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HomeMy WebLinkAboutUntitled (3) • • Disadvantages to building a regional training facility include: • Significant up-front capital costs • Increased maintenance and life span costs • Locating a site for the facility may be difficult • Limited control over design of the facility • Limited control over operation of the facility • Training needs of fire fighters will not be met • Potential for scheduling conflicts due to larger number of users • Less convenient if the facility is located outside Washington County • Larger staff will be needed to run a facility this size Option Five: Private Development of a Public Safety Training Facility This option proposes development of a public safety training facility by investors in the private sector. The facility would be owned by the developer and rented to a Washington County joint-powers organization on a long-term basis. Any of the facilities described in Options One through Four could be built under this alternative. The advantage to development of a public safety training facility by private investors is: • No up-front costs Additional advantages also apply, depending on which type of facility is built. Disadvantages to private sector development of a public safety training facility include: • Limited control over design • Limited control over facility • Lease renewal will be at the discretion of the developer Additional disadvantages also apply, depending on which type of facility is built. Option Six: Continue Current Training Arrangements Option Six involves continuing current training arrangements. Public safety representatives have indicated that this option is not adequate to meet either mandated training requirements or the individual training needs of departments in Washington County. Advantages to continuing current training arrangements include: • No up front or maintenance costs • No responsibility for maintenance of a facility • Will not have to locate a site for a facility Disadvantages to continuing current training arrangement include: • Training needs will not be met • Decline in available training sites is expected to continue • Decline in opportunities to participate in training is expected to continue • Inability to meet training mandates • Limited control over use of Sheriffs outdoor firing range • No control over use of others' ranges • Lead contamination at outdoor ranges may contribute to the pollution of soil and groundwater • Liability for the safety of staff and the public will increase if adequate training is not provided • Inadequate training may increase the potential for lawsuits 5 • • Public Safety Training Facility Joint Powers Organization Purpose A Public Safety Training Facility for police and fire departments in Washington County would most feasibly be owned and operated by a joint powers organization involving the County and its larger communities. Smaller communities would be welcome to join the organization as well. The purpose of the joint powers organization would be the development, construction and operation of a joint training facility for public safety personnel including police officers, fire fighters SWAT teams, EMS and K-9 units. Oversight Oversight of a jointly owned and operated Public Safety Training Facility could be provided through a Training Facility Board consisting of representatives from each community involved in the collaboration. Board members could include city managers or assistants, police chiefs, fire chiefs, elected officials, finance directors or human resources directors. Initial Financing Financing for project planning and facility construction is estimated at $7,000,000. The examples below illustrate several options for financing a Public Safety Training Facility. 1. The South Metro Public Safety Training Facility will be financed through individual contributions of each of the participants. The cities of Bloomington, Chanhassen, Eden Prairie, Edina and Richfield have been authorized to issue general obligation bonds of up to $1,000,000 for this purpose. The Airport Commission has cash available to contribute to the project. 2. The Ramsey/Washington County Resource Recovery Facility was financed through bonds secured by Washington County. Ramsey County assumed responsibility of two- thirds the debt service on the bonds. 3. Issuance of general obligation bonds by the joint powers organization. Ongoing Financing Annual operating costs of a Public Safety Training Facility (excluding personnel) are estimated to be between $175,000 and $200,000. These costs could be allocated based on the hours of use, number of public safety personnel trained, population of each participating community, or any combination. Examples Examples of two joint powers agreements are attached for your information — Ramsey/Washington County Resource Recovery Facility and Metropolitan 911 Board. • Ramsey/Washington County RESOURCE RECOVERY JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT DECEMBER 1986