Title
RESOLUTION NO. 2015-038 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AMENDING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2014/2015 BUDGET BY APPROPRIATING $336,278 TO BE OFFSET BY UNANTICIPATED REVENUES TO CONDUCT A FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC ACADEMY (4/5 VOTE REQUIRED)
Body
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council adopt the resolution.
Body
SUMMARY
The Chula Vista Fire Department (CVFD) is an all-risk, all-hazard, all-service professional life safety agency. The foundation of the CVFD is found in its personnel and their knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform with high levels of character and competency. This foundation is laid during the Fire Academy training process for new-hire Fire Recruits. The Fire Department is in the process of hiring eight (8) firefighter/paramedics to fill vacant positions that resulted from promotions and retirements. The Fire Department has scheduled the Fire Academy to begin on February 23, 2015 and end on May 14, 2015. Costs related to the academy were not included in the department's budget for fiscal year 2014/15. Staff estimates that the academy will cost $435,130, of which $98,425 will come from unanticipated savings and $336,278 requires a budget appropriation. The cost of the academy will be offset by unanticipated revenues and will result in no net impact to the General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This proposed activity has been reviewed for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and it has been determined that the activity is not a "Project" as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a physical change in the environment; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Not Applicable.
DISCUSSION
The Fire Department currently has eight (8) firefighter/paramedic positions vacant and is in need of filling them to be fully staffed. Candidates have already been given final offer of employment and are waiting for the start of the Fire Academy with eventual permanent assignment to a fire station and engine or truck company.
The Fire Academy is held at the Fire Department's Training Division located at Fire Station 4 and is directed by a Fire Captain and Fire Engineer. The Fire Academy is a twelve (12) week intensive learning event that is a dynamic blend of didactic and manipulative training focused on all arenas of service delivery that the CVFD provides to the city and the region. Fire recruits are taught national, state and department standards in topics such as Fire Behavior, Hose Streams, Ladder Evolutions, Emergency Medical Skills, Technical Rescue Operations, and Search & Rescue Techniques. All recruits are held to the highest level of accountability through a value based, expectation driven philosophy geared at the principles of service and professionalism. After this intensive and formalized 12-week training is completed, recruits are assigned to a fire station for on-the-job training. There, they will continue to learn the duties utilizing hands-on training from experienced firefighters, as well as, receive two (2) weeks of medical classroom training, after successfully completing this training, recruits are assigned to an engine and will start to perform their assigned duties.
Fire staff prepared various cost analysis to find the most affordable way to conduct the Fire Academy with minimal impact to the General Fund and has determined that the following offers the most affordable academy without affecting the quality of training new candidates will receive:
v A Fire Department Captain and an Engineer will be the instructors: These employees will be placed on a 40 hour/week schedule and will be in-charge of coordination and administration of the Fire Academy.
Ø Academy Preparation and Academy Costs:
§ The Captain will require four (4) weeks to logistically prepare the academy; the cost will include a 15% increase in base pay for out-of-class assignment.
§ The Engineer will require two (2) weeks to logistically prepare the academy; the cost will include a 15% increase in base pay for out-of-class assignment.
§ As a cost savings method, the Engineer will use 40 hours of overtime during the first two (2) weeks of the preparation time to assist the Captain. This proved to be less expensive than reassigning the Engineer to a 40 hour/week for the full four (4) weeks.
§ The Captain and Engineer will each require twelve (12) weeks of out-of-class assignment pay (15%) to instruct the academy.
§ Reassigning these two positions to the training division, will result in temporary vacancies, which will be backfilled by Fire Department suppression personnel on an overtime basis for the total of 16 weeks for the Captain and 14 weeks for the Engineer.
v The Department will be required to cover the cost to backfill eight (8) vacant positions. Currently, the costs associated with overtime to backfill firefighter/paramedic positions is offset by salary savings. However, once the academy starts, the new recruits will start to receive a salary and the department will no longer have salary savings to cover the backfill.
v After graduation, the department will purchase all personal protective equipment and uniforms for the new employees.
v Additionally there will be miscellaneous costs associated with the academy, such as the purchase of consumable supplies for training purposes, graduation ceremony and awards, water for recruits, among other small items.
In an effort to share some of the academy cost, enhance relationships and the quality of the fire academy, the Chula Vista Fire Department has teamed up with the National City Fire Department (NCFD). NCFD will send four (4) recruits to participate in the Fire Academy, and will provide a Captain to assist with administering the academy. NCFD will cover all costs associated with their recruits, additionally; they will pick-up some of the miscellaneous costs that will be incurred during the course of the twelve week period.
Below is a summary of the costs associated with the academy, attachment #1 provides detailed calculations.
The Fire Department's Fiscal Year 2014/15 budget does not have the ability to absorb the full cost of the academy. The Department anticipates salary savings from vacant positions in the amount of $98,425 and Fire staff is requesting City Council to approve $336,278 in appropriations to the Fire Department's FY2014/15 budget from unanticipated revenues to cover the costs associated with the academy.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site specific and consequently the 500-foot rule found in California Code of Regulations section 18704.2(a)(1) is not applicable to this decision. Staff is not independently aware, nor has staff been informed by any City Councilmember, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision maker conflict of interest in this matter.
LINK TO STRATEGIC GOALS
The City's Strategic Plan has five major goals: Operational Excellence, Economic Vitality, Healthy Community, Strong and Secure Neighborhoods and a Connected Community. This resolution supports two goals:
v Goal 1 - Operational Excellence:
Ø Strategy 1.2 - Excel in service delivery by continuously improving
§ Initiative - 1.2.3 - Retain and attract quality employees
v Goal 4 - Strong and Secure Neighborhoods:
Ø Strategy 4.3 - Ensure adequate emergency response and post emergency recovery services to our community
§ Initiative - 4.3.1 - Provide and support an efficient and effective Advance Life Support (ALS) program.
§ Initiative - 4.3.2 - Restore and enhance public safety service capacity
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this resolution will result in a one-time appropriation of $237,853 to the Personnel Category and $98,425 to the Supplies and Services Category in the Fire Department's budget in Fiscal Year 2014/15for costs associated with administering the Fire Academy to train eight (8) firefighter/paramedics to fill vacant positions. Approval of the resolution results in no net fiscal impact to the General Fund because the appropriations are fully offset by unanticipated revenues.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There is no ongoing fiscal impact as a result of this resolution. Personnel Costs associated with the positions filled are included in the Fire Department's Operating budget and considered by the City Council as part of the normal budget process.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
Staff Contact: Madeline Smith