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Item 10B (2)City of Southlake Department of Public Safety Training Tower Site Assessment & Analysis Prepared for the Mayor & City Council July, 2010 Background The registered voters of the City of Southlake passed a ½ cent sales tax for the purposes of funding a crime control and prevention district in 1996. The collection of the tax began in 1997 and was originally authorized for five years. Prior to the end of the District’s term the voters renewed the District for an additional fifteen years allowing the tax to be collect until 2017. The main focus of the Crime Control and Prevention District (CCPD) is the purchasing of land and construction of facilities to meet the public safety needs of the City of Southlake. To date the District has purchased land and constructed the DPS West Facility at 2100 W. Southlake Blvd., purchased additional land and funded the construction of a new DPS Headquarters building at 600 State St., and purchased land and begun the design of the DPS North Facility located on the northeast corner of East Dove Rd. and White Chapel Blvd. The DPS North facility will contain a fire station, training rooms, an auditorium, training tower and indoor gun range to facilitate the training needs of the employees of the Southlake Department of Public Safety. Having a single location for training of public safety employees will ensure higher quality, more consistent training opportunities while reducing travel time and overtime required when training is conducted outside the City of Southlake. The construction of this facility is consistent with the strategy of both the CCPD and the Southlake City Council. Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 2 Population Data: The City of Southlake has experienced tremendous growth over the past twenty years. While current projections show the growth slowing we anticipate steady rises in population over the next 15 years. The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) provides population data and estimates for the DFW Metroplex. City staff uses their projections and the analysis of the master plan for land use to fine tune these projections. The total population of the City of Southlake in 2000 was recorded by the United States Census Bureau at 21,519. The January 1, 2010 estimated population as provided by the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is 26,900; a population increase of 25%. Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 3 Population estimates from the NCTCOG for the City of Southlake in the years 2015, 2020, and 2030 are listed below. 2015 2020 2030 28,787 29,636 31,433 With the increase in residential population and the continued growth in commercial and retail development the number of police officers and firefighters required to protect and serve the City will also increase. Projected DPS Staffing: There are many variables beyond just population which ultimately determine the required number of full-time firefighters and police officers. For police officers the ratio of full time officers per 1,000 residential population, is a model that does serve as a good tool to project future officer needs. Currently Southlake Police has 54 sworn officers or 2.0 officers per 1,000 residential population. This is slightly higher than the 1.8 officers typical of a community our size. The main reason for the higher number is number of square miles in our City and population density compared to the number of miles required to effectively patrol and respond to emergency calls in the City. Assuming our staffing ratio remains constant at 2.0 officers per 1,000 residents you could expect the number of sworn officers to increase to 63 by the year 2030. The required staffing for fire personnel is driven differently from police officers. Firefighters respond from fixed facilities and have minimum staffing requirements to achieve critical tasks during emergency operations. The key to achieving reliable response times is in proper station placement and staffing levels of Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 4 apparatus. In Southlake we currently staff fire personnel on a 24/48 staffing model which means fire shift personnel work 24 hours on and 48 hours off. This allows us to staff Fire Services with shift shifts as opposed to the typical requirement of four shifts for twenty-four hour coverage. Current fire shift staffing is fifteen (15) firefighters per shift which allows staffing of two (2) engines, two (2) ambulances, and (1) truck company. If more than two fire personnel are off on a given day the truck company is removed from service due to minimum staffing requirements of three (3) personnel on engine and truck companies. At completion of the North Facility another engine company will be required; minimum daily staffing of Fire Services will be sixteen (16) personnel, with ideal staffing conditions being twenty-one (21). Current Training Tower Use: The Southlake Department of Public Safety currently utilizes Tarrant County College (TCC) Northwest Campus for annual training tower evolutions. Due to the travel involved, Police Services does not conduct multi-story evolutions during firearms training. The current rate for utilizing the TCC training tower is $1,000 per day. Currently we budget $4,220 per year for rental use of the TCC training tower which allows for an annual live fire evolutions for all fire personnel. Ideally we would utilize the training tower at TCC for quarterly evolutions and other training opportunities, but the impact on our training budget and the amount of time our personnel would be unavailable to respond to emergencies in the City would be to the extent that our ability to maintain credible response times would be jeopardized. Since this facility requires personnel and equipment to travel outside the City, when conducting this training, our ability to respond to emergencies in Southlake is greatly reduced. The current use of this facility requires scheduling months in advance and issues such as unpredictable weather poses some difficulty as make-up times must be scheduled to ensure all personnel receive the required training. Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 5 Travel Time: An important consideration for the construction of the training tower in Southlake is the travel time savings that will be realized by not utilizing the tower at Tarrant County College for high rise training scenarios. The drive time to this location is typically 45 minutes or more each way and takes half of our effective response force out of the community for several hours each time we train. The distance of TCC also limits the number of times fire personnel conduct high rise evolutions. They also do not conduct many other critical training scenarios due to the travel time and distance to TCC; including, high angle rescue, confined space rescue, ladder operations, ventilation, rapid intervention training, and apparatus placement. Police personnel currently do not use the training tower as they are spending an equal amount of time traveling to firearms ranges to train. Having all training elements on a single site will allow police personnel to begin incorporating multi-level scenarios into their Simunition® training scenarios. Equipment: When traveling to TCC, fire personnel must use front-line equipment which means half of the fire equipment is also located several miles from our community. This increases response times to emergencies as we must rely on out of district response or neighboring communities to handle our basic call volume while our personnel are training at TCC. The current expected response times for fire and EMS calls at the 90% are 7:25 for the east district, 8:55 for the west, and 10:17 for the north. When out of district responses are required during an emergency the response time increases 5:00. If a mutual aid response is required from a neighboring community you can expect a 10:00 increase in response times. If overtime were used to cover a station while we trained an increase of $18,911 per year would be required in the overtime budget. A local training tower would allow us to locate a reserve piece of apparatus at the training site to conduct drills. This means that front-line equipment and personnel Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 6 will be available for immediate response to emergency calls in the City while training drills are conducted. The construction of a training tower will also ensure that newly hired fire personnel are able to display full proficiency of all required skills prior to being released from training. Currently no high rise proficiency is demonstrated prior to being released from field training. Overview of Multi-Story Training Towers: A modern training tower is constructed to allow multiple scenarios to be conducted on several floors. Typically the rooms have movable walls to allow multiple configurations for different training drills. The fire and smoke are both computer controlled to ensure maximum heat levels are not exceeded. Fire is natural gas or propane to ensure a clean, environmentally friendly burn while the smoke generated is no toxic and dissipates quickly. The smoke generators are the same “smoke” machines used in theatres and haunted houses and are geared toward reducing visibility to make the training scenarios more lifelike. There is no danger to training participants or neighbors as the smoke is completely non-toxic. Tower Maintenance: Training towers are constructed to require minimal maintenance while having a typical usable life of 25 years or longer. Assuming we allow other agencies to utilize the tower on a limited basis we would expect operational training scenarios to occur at the site about 200 days per year. At this usage the main maintenance requirement is a weekly visual inspection of the temperature sensors and a monthly check of wall panels to ensure there are no penetrations through the membrane. Maintenance costs could be completely recouped by leasing the training tower to neighboring agencies to meet their training needs. Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 7 Locally the cities of North Richland Hills, Garland, Arlington, and Grand Prairie have training towers utilizing a LP/natural gas burn system. Lewisville has a tower which burns class A materials. The agencies using a LP/natural gas system estimate annual maintenance and upkeep costs of their towers to be $10,500. Regionalized Tower Use: Several of our partner agencies with the Northeast Fire Department Association (NEFDA) have indicated an interest in utilizing a training tower if it were built as part of our DPS North project. The cities of Keller, Trophy Club, Grapevine, Colleyville, Roanoke, and Westlake are the most interested as they would experience considerable travel time benefits compared with traveling to TCC. There are two models which received the most positive feedback for training tower use by other agencies: an hourly or daily use fee. Depending on the agency size utilizing the tower they may select a daily or hourly rate. For example, Grapevine Fire Department would typically have 2-3 apparatus at the training facility rotating over several days to ensure they are able to put all personnel through evolutions while Trophy Club or Roanoke would only need about 3 hours to conduct the training with their single engine companies. Daily Use: Available Days Cost per Day Annual Revenue 150 $750 $112,500 Hourly: Available Hours Cost per Hour Annual Revenue 1200 $100 $120,000 It is clear that utilizing a regional concept with the agencies that have expressed an interest in our training tower will offset any operational or maintenance costs associated with opening this facility. It is our recommendation that we utilize this Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 8 potential revenue stream to offset costs that otherwise would be borne by our taxpayers. Advantages of Constructing a Training Tower: Discontinued use of the TCC Training facility – Savings $4,000 per year. Improved operational proficiency of fire and police personnel at multi-story emergency scenes. Front-line emergency equipment remains immediately available for emergency calls. No travel time out of the City for training tower use Allows practice scenarios and shooter improvement programs for police personnel. Personnel remain in city and are available for immediate emergency response. Ability to host specialized training at no cost to our agency. Revenue enhancement of up to $120,000 from renting facility to other agencies. Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 9 Site One Corner of E. Dove and N. White Chapel View looking North from E. Dove Road Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 10 Tower Site Options: Site One Location: E. Dove @ White Chapel Size: 10.6 acres Pros: Good access Good topography City owned since 1999 CCPD can be used Site synergies Site signage notification Cons: Resident opposition This is the preferred site for the location of the training tower. The City has owned the property since 1999 and installed signage informing residents about our intent to construct a DPS facility at this location. The topography is flat in the location of the training tower and combined police and fire use will allow Crime Control funds to be utilized for construction alleviating the burden from the general fund. This location also ensures the training synergies are achieved by having all DPS training conducted in a single location. The City also realizes savings by not purchasing additional land, paying for additional site work, and construction additional classroom, storage, and restroom facilities which would be required if located at a separate location. The total estimated cost of constructing the training tower at this location is $1.6 million. Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 11 Site Two South end of Bank Street View looking south from Bank Street Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 12 Site Two Location: Bank Street Size: 6.2 Acres TAD Value: $656,222 Mkt. Value: $1,890,504 Pros: Access Industrial Land Use Topography Size No Residential Cons: No CCPD Funds Not Listed for Sale Unknown Environmental Flight Path This is the second choice for locating the training tower. It has excellent topography and is located in an industrial area of town with no residential adjacency. The site is large enough to meet all the needs of our agency in terms of uses at a training tower. Due to the location we will lose the training synergies present at site one and the minimal police usage of this location makes utilizing Crime Control funds unlikely. This alternative site increases the project cost an estimated $2.54 million; a cost which will be borne by the General Fund. This site is currently owned and used by Darr Equipment for heavy machinery storage so it is unknown what an environmental study of the location will reveal. Also, the proximity to the DFW Airport flight path might cause some height restrictions for aerial operations. The total estimated cost of constructing the training tower at this location is $4.14 million. Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 13 Site Three Off Dragon Stadium Parking Lot View looking west from Dragon Stadium Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 14 Site Three Location: S. Kimball @ Crooked Size: 2.85 Acres TAD Value: $352,500 Mkt. Value: $869,022 Pros: Topography Cost Access Industrial land use CISD adjacent Cons: CCPD funds? Too small alone Residential adjacent Not listed for sale This site provides the opportunity to partner with CISD by making improvements to the parking lot of Dragon Stadium which could then be a shared use for parking during events at the stadium and apparatus staging and driving when using the training facility. There will be additional costs associated with removing existing structures on the site, but the relatively flat topography reduces site work costs. The site is zoned industrial, but there are homes on Crooked Lane as close as 315’ from the center of the site which could cause resident concern since we have not advertised any intent on constructing this type of facility at this location. Also, if an agreement cannot be reached with CISD regarding the shared use the site would be too small for the use. It is estimated that this alternative site would increase the project cost by $1.52 million dollars; a cost which would be borne by the General Fund. The total estimated cost of constructing the training tower at this location is $3.12 million. Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 15 Site Four Corner of S. Kimball and Crooked View looking east from S. Kimball Avenue Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 16 Site Four Location: S. Kimball @ Crooked Size: 14.07 Acres TAD Value: $1,176,747 Mkt. Value: $4,290,224 Pros: Access Industrial Land Use Currently for Sale Cons: Heavy Tree Coverage Extensive Site Work Creek on Property Residential Adjacent CCPD Funds? This site also provides the opportunity for partnering with CISD to improve the parking lot of Dragon Stadium for the shared uses described with site three. The site is much larger than is required for the training tower, especially if a shared use with CISD is explored. This site is currently for sale, but is not listed all or part so it appears the owner is interested in selling the entire site and not just a portion. The areas adjacent to the stadium parking lot are heavily treed and have a creek crossing the parking lot which would require extensive site work. There is also 18’ of fall along the south side of the property which would increase the costs associated with site work. The City would also remove an attractive property from the tax rolls by locating the training facility on this property. Nearby residents may be opposed to the construction of the training tower on this site as we have not advertised any intent to construct a DPS facility at this location. It is estimated that this alternative site would increase the project cost by $4.94 million dollars if the owner was not willing to divide the site; a cost which would be borne by the General Fund. The total estimated cost of constructing the training tower at this location is $6.54 million. Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 17 Site Five Corner of S. Kimball and E. Continental View looking south from E. Continental Boulevard Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 18 Site Five Location: S. Kimball @ Continental Size: 4.656 Acres TAD Value: Not Available Mkt. Value: $1,622,522 Pros: Topography Access No residential Size Cons: CCPD funds? Not listed for sale Unknown environmental Pond on property Portions of this site are currently under development for office/retail uses and the highlighted area indicates portions currently available. The site is relatively flat and would have minimal site work associated with the construction of the training tower. The close proximity to the fuel tank farms (bottom left of picture) does bring the question of environmental concerns which may be associated with this property. There is also a pond located on the parcel which makes the southern portion of the site unusable. The fact that there is no nearby residential is a plus as opposition to the construction on this site should be minimal. It is estimated that this alternative site would increase the project cost by $2.27 million dollars; a cost which would be borne by the General Fund. The total estimated cost of constructing the training tower at this location is $3.87 million. Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 19 Site Six End of Mustang Drive View looking north from Mustang Drive Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 20 Site Six Location: Hwy 26 Size: 26 Acres TAD Value: $1,587,701 Mkt. Value: $6,795,360 Pros: Topography Industrial land use Cons: Access Too large Expensive Not listed for sale Residential adjacent Unknown environmental Heavily treed No CCPD This site is located along Hwy. 26 and would require apparatus and personnel to access the site by crossing active railroad tracks. Personnel could have response times delayed due to trains and traffic along Hwy. 26. The site is much larger than is required for the construction of a training tower and is also the most expensive of any of the alternative sites explored. The proximity to the fuel tank farms (two sides of the property) brings the question of environmental concerns which may be associated with this location. The site is relatively flat which minimizes site work for construction and does lie in an industrial zoning, which is a positive. Residents immediately adjacent to the northern border of this location may be opposed to the construction of a DPS training tower on this site as we have not advertised any intent to construct this type of facility at this location. It is estimated that this alternative site would increase the project cost by $7.45 million dollars if the owner was not willing to divide the site; a cost which would be borne by the General Fund. The total estimated cost of constructing the training tower at this location is $9.05 million. Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 21 Tower Site Rankings: Rank Location 1 DPS North Property 10.6 Acres, Market Value: City owned since 1999  Site of DPS North  Training synergies  Access  Topography  CCPD funds available for construction  Neighbors notified by signage for many years  Currently not on tax rolls -Nearby residents 2 Bank Street Property 6.2 Acres, Market Value: $1,890,504, Value/SF Site 2: $7.00  Access  Topography  Size  Industrial land use  No residential adjacency -CCPD funds not available for purchase or construction costs -Removes property from tax rolls -Not listed for sale -Environmental issues are possible -In DFW flight path 3 Crooked Lane Property 2.85 Acres, Market Value: $869,002, Value/SF: $7.00  Access  Good proximity to Dragon Stadium  Topography of site  Lowest cost -CCPD funds not available for purchase or construction costs -Topography change from stadium to site -Removes property from tax rolls -Too small alone -Not listed for sale -Nearby residential Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 22 4 South Kimball @ Crooked Lane Property 14.07 Acres, Market Value: $4,294,224, Value/SF: $7.00  Access  Good proximity to Dragon Stadium  Currently for sale -CCPD funds not available for purchase or construction costs -Removes property from tax rolls -Topography -Too large -Nearby residential 5 South Kimball @ Continental Property 4.656 Acres, Market Value: $1,622,522, Value/SF: $8.00  Access  Topography  Size -CCPD funds not available for purchase or construction costs -Removes property from tax rolls -Pond on property -Environmental concerns due to proximity of fuel farms -Owner prefers to develop site 6 Hwy. 26 Property 26 Acres, Market Value: $6,795,360, Value/SF: $6.00  Topography  Industrial land use -CCPD funds not available for purchase or construction costs -Removes property from tax rolls -Too large for required use -Access from Hwy. 26, crossing active railroad, delayed response times -Trees -Residential adjacency -Environmental concerns due to proximity of fuel farms -Owner has no interest in selling the property Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 23 Alternate Location at DPS North: Recommendation: The recommendation is to continue with the development of the DPS North Training Facility as the site for the construction of the training tower. The relocation of the training tower to a location closer to the firearms range on the site should also be considered as it alleviates many concerns voiced by neighbors. This recommendation is based on the findings related to the North DPS Site being owned by the City since 1999, no impact on the General Fund for land purchase or construction, no desirable commercial or industrial sites being removed from the tax rolls, notice provided regarding proposed uses at site since early 2000, and DPS employees realizing improved training synergies with this site location. Integrity - Innovation - Accountability - Commitment to Excellence - Teamwork 24