CONSENT- Charlie Smith, Fire Chief
Title
APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY DISSOLUTION AGREEMENT AND LEASE TERMINATION RELATING TO THE FIRE TRAINING FACILITY ASSOCIATION
Background
The City of Fridley is moving ahead on construction of their new Municipal Campus with construction anticipated in the spring of 2017. Consequently, the Fire Training Area SBMFD has used for over 25 years will no longer be available beginning of May 2017. The Fire Chiefs of Fridley, SBM and Brooklyn Center met in January and March of 2017 and recommended dissolving the JPA regarding the training area (Section 17, JPA). The training area JPA was created in 1991 and was an agreement between the cities of Spring Lake Park, Blaine, Mounds View, Fridley, Brooklyn Center and Columbia Heights. Columbia Heights removed themselves from the JPA in 1994. In addition, the original JPA executed a 25 year lease of the property, from the City of Fridley, to the Fire Training Association which expired in March of 2016. The initial construction costs were estimated to be approximately $150,000.
The main training structure (three stories) was available for relocation/sale. The member cities were given first option with no cost for the structure. However, dismantling and moving the structure would cost approximately $80,000. This cost would not include site prep/purchase for a new site, nor re-assembling the structure once moved. SBM staff determined this to be cost prohibitive for a number of reasons including lack of allocated capital, lack of a proper site, age of the structure, etc. Fridley and Brooklyn Center also do not want the structure. The structure will be demolished.
To compensate for the loss of the structure, the SBMFD Training Division has temporarily modified the training plan to conduct training at other facilities in Minneapolis, St. Paul, SBM Fire Stations as well as mobile simulators from local community colleges. Long term, SBM is participating in the initial stages of creating an Anoka County Fire Training Area. Fridley Fire Chief John Berg is working with State Representative Connie Bernardy to include funds for construction of such a facility in the State Bonding Bill. A modern facility for all Anoka County Fire Departments to use would fill a significant void that currently exists. Additionally, SBMFD will be conducting an internal training facility needs assessment to determine additional options and requirements specifically for SBM.
Body
WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority set forth in Minn. Stat. § 471.59, the City of Fridley (the “City”) and Spring Lake Park, Blaine, Mounds View, and Brooklyn Center (collectively the “Cities”) entered into a Joint Powers Agreement in 1991 entitled Joint Powers Agreement - Fire Training Association (the “JPA”) for the construction and operation of the Fire Training Association (the “Association”), a joint powers entity under Minnesota law; and
WHEREAS, the Association originally consisted of four Member Departments with Spring Lake Park, Blaine, and Mounds View collectively considered one Member Department (“SBM”) and Fridley, Columbia Heights, and Brooklyn Center individually comprising the other three Member Departments; and
WHEREAS, at the time they entered into the JPA, the City and the Cities determined that it was to their mutual advantage to form a single joint powers entity under Minnesota Statutes Section 471.59, to jointly and collectively construct, use, and maintain a fire training facility; and
WHEREAS, the fire training facility, comprised of several structures, improvements and fixtures, and alternatively referred to as the fire training center or the building (collectively, the “Facility”) was constructed on real property owned by Fridley located at 348 71st Avenue NE, Fridley, Minnesota or alternatively identified as 300 71st Avenue, Fridley, Minnesota (the “Property”); and
WHEREAS, the Cities amended the JPA in 1994 with the execution of the Amendment Of Joint Powers Agreement For Construction And Operation Of Fire Training Site (the “Amendment”), which terminated the participation of one Member Department, Columbia Heights, from the JPA; and
WHEREAS, following the construction of the Facility, the City and the Association entered into a twenty-five year lease, the Fire Training Center Lease Agreement (the “Lease”) for its rental in 1997;
WHEREAS, the Property is now being redeveloped as a part of the City’s construction of the new City Hall Campus, the Facility’s location conflicts with those redevelopment plans, and the Member Departments, including the City, have determined that there is no longer a need for the JPA; and
WHEREAS, based upon the foregoing circumstances, the City and the Cities and their respective Member Departments desire to terminate the Lease and to dissolve and terminate the Fire Training Association JPA;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Blaine:
1. The City Council hereby approves the Termination of the Fire Training Center Lease Agreement relating to the Property and authorizes the Mayor, the City Manager and the SBM Fire Chief to execute the same; and
2. The City Council hereby approves the dissolution of the Fire Training Association and its JPA and authorizes the Mayor and City Manager to execute the Dissolution Agreement related to the same.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Blaine this 20th day of April 2017.