REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
August 28, 2014
FROM: KERRI L. DONIS, Fire Chief
Fire Department
BY: THEODORE F. SEMONIOUS, Deputy Chief
Fire Department
SUBJECT
Title
Approve Automatic and Mutual Aid agreements between the City of Fresno, Fresno County Fire Protection District, California Department of Forestry, and Fire Protection Fresno-Kings Unit
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve the Automatic and Mutual Aid agreements between the City of Fresno, Fresno County Fire Protection District, California Department of Forestry, and Fire Protection Fresno-Kings Unit. The approval of these agreements is contingent upon the completion of the meet and confer process between the City of Fresno and International Association of Fire Fighters Local 753.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Approval of the recommended action will assist in maintaining effective readiness. These agreements are mutually beneficial to both agencies and the community in that they provide for the closest resource to be dispatched to an emergency scene regardless of jurisdiction.
BACKGROUND
In 1974, the City of Fresno and then Mid-Valley Fire Protection District (now known as Fresno County Fire Protection District) signed the first automatic aid agreement to provide the closest fire resource to emergencies based on proximity to the event regardless of jurisdiction. This agreement had the effect of providing emergency responders to the jurisdictional border areas in a more efficient manner. Since that time, there have been several automatic and mutual aid agreements signed between the City of Fresno and the Fresno County Fire Protection District.
The most recent agreement was signed in 2003 and included an area bound by First Street to the west, Temperance Avenue to the east, Dakota Avenue to the north, and California Avenue to the south. Within these boundaries are several County islands that are currently protected by the City of Fresno Fire Department. Disagreements between the parties over payment for automatic aid resulted in locations outside those boundary areas to be considered mutual aid, which require prior approval of the requested jurisdiction before a response is initiated. This method of results in longer response times and is not the best model for service delivery.
In early 2014, with new administrations in place for both agencies, discussions regarding automatic aid began. The impacts of the current response plans were noted and the deficiencies of not having an automatic aid agreement in place were quickly recognized. Both parties acknowledged the need for a renewed automatic aid agreement and quickly agreed to the terms.
Through these discussions came the awareness that there were areas within the City limits along the San Joaquin River where county and state resources could assist the Fresno Fire Department as they have specialized equipment for handling wild land and urban interface fires. It was agreed the area along the river could be better protected through an exchange of equipment and other resources through a mutual aid agreement. The agreement includes the use of Cal Fire resources, on behalf of Fresno County Fire Protection District. The Fresno Fire Department will deploy resources where incidents occur north of the City in areas currently protected by Cal Fire.
The Fresno Fire Department had discussed the Automatic Aid Agreement with representatives of IAFF 753 before it was first taken to Council in May 2014. The Department believed that the bargaining unit had no objections to implementation; however, IAFF 753 raised objections when the item was posted on the Council Agenda. Meetings were subsequently held with IAFF 753 on June 2nd and June 9th. As a result of those meetings, changes were made to the draft Automatic Aid Agreement at the request of IAFF 753. In addition, a side letter of agreement regarding the Automatic Aid Agreement was prepared and shared with the Association.
Unfortunately, IAFF 753 has continued to object to the implementation of the Automatic Aid Agreement despite these efforts. The City of Fresno has been attempting to set another meeting in an effort to reach agreement on the issues raised by Fire Basic, but has met resistance. A meeting will be scheduled within the next 30 days.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Section 15278, this item does not qualify as a "project" and is therefore exempt from the CEQA requirements.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Not applicable.
FISCAL IMPACT
The reduction of responses may result in a decrease of maintenance costs on apparatus, resulting in a positive impact to the General Fund.
Attachments:
Agreement: Automatic Aid Fire Suppression and Emergency Services between Fresno County Fire Protection District and City of Fresno
Agreement: Wildland Fire Mutual Aid Agreement between City of Fresno and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Fresno-Kings Unit