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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 06212005 - C25 a TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS _ CONTRA FROM: Lori Gentles, Interim Assistant County Administrator- Director of Human Resources �_., :..� :�� .: COSTA O ~` DATE: June 21, 2005 `'°�q-Cou COUNTY----- "�`� SUBJECT: Fire Equipment Off-Duty Standby Differential ' SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKG=ROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the May 10, 2005 side letter (copy attached), between the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and P.E.U. Local #1, establishing a differential for the Fire Equipment Mechanic Off-Duty Standby Team, effective the first of the month following the month the side letter is approved by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, in its capacity as ex-officio Governing Board of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. FISCAL IMPACT The Fire District anticipates significant savings by implementing this program. The number of Equipment Mechanics participating in the standby program will equitably split a pay differential of ten percent (10%) of Equipment Mechanic base salary. Costs will be contained to ten percent (10%) of Equipment Mechanic maximum merit base salary step. BACKGROUND Equipment Mechanics in the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District must respond to emergency repair calls on a twenty-four (24) hour basis to ensure fire apparatus are capable of emergency response. This is critical to the Fire District's public safety mission. To keep an Equipment Mechanic on standby for emergency repairs, the P.E.U. Local #1 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) requires that one (1) hour of straight time be paid for every four (4) hours of on call time. The attached side letter will allow the Fire District to establish a program whereby an Equipment Mechanic is on standby for emergency apparatus repairs at a much less costly rate than is currently permitted under the existing terms of the MOU. CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE ACTION The Fire District would incur higher costs by keeping a quipment Mechanic ons ndby in accordance with the current provisions of the MOU and/or b re ring repairs t endor. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: AYES SIGNATURE: �FCOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE L/APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BON J - ,.S APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VO7:ANIMOUS SUPERVISORS 1-71"MIL-000, I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT (ABSENT ) COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE AYES: NOES: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: SHOWN. Orig.Dept: Human Resources Department ATTESTED Cc: County Administrator JOHN SWEETEN,C K OF THE BOARD OF Contra Costa County Fire Protection District UPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Auditor-Controller M382(10/88) BY C) ,DEPUTY contra Human Resources Department Costa Administration Building County 651 Pine Street Martinez,CA 94553-1292 0 C EIVED May 10, 2005 MAY 16 2005 Mr. Arlyn Erdman, Sr. Business Agent PEU Local #1 --� P.O. Box 6783 Concord, CA 94524 RE: SIDE LETTER ON THE FIRE EQUIPMENT OFF-DUTY STANDBY PAY DIFFERENTIAL Dear Mr. Erdman: This side letter confirms the agreement reached between the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and PEU Local #1 regarding the terms and conditions for implementation of the Fire Equipment Off-Duty Standby Pay Differential. The following agreement will be effective the first of the month following month in which this side letter is approved by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, in its capacity as ex-officio Governing Board of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. OFF-DUTY STANDBY TEAM (ODST) A. The Off-Duty Standby Team (ODST) may be staffed by the Fire District Apparatus Manager and Fire Equipment Mechanics (FEM) or exclusively by FEMs. The ODST shall have nimum of four (4) but not more than six (6) members. Participation by F Ms shall be voluntary, but will be comprised of FEMs who have submitted a written request to serve on the ODST.' This includes assigning one or more FEMs to the ODST to maintain a minimum of four (4) participants. B. Notwithstanding the above, all members of the Apparatus Shop, at the Chief s discretion, may be assigned to assist in apparatus repairs as necessary, including after hours assignments. C. The ODST shall provide full-time coverage for emergency apparatus repairs, including weekends and holidays. A monthly on-call schedule shall be established to identify one FEM available at all times during off-duty hours. The schedule shall be developed and finalized a minimum of 90 days in Page 1 of 3 advance for each month. The on-call schedule shall account for time off, such as vacations and schools scheduled prior to finalization, by designating a relief person as the on-call FEM. Relief for time off after finalization of the on- call schedule shall be the responsibility of the individual FEM. Exception: The ODST shall provide relief for the on-call FEM under unusual circumstances such as sick leave or emergency leave taken in accordance with Fire District policies. The Apparatus Manager, or his designate, shall determine who the relief FEM will be. D. Selection of time-off by members of the ODST, such as for vacation and floating holidays, shall be made in the following order: 1. Rank; and 2. Time in rank The number of FEMs scheduled for time- off at any one time shall be dependent upon the number of FEMs assigned to the ODST. E. Qualifications: 1. Currently employed by the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District as a Fire Equipment Mechanic for a minimum of one year. 2. Must arrive within 90 minutes to the Fire District boundary line after notification to respond. 3. Must request assignment to the ODST, in writing, and submit to the Apparatus Manager. 4. Must participate in an orientation meeting with the Apparatus Manager and other members of the ODST and subsequent ODST meetings as required during normal work hours. F. Assignment and use of telephone pagers and cell phones: 1. Pagers and cell phones will be provided and rotated between members of the ODST. 2. While "on-call", FEMs shall wear and maintain their pager and cell phone in the "on" and available for alert or call status. 3. Cell phones shall be used for Fire District business only. Page 2 of 3 44 G. Fire District Emergency Repair Vehicle: The Fire District will assign a take home vehicle to the on-call FEM. Additionally, a suitably equipped repair vehicle shall be available at the Apparatus Shop for use by the on-call FEM. Such vehicles shall be used for Fire District purposes only and, if used, the repair vehicle must be returned to the Apparatus Shop after completion of each ODST on-call assignment. Family members, friends and others not employed by the Fire District, shall not be transported in Fire District vehicles. 1. The on-call FEM shall maintain himself/herself in a state of readiness to receive and return communicated messages and to respond to emergencies if dispatched. 2. Should an on-call FEM become ill or otherwise unable to fulfill his/her responsibility, he/she shall first attempt to trade duty by contacting other mechanics on the team. If unsuccessful, he/she shall contact the Communications Center and request the Apparatus Manager be notified. H. On-Duty Stand-by Compensation: Mechanics assigned to participate in the ODST will receive a monthly pay differential based on the number of represented members assigned in accordance with the following sliding scale: Four Members (i.e., one week in a four week rotation) = 2.5% of base pay Five Members (i.e., one week in a five week rotation) - 2.0% of base pay Six Members (i.e., one week in a six week rotation) = 1.67% of base pay If the foregoing conforms to your understanding, please indicate your approval and acceptance by signing below in the space provided. Date: ,�. �D.d..� FO LOCA FOR THE CCCFPD: FOR THE COUNTY: 6111b, Page 3 of 3