Denver To Take Over Firefighting In Glendale
Both Cities Say It's A Win-Win Situation
POSTED: 12:11 pm MST December 20, 2004
UPDATED: 3:23 pm MST December 20, 2004
The City of Glendale will soon turn over its firefighting duties to the
Denver Fire Department at cost of about $1.8 million a year for the next
seven years.
Glendale has been negotiating to contract out fire protection for some time
but some residents are worried about the decision.
"If there isn't a fire department that could respond in 15 minutes. Our
tenants' lives could be put in danger," said Gretchen Wodniak, who works in Glendale. "Being the property manager for a large building, we are concerned for the public safety for our tenants."
It has been nearly one year since a massive fire wiped out the Spanish gate apartments in Glendale, killing a woman. Some questioned the response time of the fire department after learning that most of the 911 calls were routed through Denver.
However, both Denver and Glendale officials said that the city will remain
well-protected.
"This is truly a win-win situation for Glendale and Denver and the citizens
of both cities," said Glendale Mayor Larry Harte. "Through economies of
scale, both cities enjoy budget benefits while increasing the level of fire
service for both Glendale and the Denver areas adjoining Glendale. This new
partnership reflects the strong ties that Glendale and Denver have developed
in recent years."
Glendale is estimated to save in excess of a million dollars a year in its
budget as a result of the agreement.
"This deal will not only provide vital revenues for the City of Denver, but
our Fire Department's physical presence in Glendale will enable us to
respond quicker to the Denver neighborhoods surrounding Glendale," said
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. "If the necessary charter amendment passes,
we will be able to increase the size of our fire department and add a new
station and equipment at minimal cost to Denver taxpayers."
Denver Health will begin providing emergency medical services to Glendale, a
small city of 355 acres that is completely surrounded by Denver. Glendale
has roughly 4,500 residents, occupying more than 2,600 apartment,
condominium and townhouse units. Over 300 businesses occupy nearly 2.2
million square feet of office space in the community.
Glendale, which has one of the state's top small-city fire departments, will
lease its modern, fully equipped fire station to Denver for $1.00 per year
as well as transfer its fire trucks, vehicles and other equipment to Denver.
The 28 current Glendale firefighters will be enrolled in the Denver Fire
Academy and then assigned to Denver firehouses in June of 2005 provided
Denver citizens approve a Charter change allowing for the lateral transfer
of firefighters from other municipalities in circumstances where the Denver
Fire Department is combining departments and/or consolidating services.
The deal begins Dec. 30 from the existing Denver Fire Station 19.This deal
is contingent upon Denver's passage of a Charter Amendment in May 2005 to
allow the Denver Fire Department to laterally transfer firefighters from
another municipality in circumstances where DFD is amalgamating departments
and/or consolidating services. Denver Firefighters Union Local 858 supports
this change.
If the charter amendment does not pass, the City of Glendale will resume its
own fire service.
Glendale will contract with Denver Health for Emergency Medical Services
(EMS) - and related dispatch - through a separate contract. Emergency
services will be provided to patients in Glendale in the same manner as in
Denver using a fee-for-service system.
The City of Glendale will pay its firefighters' salaries from January
through May 2005. In advance of the May election, the City of Glendale will
pay for its firefighters to complete the Denver Fire Academy training.
If the charter amendment passes, all Glendale firefighters desiring transfer
to the Denver Fire Department would agree to the background checks and
testing required by the Denver Civil Service Commission. Those who
successfully complete the Denver Fire Academy would transfer to DFD at the
rank of Firefighter First Grade beginning on June 1, 2005.
Denver is proposing to assume responsibility for fire response and fire
investigation for Glendale. Glendale will take primary responsibility for
fire inspection and permitting functions, coordinating closely with Denver.
Glendale will also continue to manage its own catastrophic emergency
response and air raid sirens.
Both Cities Say It's A Win-Win Situation
POSTED: 12:11 pm MST December 20, 2004
UPDATED: 3:23 pm MST December 20, 2004
The City of Glendale will soon turn over its firefighting duties to the
Denver Fire Department at cost of about $1.8 million a year for the next
seven years.
Glendale has been negotiating to contract out fire protection for some time
but some residents are worried about the decision.
"If there isn't a fire department that could respond in 15 minutes. Our
tenants' lives could be put in danger," said Gretchen Wodniak, who works in Glendale. "Being the property manager for a large building, we are concerned for the public safety for our tenants."
It has been nearly one year since a massive fire wiped out the Spanish gate apartments in Glendale, killing a woman. Some questioned the response time of the fire department after learning that most of the 911 calls were routed through Denver.
However, both Denver and Glendale officials said that the city will remain
well-protected.
"This is truly a win-win situation for Glendale and Denver and the citizens
of both cities," said Glendale Mayor Larry Harte. "Through economies of
scale, both cities enjoy budget benefits while increasing the level of fire
service for both Glendale and the Denver areas adjoining Glendale. This new
partnership reflects the strong ties that Glendale and Denver have developed
in recent years."
Glendale is estimated to save in excess of a million dollars a year in its
budget as a result of the agreement.
"This deal will not only provide vital revenues for the City of Denver, but
our Fire Department's physical presence in Glendale will enable us to
respond quicker to the Denver neighborhoods surrounding Glendale," said
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. "If the necessary charter amendment passes,
we will be able to increase the size of our fire department and add a new
station and equipment at minimal cost to Denver taxpayers."
Denver Health will begin providing emergency medical services to Glendale, a
small city of 355 acres that is completely surrounded by Denver. Glendale
has roughly 4,500 residents, occupying more than 2,600 apartment,
condominium and townhouse units. Over 300 businesses occupy nearly 2.2
million square feet of office space in the community.
Glendale, which has one of the state's top small-city fire departments, will
lease its modern, fully equipped fire station to Denver for $1.00 per year
as well as transfer its fire trucks, vehicles and other equipment to Denver.
The 28 current Glendale firefighters will be enrolled in the Denver Fire
Academy and then assigned to Denver firehouses in June of 2005 provided
Denver citizens approve a Charter change allowing for the lateral transfer
of firefighters from other municipalities in circumstances where the Denver
Fire Department is combining departments and/or consolidating services.
The deal begins Dec. 30 from the existing Denver Fire Station 19.This deal
is contingent upon Denver's passage of a Charter Amendment in May 2005 to
allow the Denver Fire Department to laterally transfer firefighters from
another municipality in circumstances where DFD is amalgamating departments
and/or consolidating services. Denver Firefighters Union Local 858 supports
this change.
If the charter amendment does not pass, the City of Glendale will resume its
own fire service.
Glendale will contract with Denver Health for Emergency Medical Services
(EMS) - and related dispatch - through a separate contract. Emergency
services will be provided to patients in Glendale in the same manner as in
Denver using a fee-for-service system.
The City of Glendale will pay its firefighters' salaries from January
through May 2005. In advance of the May election, the City of Glendale will
pay for its firefighters to complete the Denver Fire Academy training.
If the charter amendment passes, all Glendale firefighters desiring transfer
to the Denver Fire Department would agree to the background checks and
testing required by the Denver Civil Service Commission. Those who
successfully complete the Denver Fire Academy would transfer to DFD at the
rank of Firefighter First Grade beginning on June 1, 2005.
Denver is proposing to assume responsibility for fire response and fire
investigation for Glendale. Glendale will take primary responsibility for
fire inspection and permitting functions, coordinating closely with Denver.
Glendale will also continue to manage its own catastrophic emergency
response and air raid sirens.
