Jumpline magazine January 2024 - Flipbook - Page 8
8
1403 Of昀椀cers
Paul D Blake, Ret.
Treasurer
TREA$URER’$ Report
The shell game is the practice of
putting new MDFR units (numbered
as new units) into already existing
stations until their stations are built.
This shell game could last several
months or several years. For example: E-68 out of Station 69, R-72 out
of Station 16, R-77 out of Station 66.
These are new units that are posted
at existing 昀椀rehouses for years. There are others. It is a practice that, in my opinion, must stop.
Fire stations staffed with single company rescue units were
predominately built from the proceeds of the bond referendum
passed by voters in 1994. They were referred to as “In昀椀ll” stations. The call volume was signi昀椀cant in these areas, with most
of those being medical in nature. Single company suppression
stations were usually built with developer impact fees to serve
newly constructed areas. Many of the single company rescue
stations would eventually receive suppression units.
There are no rules or de昀椀ned criteria, outside of politics, for a
station having a single company suppression to receive a rescue or vice versa. Back in the day, the union body passed a
motion that advocated that a rescue unit be placed into service
at Station 43 when the suppression unit (Tanker, Aerial, Engine)
responded to six calls per day. Conversely, there were no criteria that supported keeping multiple suppression unit stations
from losing the second suppression unit. As such, the second
units at Station 16 and Station 21 were shut down and opened
as new service elsewhere in the area. That too must stop. In
the 1990s, the department shut down Station 18 (suppression
and rescue) and launched R-19 and R-20. Fast forward thirty
years and R-18 has reappeared with plans for a new E-18.
There was a recent report entitled “Long-Term Strategy for
the Provision of Police and Fire Services in South Miami Dade
County.” I read it in its entirety, not because I am retired and it
gave me something to do, but because I wanted whoever prepared it to feel that their efforts were not in vain.
The report evaluates services south of SW 8 Street (Tamiami
Trail). For the purposes of my evaluation, I will focus on Battalions 7, 9 and 10. I served in these areas for twenty years as
both a station Captain and EMS Captain. I also reside in this
area, as do many of our active and retired members.
The report states: “MDFR identi昀椀ed 66 new developments
within south Miami-Dade County undergoing or approved
through the county’s CDMP (Comprehensive Development
Master Plan), adding approximately 17,846 residential units
and nearly one million square feet of commercial space to those
three battalions in the next 昀椀ve years.”
Because I have the time, I also review proposed developments throughout the county. Except, I do not go solely by the
CDMP reports. I go by what is listed in the South Florida Business Journal. Those 昀椀ndings far exceed the CDMP. According
to the data I have been documenting from their reports, there
are over 200 developments with over 50,000 residential units
built or planned for the area south of 152 Street (Coral Reef
Drive). I have a lot of sayings. One of my favorites is, “If Shivers BBQ didn’t exist, MDFR staff would not know that there is a
昀椀re department south of Cutler Ridge.” I think a lot of residents
feel that way about the County. Currently, I can’t say that because the Deputy Director drove to the south end with Battalion
10 and the Fire Chief. Also, I must note that the Assistant Chief
of Operations worked with me at Station 16.
Has anyone stood before a governing body to advocate denying the applications of those 66 developments solely on the
impact they would have on our agency? For example CDMP
Application 2023015 by Lennar Homes to change the zoning of
land located along SW 280 Street from 155 Avenue to 157 Avenue. The current zoning allows for a development that would
have 50 residences generating 17 annual alarms. The request
by Lennar would increase the number of residences to 378.
That would generate 125 annual alarms. The department did
say that this zoning change would have a “high” impact on our
service, but it also stated, “All stations combined are capable
of mitigating the additional number of alarms.” I feel that statement only refers to the impact of “this development”, which does
not take into account the synergistic effect of the other developments with similar zoning change requests.
How many calls are too many for a unit? I have heard
the “sweet spot” is about eight calls per shift. I would agree with
that number. So, every 2,920 calls equal one unit. Using the calculation of 378 new housing units mentioned above equals 125
calls, a new unit would have to be placed into service in areas
where 9,000 new units are proposed to keep up with the impact
of the development in that area. Going back to my list, Stations
5 and 6 exceed that number and Stations 16, 34, 50, 65 and 72
are at the halfway point. Going back to the R-43 motion referenced initially, 6 calls per day was not unrealistic.
Regarding the report, how could MDFR miss so many thousands of units being built, in hundreds of new projects? In their
defense, there are many developments that do not go through
the CDMP process. Maybe it’s because they reside in municipalities, or the size of the project does not require it. It’s not like
you need a large parcel of land to generate housing. In many
areas, especially those in proximity to Metrorail/Busway, you
will see mid-rises or townhomes being constructed on single
family lots.
So, what will come of Station 16 when R-72 relocates to their
station? Mind you, a Florida City station has been planned for
decades and eventually will become reality. Station 16 has always had three units. Since the days of the City of Homestead
merging with Metro-Dade County, there was always an Engine,
Aerial piece and Rescue at Station 16. At one time we had four
units when R-65 operated out of Station 16. We need to keep
three units at Station 16. Based on the report, it had 7,000 incidents reported in 2022.
The report calculates population per square mile. The territories of both Station 16 and Station 65 have urban and rural response areas. For each station, the report calculates population
January 2024 | JUMPLINE Magazine