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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2024-061 Firefighterf i Sponsored by: Sorensen CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA RESOLUTION 2024-061 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ESTABLISH A FULL-TIME PAID FIREFIGHTER/EMT POSITION IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHEREAS, in the 2023 budget cycle the first full-time City of Seward Firefighter/EMT was approved and is currently providing four 10-hour days coverage; and WHEREAS, adding an additional full-time firefighter can extend another four 10-hour days coverage and overlap on multiple project days; and WHEREAS, according to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) the number of volunteer firefighters in the U.S. reached an all-time low in 2020, at the same time call volume has more than tripled in the last 35 years; and WHEREAS, according to the NFPA, most fire departments in the U.S. are volunteer; and WHEREAS, according to the NFPA volunteering in the fire and EMS service is one of the most demanding volunteer activities today due to time constraints to include operational responses (often at a moment's notice), increased demand on training, fundraising, vehicle and station maintenance, and various administrative duties; and WHEREAS, the City of Seward Volunteer Fire Department has experienced substantial turnover in volunteers in the last 10 years partly due to housing, transient population, aging out, two -income family job requirements, and a change in generational and sociological conditions in the way the community sees volunteerism; and WHEREAS, there is still a need to have a rapid response to fires and emergency medical incidents such as cardiac arrest; and WHEREAS, during a cardiac arrest or structure fire, seconds and minutes have a great influence on the outcome of that emergency and relying on volunteers to respond from home, get to the station, and respond in the apparatus can truly mean the difference between life and death; and WHEREAS, having paid personnel on duty ready to respond immediately with life-saving equipment saves precious time; and WHEREAS, the need for volunteer firefighters will continue and always be a part of the City of Seward Fire and Emergency services, and WHEREAS, these paid firefighters also perform much needed daily maintenance on the fire station and apparatus; and CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA RESOLUTION 2024-061 Page 2 of 3 WHEREAS, this position is overwhelmingly supported by historical data, increasing workload demands on volunteers and exempt staff, and the volunteer organization's support of paid positions to augment the volunteers; and WHEREAS, this position will help alleviate some of the burden of the less demanding calls that create a "burn out" in our already taxed volunteers and paid staff; and WHEREAS, adding one position still does not cover 24-hour response and that has historically been burdened on the two exempt employees, the Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief or paid overtime by non-exempt staff; and WHEREAS, this position is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan in providing public safety and the community's expectations that when they dial 911, they will receive prompt, professional fire and emergency services. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA, that: Section 1. The City Manager is hereby authorized to establish a full-time, paid position titled Firefighter/EMT (Grade 7) in the Fire Department. Section 2. Funding in the amount of $104,800 will be appropriated as a part of the FY25_26 City's Operating Budget under Fire Department salaries & benefits account no. 01000-1220-6000. Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption. PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Seward, Alaska this 12th day of November 2024. AYES: NOES: ABSENT: one ABSTAIN: None ATTEST: THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA Sue McClure, Mayor Osenga, Finch, Barnwell, Crites, Warner, Wells, McClure None N Kris Peck, City Clerk 001au..,. s ,ft of SEiv**#.. 0 ,J2G01 • i SEAL =• City Council Agenda Statement Meeting Date: November 12, 2024 To: City Council Through: Kat Sorensen, City Manager From: Clinton Crites, Fire Chief Subject: Resolution 2024-061: Authorizing the City Manager to Establish a Full - Time Paid Firefighter/EMT Position in the Fire Department Background and justification: During the 2022 budget process, City Council approved one full-time Firefighter/EMT position to begin in 2023. While this action achieved a great effect of improving maintenance and response during this past year working Four 10-hour workdays, the fire department still lacks sufficient volunteers to rapidly respond to emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Currently, the Firefighter/EMT works Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 10 hours 0700-1700 hours. That schedule leaves several days and every night subject to our limited volunteers and the two paid exempt employees or requires overtime to non-exempt employees when a call comes in after hours. The Seward Fire Department struggles concurrently with national trends in recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. While we have a great group of dedicated volunteers, the societal changes in how our community sees volunteerism and focuses more on home and family life, had led to dangerous levels of decreased response, especially after hours. During the last 12 months, 52 calls were answered with a single exempt employee after hours, 56 calls were answered with the same exempt employees plus their spouses who are also volunteers. 108 calls were not answered out of 400 by our volunteers after hours. In the past 5 years we have had an increase in our call volume from an annual average of 300-350 calls for service to now 500 calls for service is the new norm and only increasing. With the known increase in population soon on the horizon with the new cruise ship facility, Coast Guard, and other large projects, the Seward Fire Department is only going to be summoned to action more. The Seward Volunteer Fire Department continues to recruit using social media, open houses, posters and banners, incentives such as paid per call, shift work, gym membership, and longevity incentives. Still, volunteerism remains cursed with transient population, time constraints, less interest, and a general lack of available resources. The volunteers have recently in the last year began a Junior Firefighter program targeting the 14-18 age group to gain intertest in public safety and have had some success, however longevity of whether those students stay in Seward long time has yet to be determined and these are still low numbers. With aging equipment and facilities, it is imperative to have someone at the station as much as possible to catch water leaks, engine malfunctions, truck checks, walk-in emergencies, and a general state of readiness. Daily we find deficient equipment that can sometimes be avoided by consistent truck and station checks. According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) the number of volunteer firefighters in the U.S. reached an all-time low 2020 (2022 report), at the same time call volume has more than tripled in the last 35 years and that volunteering in the fire and EMS service, however, is one of the most demanding volunteer activities today due to time constraints to include operational responses (often at a moment's notice), training, fundraising, vehicle and station maintenance, and various administrative duties. The City of Seward Volunteer Fire Department has experienced a great turnover in volunteers in the last 10 years partly due to housing, transient population, aging out, two-family income job requirements, and a generational and sociological conditions change in the way the community sees volunteerism. There is still a need to have a rapid response immediately to fires and emergency medical incidents such as cardiac arrest and fires where seconds and minutes have a great influence on the outcome of that emergency and relying on volunteers to respond from home, get to the station, respond in the apparatus can truly mean the difference in life and death. Having paid personnel on duty ready to respond immediately with life-saving equipment saves precious minutes, whereas the need for volunteer firefighters will continue and always be a part of the City of Seward Fire and Emergency services. These paid firefighters also perform much needed daily maintenance on the fire station and apparatus that otherwise administrative staff cannot address due to other administrative and operational duties. This position is overwhelmingly supported by historical data, increasing workload demands on volunteers and exempt staff, and the volunteer organization's support of paid positions to augment the volunteers. This position will help elevate some of the demand of the lesser demanding calls that create a "burn out" to our already taxed volunteers. Adding one position still does not cover 24-hour response and that has historically been burdened on the two exempt employees, the Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief or over -time to two non- exempt employees. For example, when there is an emergency after hours, and the volunteers fail to respond, the exempt employees have no choice but to respond regardless of the time of night or nature of the call. These are non -compensated hours, or if a non-exempt employee takes call, this is a 2-hour overtime standby, then a minimum of 2 hours overtime call back. This amount of required non -compensated coverage time from exempt employees is solely unique to the Fire Department. This position is consistent with the comprehensive plan in providing public safety and the community's expectations that when they dial 911, they will receive prompt, professional fire and emergency services. The Fire Department has always done more with less; however, we are at a critical juncture providing emergency Fire and EMS service 24 hours a day as efficiently and most effectively as possible. Adding additional paid staff will provide that consistent service to the public. X Comprehensive and Strategic Plan Consistency Information This legislation is consistent with (citation listed): Comprehensive Plan: 2.2.9 Strategic Plan: Other: 3.7.1.3 Total amount of funds listed in this legislation: $ This legislation (✓): Creates revenue in the amount of: Creates expenditure in amount of: Creates a savings in the amount of: $ Has no fiscal impact Funds are (✓): Budgeted FY25_26 City's Operating Budget under Fire Department salaries & Line item(s): benefits account no. 01000-1220-6000 X $ $ 104,800 Not budgeted Not applicable Affected Fund (✓): General Boat Harbor Motor Pool X Available Fund Balance SMIC Parking Other Electric Water $ Wastewater Healthcare Note: amounts are unaudited Finance Director Signature: '44, 9""te Yes Attorney Signature: Not applicable Comments: Administration Recommendation X Adopt Resolution Other: