for 25 weeks plus 2 additional full days (approximately 70 hours to meet Basic Firefighter certification level).

MANPOWER
Ongoing Membership: Minimum 15 trained firefighters available to respond to callouts Weekly training practices Occasional weekend training sessions Ability to respond to callouts 2012 Structure Fires & MVIs for: 150 Mile VFD = 20 calls Wildwood VFD = 24 calls

We Need to Hear From You!

Surveys are available on the tables at both exits. Please pick up a copy and return it completed by 4:30 p.m., Monday, January 28. Completed surveys will be accepted by CRD staff tonight or to our office; Cariboo Regional District 180 D North Third Avenue Williams Lake, BC V2G 2A4 The survey is available on the CRD website at cariboord.bc.ca or on Facebook at facebook.com/caribooregion

Thank-you