HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10251994 - 2.5 fir a3
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TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS =i'•
Costa
FROM: PHIL BATCHELOR , or
County Administrator County
.'ty
DATE: October 25, 1994
SUBJECT: REAFFIRM PLAN TO INITIATE FIRE DISTRICT PARAMEDIC PROGRAM
Specific Request(s) or Recommendation(s) & Background & Justification
RECOMMENDATIONS :
1 . Reaffirm the plan to implement a paramedic program in the Orinda area
subsequent to the annexation of the Orinda Fire Protection District to
the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.
2 . Authorize Contra Costa County Fire Chief to continue the development of
plans for the implementation of paramedic services in the existing area
of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND:
On August 2 , 1994 the Board of Supervisors authorized an agreement with the
City of Orinda for the implementation of a paramedic program in the Orinda
Fire Protection District. The proposal to begin providing paramedics on fire
trucks had been suggested by Supervisor Jeff Smith and Chief Allen Little to
improve the effectiveness of medical emergency response in the Orinda area.
The offer to begin the paramedic service in Orinda was made because the
Orinda area is somewhat isolated from existing ambulance service and to
obtain the support of the Orinda City Council for the consolidation of Orinda
Fire with Contra Costa County Fire.
Although the agreement for the paramedic program had been negotiated by
Supervisor Smith, County staff and a committee of two Orinda City Council
members, Joyce Hawkins and Bobbie Landers, the City Council voted 3 to 2
against entering into the- agreement despite the recommendation of the City
Manager. Chief Little and County staff believe that the parame 'c service
Continued on Attachment: X YES Signature:
Recommendation of County Administrator
Recommendation of Board Committee
Approve Other
Signature(s) :
Action of Board on: 'A� �� /99�Approved as Recommended-Other
Vote of Supervisors : I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
Unanimous (Absent ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE
Ayes : Noes : ) BOARD OF SUPERVIS S ON DATE SHOWN.
Contact: T. McGraw (646-4855) Attested: oZS",19�1
cc: County Administrator Phil Batchelor, Clerk of
Auditor-Controller the Board of Supervisors
County Counsel and County Administrator
LAFCO
County and Indep. Fire Dists . By: , DEPUTY
United Professional
Firefighters Local 1230
Dale Robbins, Teamsters Local 315
P. O. Box 3010, Martinez, CA 94553
4-
Reaffirm
Reaffirm Plan to Initiate
Fire District Paramedic Program
Page 2
October 25, 1994
should be provided in Orinda even though the City of Orinda failed to approve
the agreement. However, early provision of the program requires
consolidation of Orinda Fire with Contra Costa County Fire.
If Orinda Fire is annexed to Contra Costa County Fire, trained paramedics in
Contra Costa Fire can be reassigned to Orinda to implement a paramedic
program in the relatively short time of one to two years . Without
consolidation and the resultant ability to transfer employees between areas,
the program could only be implemented in Orinda by extensive training of
existing fire personnel to be paramedics or by hiring experienced paramedics
to fill vacant positions . These methods would be extremely costly and could
take many years due to the slow turnover rate in existing Orinda staffing.
In the event the Orinda consolidation is not approved, we believe Chief
Little should continue to plan the implementation of paramedic service within
the boundaries of the newly expanded Contra Costa County Fire District.