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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02271996 - F1-F6 F. 1 - F. 6 A Contra Costa TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: ALLEN LITTLE Coun`y � cur� Contra Costa County Fire Chief DATE: February 27, 1996 SUBJECT: STATUS REPORT ON FIRE DISTRICT ISSUES Specific Request(s) or Recommendation(s) & Background & Justification RECOMMENDATION: Consider report of Fire Chief on general organizational and operational fire district issues . REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND: On February 6, 1996 the Board of Supervisors considered four fire district items proposed for referral to the Internal Operations Committee. After discussing the items, the Board directed that the items be scheduled for report and discussion on February 27, 1996 . The issues of interest and the order of discussion are as follows : 1 . Status of Consolidation Many of the anticipated benefits of consolidation, such as the integration of the fire prevention function, vehicle maintenance, administration and training have been fully or substantially achieved. Some of the specific accomplishments are as follows : Extended Fire District plan review participation in the County Applications and Permit Center for all unincorporated areas and several cities . • Initiated on-site Fire District plan review with the City of Concord to enhance the service to their citizens . We expect additional joint arrangements in the future. • Established fully staffed public education program to serve the entire District. Continued on Attachment:—X— YES Signature: Recommendation of County Administrator Recommendation of Board Committee Approve Other Signature(s) : Action of Board on: February 27,1996 Approved as Recommended X Other X See Addendum for Board action. Vote of Supervisors : I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN X Unanimous (Absent ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE Ayes : Noes : ) BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN. Contact: T. McGraw (646-4855) Attested: February 27, 1996 cc: County Administrator Phil Batchelor, Clerk of Auditor-Controller the Board of Supervisors County Counsel and C y Administrator LAFCO County and Indep. Fire Dists . By: 0 , DEPUTY United Professional Firefighters Local 1230 Dale Robbins, Teamsters Local 315 P. 0. Box 3010, Martinez, CA 94553 City of Richmond City of Pinole 1 v 1 I Rp • Planned and carried out urgent paramedic training of eligible personnel in preparation for the pilot paramedic program. • Instituted a standardized program budget process for planning, budget preparation and expenditure control in Contra Costa, Moraga and Orinda Fire Protection Districts . • Implemented an improved uniform preventative maintenance program for fire apparatus and vehicles . { • Adopted District-wide use of large diameter hose for water supply and modified apparatus for this equipment, thus standardizing all first run fire engines . • Adopted, with Local #1230, uniform personnel policies for the Contra Costa Fire District with increasing commonality with Orinda and Moraga. • Adopted personnel assignment policies to reduce overtime by fully integrating personnel usage across old District boundaries . • Station 88 (Relocation to Folsum Drive, Antioch) is scheduled to open this month. • Station 3 (Relocation to Rossmoor Parkway, Walnut Creek) . Site preparation has begun and construction contract awarded. 2 . Contra Costa County Fire District Budget An oral/visual presentation will be made outlining the current and projected financial condition of the District through 1997-1998 . 3 . The Lamorinda Battalion The Board of Supervisors approved the integration of Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda emergency services by implementation of a new battalion for the Lamorinda area to be staffed with one Battalion Chief position from each of the three fire districts that serve the Lamorinda area: Contra Costa County, Moraga and Orinda Fire Districts . The examination process to fill the three required Battalion Chief positions was completed in August of 1995 . However, the Districts have not been able to make appointments to the positions because of a grievance filed by the United Professional Firefighters Union, Local 1230 . The grievance alleges that the Human Resources Department misinterpreted the minimum qualifications which resulted in an unqualified candidate being admitted to the examination process . The grievance is in arbitration and is scheduled for a second hearing on March 1, 1996 . Although the grievance has delayed the Battalion Chief appointments and the implementation of the Lamorinda Battalion, the Fire District and Local 1230 have worked out an interim arrangement to enable the start-up of the new battalion on March 1, 1996 . Under the agreement between the District and Local 1230, an acting Battalion Chief will be appointed in the Moraga District and the Orinda District. The third required Battalion Chief position will be provided by reassigning an existing Battalion Chief in the Contra Costa County Fire District. This arrangement will continue until the grievance is resolved. 4 . The Pilot Engine-Based Paramedic Program In December 1995 the Board of Supervisors authorized the implementation of a pilot engine-based paramedic program. The program will provide one firefighter-paramedic at each of two Walnut Creek fire stations : Station 1, Civic Drive and Station 3, Whyte Park Avenue. The program will also provide a single American Medical Response West (AMRW) paramedic response unit in a Lafayette fire station to improve emergency medical response in the Lafayette and Orinda areas. 2 . Since receiving approval to implement the pilot paramedic program, the Fire District, the County Emergency Medical Services Agency (EMS) and American Medical Response West (AMRW) , in conjunction with the firefighters union and the paramedics union have been working on a number of issues involved in implementing the program. Some of the major activities are as follows : • Recruiting/selecting District and AMRW program participants • Developing, scheduling and implementing several training programs 0 Making modifications to District vehicles to accommodate paramedic equipment and supplies • EMS and AMRW have negotiated an extension of the overall ambulance contract • A Quality Improvement (QI ) Program is being developed • The District is developing a public information program for public access television While the basic policy decision to conduct the pilot program has been made, the myriad elements involved in this innovative program, the number of different agencies involved and the critical nature of emergency medical response, will require that the pilot paramedic program will actually begin around July or August 1996 . 5 . Richmond/Contra Costa County Fire Service Issues The Fire District and the City of Richmond are finalizing a contract for the 1995-1996 fiscal year. The City has raised several long-term policy issues including a proposed major change for future years that would have the City contract to operate the two former West County Fire District stations (E1 Sobrante and San Pablo) with its own employees . The fire service impacts on Contra Costa County Fire as well as other west County fire agencies will require considerable review. In recognition of the proposed significant operational change, the Board of Supervisors has referred the long-term issues to an ad hoc committee comprised of Supervisor Jim Rogers and Supervisor Jeff Smith to review this and other related west County fire service issues . Further discussions with the City have been on hold to allow time for the recently appointed Richmond Fire Chief to acquaint himself with the fire service issues between the City and the District. A meeting with the new Richmond Fire Chief is scheduled for February 26, 1996 . 6 . The Contra Costa County Fire District/Pinole Fire Department Merger The City of Pinole has requested that the County and the City jointly explore the feasibility of the Contra Costa County Fire District annexing the City into the District and assuming responsibility for fire service in the City. The County Administrator' s Office recently provided the City of Pinole with an outline of proposed issues to be explored in determining the feasibility of transferring responsibility for fire service from the City to the District. 3 F l — F � ,a ADDENDUM TO ITEM F. 1 THROUGH F. 6 On this date, Chief Allen Little, Contra Costa County Fire Chief, presented the report on general organizational and operational fire district issues . Chairman Smith expressed appreciation for Chief Little' s report and expressed the hope that someone would make a motion to create a committee of the whole that would meet on the second Monday of the month to augment this fourth Tuesday meeting to discuss the issues and come up with a workplan and draft to help with issues including budget and dealing with the cities and report to the Board on the fourth Tuesdays with further information. Supervisor Torlakson indicated a willingness to support that for at least a couple of months, with the committee to meet on the second Monday and the fourth Tuesday. Supervisor Bishop seconded the motion. Supervisor Torlakson further suggested referring this matter to the City/County Relations Committee and offering a presentation to each city, and also writing to each city that has Redevelopment and asking them what they can contribute. Supervisor Torlakson also suggested writing to the City of Pittsburg relative to Station 87 and a special tax assessment, and to also request the City of Pittsburg to join in a more extensive workshop. In addition, he clarified that part of the motion was to direct letters be written to our legislative delegation and to direct our lobbyist to come up with a strategy. Following discussion, the Board took the following action: 1 . AUTHORIZED the Board of Supervisors to meet as an Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole for a period of two months beginning on March 11, 1996 , and thereafter on the second Monday of the month, to discuss priority setting, potential legislative solutions, potential solutions in negotiations with the cities, fire issues, including Station 87 and Richmond and Pinole, and to report on the fourth Tuesday of the month; 2 . REFERRED to the City/County Relations Committee a possible presentation of the information on the issues to various City councils and Municipal Councils to be facilitated by the Fire Commissioners; 3 . AUTHORIZED letters to Cities that have Redevelopment Programs relative to pass through or leveraging of revenues to fund fire services; 4 . AUTHORIZED a request to the City of Pittsburg relative to the establishment of a special tax district to fund fire stations; 5 . DIRECTED staff to invite the Fire Commissioners to the Ad Hoc Committee meetings and urge their participation and input on the issues being considered; 6 . AUTHORIZED the Chair, Board of Supervisors, to sign a letter to legislators requesting a return of special district monies to the counties; 7 . REQUESTED staff to explore the possibility of a more extensive workshop with the cities in the next two months on the issues .