FIN 2021-04-26 Item 1C - Discussion - Prioritizing Service Level Increases

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INFORMATIONAL MEMO Page 12 Fire: A staffing adjustment has been made for 2021 to staff one shift at 17. The other two shifts will continue to staff at 18. Demand for services from the Fire Department were reduced because of pandemic affects. This caused a reduction in minimum staffing from April 1, 2020 to April 1, 2021, from 13 to 12 firefighters on duty each shift. Pre -pandemic service demands are returning to Tukwila. Travel budget line for education has been reduced and other supply services line items were reduced. Training budget was reduced. Specialty services have been adjusted. Overtime budget for the Fire Marshal's Office was reduced. There will be a delay in projects and requests for records from the community. Public Works: There are currently 2 frozen positions in the Street division, both are maintenance technicians. Additionally, there is no budget for seasonal labor. The impacts to the community include less frequent cleaning of bus stops and graffiti cleanup, large item trash pick-up, homeless encampment cleanup, and mowing and upkeeping of medians and grass in rights-of-way. In order to hire seasonal staff, which would increase these service levels during the mowing season, the full-time positions should be unfrozen. In addition to the frozen positions in the Street division, the budget for snow & ice removal is only $10k. The snow even that occurred earlier this year cost $33k to maintain the streets. Given that the budget for snow events is inadequate, a budget amendment will most likely be required. One facilities maintenance technician is also frozen. Regular maintenance of existing facilities is now done on a delayed scheduled. Responding to the TCC and other facilities occupied by City staff and visited by the general public is a priority and needs attention. Additionally, new facilities are now online and require additional staff time to maintain. 58