REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
April 9, 2015
FROM: KERRI L. DONIS, Fire Chief
Fire Department
BY: JAVIER LARA, Battalion Chief
Fire Department
SUBJECT
Title
RESOLUTION - Identifying the terms and conditions for Fire Department response away from their official duty station and assigned to an emergency incident
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council approve a Resolution establishing the normal business practice for payment to Fire Department employees when responding away from their official duty station and to emergency incidents as outlined under the pending 2015 California Fire Assistance Agreement.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Every year the Fresno Fire Department assists the State of California, a number of Federal Fire agencies, and/or other local government agencies during times of severe wildfire conditions or other large-scale emergency incidents. Adopting this resolution will communicate to all requesting agencies that the City of Fresno will require to be reimbursed for portal to portal travel and all allowable reimbursements as identified in the agreement, and if not, authorize the Fire Chief to deny future requests for assistance under the Agreement.
BACKGROUND
Every year the Fresno Fire Department assists the State of California, a number of Federal Fire agencies, and/or other local government agencies during times of severe wildfire conditions or other large-scale emergency incidents. These emergencies often require the need of additional emergency personnel and/or fire apparatus to effectively manage the emergency at hand. For many years now, the City has been responsive to these requests for assistance provided there was some form of reimbursement for a majority of these responses to ensure there is no direct impact to the local taxpayer.
The Agreement is the main contract used between the various statewide agencies to share resources and provide a system of reimbursement. However, in 2015, there will be a slight change in the method of calculating reimbursement. In short, certain Federal agencies are seeking ways to save money by not paying for certain portions of the response by local agencies such as travel to and from the incident (portal to portal) and during rest periods. Since fire personnel being sent are not allowed to leave the incident or their crew, and are also required to remain readily available for an emergency callout even during their rest periods, it is normal business practice for such personnel to be paid for their time portal to portal. By adopting this resolution, Council will be communicating that the City of Fresno will require requesting agencies to pay portal to portal to include allowable reimbursements as identified in the agreement, and if not authorize the Fire Chief to deny future requests for assistance under the Agreement.
For more than 20 years the costs for responding with additional personnel and equipment to these emergencies were fully reimbursed under the Agreement. If the reimbursement does not cover all of the required overtime and backfill as outlined in the existing employees' Memorandum of Understanding, then this cost would have to be covered by the General Fund or other currently unidentified funding sources. With the passage of this resolution, there will be no adverse fiscal impact if requesting agencies solicit for mutual aid resources. Adoption of this resolution is consistent with actions taken by other fire departments throughout the state as well.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a "project" for the purposes of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15378(b)(5), as it is an administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes to the environment.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local Preference was not considered because this resolution does not include a bid or award of a construction or service contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund by adoption of this resolution. The intent of this resolution is to ensure continued reimbursement for the full costs associated with sending mutual aid resources when requested by other agencies.
Attachment:
Resolution of the Council of the City of Fresno Identifying the Terms and Conditions for Fire Department Response