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CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2016-061
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD,
ALASKA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN THE
AUTOMATIC AID AGREEMENT AND OPERATIONAL PLAN BETWEEN
THE CITY OF SEWARD FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE BEAR CREEK
FIRE SERVICE AREA
WHEREAS, automatic aid agreements are a form of mutual aid agreements and their
operational plans provide for automatic requests for additional resources to residents of the Seward
area in the form of emergency response personnel when required; and
WHEREAS, Alaska Statute 18.70.150 provides that: "A city, other incorporated entity, and
other fire protection groups may organize a mutual -aid program by adopting an ordinance or
resolution authorizing and permitting their fire department, fire company, emergency relief squad,
fire police squad, or fire patrol to go to the aid of another city, incorporated entity, or fire protection
group, or territory outside of it,"; and
WHEREAS, resolution 1989-080 adopted on July 10, 1989 provided for a mutual aid
agreement and operations plan between the Seward Fire Department (SFD) and the Bear Creek Fire
Service Area (BCFSA); and
WHEREAS, no automatic aid agreement and operational plan has been formalized and this
process will update and clarify the terms of automatic aid between SFD and BCFSA; and
WHEREAS, this automatic aid agreement is for the provision of fire apparatus and
personnel.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SEWARD, ALASKA that:
Section 1. That an automatic aid agreement between the Seward Fire Department (SFD) and
the Bear Creek Fire Service Area (BCFSA) serves the best interests of both areas and is hereby
approved. The City Manager is authorized to execute an automatic aid agreement substantially in the
form of the attached agreement.
Section 2. That the operational plan substantially in the form of the attached hereto is hereby
approved and the City Manager and Fire Chief are hereby authorized to approve amendments to the
operational plan without further review by the Council so long as any such amendments do not
conflict with the automatic aid agreement.
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2016-061
Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the city of Seward, Alaska, this 24'h day
of October, 2016.
THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
J an Bardarson, Mayor
AYES:
Keil, Squires, McClure, Slater, Bardarson
NOES:
None
ABSENT:
Casagranda, Altermatt
ABSTAIN:
None
ATTEST:
janna Ki y, CMCy Clerk
(City Seal)
1
Council Agenda Statement
Meeting Date: October 10, 2016
To: City Council
Through: Jim Hunt, City Manager
From: Edward Athey, Fire Chief
Agenda Item. Automatic Aid Agreement between the City of Seward Fire Department and the Bear
Creels Fire and Emergency Services Area.
BACKGROUND & JUSTIFICATION:
Automatic aid agreements are a form of mutual aid agreements and their operational plans provide for
automatic requests for additional resources in the form of emergency response personnel and equipment when
required. For the past 34 years, the Seward Fire Department (SFD) has had a mutual aid agreement with the
Bear Creek Fire and Emergency Services Area (BCFEMSA), which was last updated in 1989. Under the
umbrella of this mutual aid agreement there have been provisions for automatic aid, however it was no more
formal than a letter or memo between the departments. This formalization of an automatic aid agreement and
operational plan will provide clarification and clear direction for our response and communications personnel.
Additionally, significant cost savings for fire insurance can be afforded local taxpayers through rating
determinations by Insurance Services Office (ISO) when automatic aid agreements are in effect.
Automatic aid agreements and operational plans are common in the fire and emergency service professions. For
years the operational plans have been considered as matters within the expertise of the agencies providing
automatic aid and, therefore, future amendments to the operational plans have been left to the discretion of the
agencies.
INTENT: Council authorization for the City Manager to execute an automatic aid agreement and operational
plan between SFD and BCFEMSA. Furthermore, Council authorization for the City Manager and Fire Chief to
approve amendments to the operational plan without further reviews by Council so long as any such
amendments do not conflict with the automatic aid agreement.
CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST:
Yes
No
NIA
I.
Comprehensive Plan (document source here): Volume 1- page 14
X
2.
Strategic Plan (document source here): page 18
X
3.
Other (list): AS 18.70.150
X
FISCAL NOTE:
All associated costs are borne by each responding agency, and in this manner, costs for manpower, materials,
supplies and equipment are exchanged between the agencies, ultimately resulting in funds being expended for
the benefit of the areas.
Approved by Finance Department: A4avD 4f
ATTORNEY REVIEW: Yes X No
RECOMMENDATION:
City Council approves Resolution 2016-061 authorizing the City Manager to execute an automatic aid
agreement and operational plan substantially in the form of the attached agreement and plan.
BCFSA & SFD Automatic Aid Agreement ::t
AGREEMENT FOR EXCHANGE OF AUTOMATIC AID
This agreement, hereinafter referred to as the Automatic Aid Agreement, dated
for reference purposes on this day of , 2o16, is made by and
between Bear Creek Fire Service Area (BCFSA) and City of Seward Fire Department
(SFD).
1. Response to Automatic Aid Requests.
a. Both parties to this agreement provide fire protection services within their
jurisdictions.
b. In return for the services to be provided by BCFSA, SFD agrees to provide
a designated fire response, as determined by the Fire Chiefs of BCFSA and
SFD.
c. In return for the services to be provided by SFD, BCFSA agrees to provide
a designated fire response, as determined by the Fire Chiefs of BCFSA and
SFD.
2. Emergencies — Information Provided.
Upon receipt of an alarm through a 9-1-1 Call Center within the automatic aid
response area of either agency, BCFSA or SFD will automatically dispatch its
nearest available and appropriate designated fire response to that alarm. The
automatic aid response areas are determined by the Fire Chiefs of BCFSA and
SFD and set forth in the Annual Operational Plan.
g. Jurisdiction.
"Jurisdiction" is defined to be that political and geographical boundary
designating the respective agencies that are party to this agreement.
4. Authority to Establish the Automatic Aid Agreement.
a. Alaska State Statutes, AS 18-70.150 states that "[a] city, other incorporated
entity, and other fire protection groups may organize a mutual -aid
program..."
b. Automatic Aid is automatic mutual aid.
5. Command Authority.
a. When the aiding department arrives before the jurisdictional department,
the aiding department will take the necessary action dictated by the
situation.
b. Upon arrival of the jurisdictional department, the operational
responsibility for the situation will be immediately assumed by the
jurisdictional department.
c. The aiding department personnel will be under the direction of the officer
in charge of the jurisdictional department.
d. The aiding department will be released from the scene as soon as practical
by the officer in charge of the jurisdictional department.
BCFSA & SFD Automatic Aid Agreement :o:t.
6. Withdrawal of Resources or Assignment Turndown.
a. If, after arrival at the emergency scene or staging area with the resources
as identified in the annual operational plan, it becomes necessary to
withdraw a portion or all of such resources in order to address an
emergency situation in the jurisdiction served by the aiding department,
such withdrawal may be initiated at the sole discretion of the officer in
charge of the aiding department.
b. Such withdrawal may also be made at the sole discretion of the officer in
charge of the aiding department if they determine that the aiding
department's resources are being subjected to unnecessary or
unreasonable danger.
c. In either case, the officer in charge shall coordinate the withdrawal with
the jurisdictional department's officer in charge in a manner that avoids
endangering personnel of either department.
d. It is mutually understood and agreed that this agreement does not relieve
either party from the necessity and obligation of using its own resources to
provide fire protection within any part of its own jurisdiction.
e. In the event a jurisdictional department ever fails to respond to an alarm
within its jurisdiction to which an aiding department has responded, at the
sole discretion of the aiding department, this agreement may be
terminated by the aiding department immediately, or within a reasonable
time thereafter.
f. It is further agreed that that either party may terminate the agreement at
any time by giving written notice to the other party at least thirty (3o) days
prior to the date of termination.
7. Responsibility for Costs & Liability.
a. Each party desires to provide to the other a reasonable, professional and
reciprocal exchange of fire response services on a day to day basis at no
additional cost.
b. Each party shall bear its own costs for responding to an automatic aid
request.
c. Each responding agency shall be responsible for its own liabilities incurred
traveling to the scene, at the scene and returning to the station of origin.
d. In rendering emergency services, each agency will bear the responsibility
for its own acts and any liability incurred by such acts.
8. Annual Operating Plan.
a. It is in the best interests of the citizens of BCFSA and SFD to be provided
the most expeditious and professional response to suppress fires. The
details as to amounts and type of assistance to be dispatched, response
areas, methods of dispatching, communications, training programs and
procedures, methods of requesting aid, and the names or ranks of persons
authorized to send and receive such requests, lists of personnel and
resources which will be utilized, shall be developed by the Fire Chiefs of
BCFSA and SFD.
BCFSA & SFD Automatic Aid Agreement ::t
b. Such details shall be recorded in an Operational Plan by Fire Chiefs of
BCFSA and SFD.
c. The Operational Plan shall be approved and signed by the agencies and the
Borough Mayor, dated and attached hereto.
9. Mutual Aid Agreement Not Affected.
It is mutually understood that this agreement will in no way affect or have any
bearing on existing area mutual aid agreements.
APPROVED:
BEAR CREEK FIRE SERVICE AREA
By:
Connie Bacon, Chief
Date:
BEAR CREEK FIRE SERVICE AREA BOARD
By:
Chairman
Date:
CITY OF SEWARD
go
Jim Hunt, City Manager
Date:
KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH
go
Mike Navarre, Mayor
SEWARD FIRE DEPARTMENT
By:
Edward Athey, Chief
Date:
APPROVED as to form and legal
Sufficiency
Seward City Attorney
Date:
APPROVED as to form and legal
Sufficiency
Date: Date:
Amy Fenske
Assistant Borough Attorney
BCFSA & SFD Automatic Aid Agreement ::t
ATTEST:
By:
Borough Clerk
Date: