HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-02-06 PACKET 04.D.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA
MEETING ITEM #
DATE 02/06/13
PREPARED BY Public Safety Craig Woolery
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR
COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
Pass a motion to approve hiring two full time firefighter /paramedics in 2013.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Pass a motion to approve hiring two full time firefighter /paramedics in 2013.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
❑ MEMORANDUM: Memo from Director of Public Safety Craig Woolery dated 01- 30 -13.
ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS
ity Administrator Date
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER
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To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator
From: Craig A. Woolery, Director of Public Safety
Date: January 30, 2013
Subject: Request authorization to hire two (2) Firefighter /Paramedics
Introduction
For several years in a row, ambulance run volumes in our service area have been steadily
increasing. To date, maintaining appropriate staffing levels on ambulances and keeping
response times low has been accomplished by adding additional part time personnel. The use
of part time personnel to manage the increasing demands is not sustainable or cost effective.
For that reason, we are requesting City Council approval in the hiring of one full time firefighter
paramedic early in 2013 and a second in June of 2013. Council approved the concept of
transitioning the primary roles of EMS from the police division to the fire division.
Discussion
On January 26, 2013 council held its annual goals and strategy session and approved a five
(5) year strategic plan for the delivery of emergency medical services which would transition to
a primary fire role and a secondary police role utilizing additional firefighter paramedics.
As mentioned earlier, the current practice of using part time personnel to meet the needs of
increasing EMS demands is not sustainable. The recruitment and retention efforts to staff an
approved 24/7 duty crew in 2013 fell short. The current part time staff is fatigued and unable to
fulfill our scheduling needs.
Our ultimate goal of scheduling two full time firefighter paramedics and one part time EMT 24/7
would be to provide consistent staffing and response times. The staffing plan suggested the
addition of two (2) FT firefighter /paramedic positions in 2013 and adding four (4) additional
firefighter /paramedic positions in the following four years. In addition, this.proposal reduces the
police /paramedic role in EMS staffing, eliminates the part time .6 paramedic position, reduces
the role of a part time casual paramedic and reduces part time firefighter hours to offset any
significant fiscal impact.
Financial Impacts
The personnel additions in 2013 would increase General Fund budgeted expenses by
$170,100 in the police and fire divisions. A corresponding salary and benefit decrease to the
EMS Enterprise fund could provide excess revenues which would be available for a year end
transfer to the General fund, to offset the potential increased expense.
The EMS fund, like all other Enterprise Funds, provides an "Administrative Fee" to the General
fund each year to cover the overhead costs of Finance and Administration staff support. A one
year "surcharge" to the EMS fund could balance the effect of increased expenses in the
General Fund caused by this staffing change.
Conclusion
The addition of two firefighter paramedic positions in 2013 would begin the transition of primary
paramedic scheduling from the police to fire departments. Per the direction of the mayor and
council at the January 26, 2013 strategy meeting public safety is requesting the approval to
hire two full time firefighter paramedics in 2013.