City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 17, 2017
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
Title
Oral Report on the Fire Station Optimal Location Study.
Body
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ISSUE: Results of the Fire Station Optimal Location Study.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council receive the results of the Fire Station Optimal Location Study.
BACKGROUND: Due to the sizable cost of planned fire station investments over the next decade, the City Manager asked an analysis team to study this station capital investment plan. The analysis team included members of the Office of Performance and Accountability (OPA), the Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) Geographic Information System (GIS) Division, and the Alexandria Fire Department.
This study’s goal was to determine optimal locations for fire stations before substantial investments were made in existing or new stations. This report should not be interpreted as recommending that any particular fire station be moved. Rather this study identifies optimal locations. Such recommendations would only occur after further analysis, community dialogue and engagement, as well as the identification of specific, available receiving sites.
DISCUSSION: This study focused on four possible configurations: current stations; prior CIP configuration (which included proposed Station 211, which was added as part of the Beauregard Small Area Plan process in part as a reaction to BRAC traffic concerns); and two optimized scenarios. The study found that the addition of Station 211 was not needed. Therefore, the FY 2018 to FY 2027 CIP did not propose nor include when adopted funding for Station 211.
From a travel time perspective, all considered scenarios provide a reasonable level of service with a modeled travel time performance at or between 98.7 percent and 99.4 percent. The prior CIP configuration with Station 211 would provide only a modest modeled improvement over the current station configuration but costs $13.2 million more in capital and would add at least an estimated $2.75 million per year in operating costs for the station with one new fire engine. Over a 20 year period this equates to at least $55 million in added operating costs, which could increase if other units (medic unit, ladder truck, etc.) were added to the station’s operations.
FISCAL IMPACT: Cost avoidance for the City is estimated at $13.2 million to construct a new station and at least $2.75 million annually to operate the new fire station. Over a twenty year period this would save some $68.2 million in City Funds.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Fire Station Optimal Location Study
2. PowerPoint Presentation
STAFF:
Robert Dubé, Fire Chief
Greg Useem, Chief Performance Officer
Jimmy Bryant, GIS Analyst III