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TO: City Council <br />FROM: Mayor Ekberg <br />CC: David Cline, City Administrator <br />Jay Wittwer, Fire Chief <br />DATE: April 6, 2020 <br />SUBJECT: Appropriate Staffing Levels for Fire Department due to COVID-19 Pandemic <br />ISSUE <br />The City has experienced a financial impact due to loss of sales and other taxes due to <br />the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fire Department has experienced a reduced call volume <br />due to the COVID-19 pandemic and consistently receives a higher percentage of aid calls <br />than ones for fire. The following information outlines the Mayor's directive for fire staffing <br />during this pandemic. <br />DISCUSSION <br />Financial Impact - The City of Tukwila is expected to have a $6.1 million reduction in <br />revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic between the start of the Coronavirus outbreak <br />through May. That shortfall could grow depending on the duration of the pandemic. <br />Recognizing this new reality, on March 25, 2020, the Mayor instituted a five part strategy <br />to align the budget to these reduced revenues, which includes 1) a hiring freeze, 2) <br />cancelling all travel, 3) furloughing part-time temporary staff, 4) eliminating transfers to <br />capital project funds and 5) reducing overtime unless authorized by the Mayor. This <br />directive was shared will all staff and elected officials in March. These reductions are <br />estimated to save the City $4 million. There will be further reductions necessary to <br />achieve the full $6.1 million savings needed through May. In addition, there is expected <br />to be additional significant financial impacts caused by COVID-19 through the end of <br />2020. <br />Current Staffing - The current Fire Department staffing model assumes staffing 3 fire <br />engines and 1 ladder truck across the four stations with 13 personnel. It is recognized <br />that more than 80% of calls to the Fire Department are for aid -related calls. When <br />firefighters are on vacation, using Kelly days, and/or calling in sick, this engine -specific <br />staffing model uses overtime to pay for firefighters to have 13 personnel on duty. As the <br />Council knows, this overtime use has caused nearly $500,000 a year in overtime costs. <br />Reduced Call Volume — Due to the "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" proclamation from <br />Governor Inslee, fully effective March 25, the Fire Department has seen a decrease in <br />