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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFS 2008-09-23 Item 2A - Ordinance - Fire Master Plan INFORMATION MEMORANDUM To: Finance and Safeq Committee CC: Mayor Haggerton Rhonda Berry FROM: Lisa Verner, Mayor's Office Nick Olivas, Fire Chief DATE: August 19, 2008 RE: Fire Master Plan, Administration Responses to Plan Recommendations and LOS Goal ISSUE Adopt the new Fire Master Plan, adopt the Administration responses to the Plan's recommendations, and adopt a Level of Service goal for fire services. BACKGROUND The Fire Department does not have a Master Plan. A proposed Master Plan has been developed by consultants, ESCi, as the first phase of a joint agreement with the City of SeaTac to evaluate whether or not the two cities' fire departments should be merged, form a separate fire district, or look for other opportunities for cooperation and coordination. It is ready for review and adoption by the City. The Administration is evaluating new sources of revenue for the City. One such source is "impact fees" through which new development helps to pay for capital facilities necessitated due to the new growth. Mayor Haggerton's goal is to analyze options and to adopt impact fees by the end of 2008. The Growth Management Act allows impact fees for parks services and for fire services, in addition to the traffic impact fees the City has already enacted. In order to consider and adopt impact fees, the City needs to have adopted a Fire Master Plan and identified a level of service goal for fire services. DISCUSSION The new Fire Master Plan evaluates the current state of the Fire Department and makes recommendations concerning a variety of issues: personnel and staffing, facilities, apparatus, and management. It shows area coverage from each of the stations, includes an inventory of Page 2 of 3 equipment and stations, and discusses the kinds of service provided by the Department. The proposed Fire Master Plan is attached as Exhibit A. The Administration has evaluated the recommendations contained in the Fire Master Plan. The recommendations can be divided into "short term" and "long term" items; both include capital facilities and operations maintenance. The short term items are needed to make up existing deficiencies which the Fire Master Plan fmds make it hard for the Fire Department to maintain the existing LOS. The Administration has evaluated these based on prudent use of equipment, cost, and sustainability. These items can be phased in over the next several years and support the existing LOS. The long term items will be needed due to growth over the next 15 years; the long term capital facilities items can be funded in part by impact fees. The Administration's response to the recommendations contained in the Fire Master Plan is attached as Exhibit B. A worksheet summarizing how the Administration would accomplish the recommendations over the next 6 years is attached as Exhibit C. The level of service goal that the Administration recommends is described in the Fire Master Plan as: "5 minutes 33 seconds response 90% of the time" 4 stations distributed throughout the City Provision of the following services: prevention, suppression, aid, rescue, haz mat response, and public education Equipment level of 3 front line engines, 1 front line aerial, and 1 front line aid car Personnel level of 3 shifts of professional firefighters per day This level of service should be provided by the Fire Department and maintained as a goal as growth occurs over the next 15 years. As mentioned, the Mayor's goal is to analyze options and to adopt impact fees by the end of 2008. There are two steps that need to be done before impact fees can be considered. The first step is to have LOS standards for both Parks and Fire. The adoption of the Fire Master Plan and Fire LOS goals as recommended below will accomplish this first step for Fire. The Community Affairs and Parks Committee is addressing adoption of LOS for Parks. Both of these items will come to COW on August 25 for discussion and public hearings. The second step needed before impact fees can be considered is an emergency Comprehensive Plan amendment to add "Fire" and the adopted LOS for Fire and Parks to the Capital Facilities Element of the Plan. The Community Affairs Parks Committee will review the Comprehensive Plan amendment on September 22, with a courtesy review by Finance Safety on October 7. After these two steps are complete, then a review and discussion of impact fees will begin. Staff will have a draft impact fee Ordinance and bring it to Finance Safety Committee for a recommendation (October 21) and to Community Affairs Parks Committee for a courtesy review (October 27). The draft impact fee Ordinance is scheduled for a COW review and Page 3 of 3 public hearing on November 10 with a Council decision to adopt or not adopt anticipated on November 17 RECOMMENDATION Adopt an Ordinance which adopts the Fire Master Plan, adopts the Administration's responses to the Plan's recommendations, and establishes a level of service goal for fire services. Attachments: Exhibit A Fire Master Plan Exhibit B Administration's Responses on Fire Master Plan Recommendations Exhibit C Worksheet for Administration's Responses on Fire Master Plan Recommendations EXHIBIT 13 City of Tukwila Administration Responses to Fire Master Plan Recommendations 8-19-08 FIRE MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS DISCUSSION COSTS YEAR ADMINISTRATION POSITION Staff /Personnel Issues 1. Provide a full time Public Educator/Public Information Officer (PIO) position to oversee the public aspects of education and dissemination of information. Move existing (funded, unfilled, civilian) CERT /PE position from PW to Fire $80,000 /yr + VEHICLE ($40,000) + OFFICE SPACE Year 1 2009 Move CERT/PE position to Fire (no financial impact) 2. Establish a pro - active public education program within the city. See #1 See #1 3. Add a full time public educator in the Fire Marshal's office to oversee public education and also act as the TFD public information officer. See #1 See #1 4. Add a Training Captain to work under guidance of Battalion Chief of Training. Add an additional training _position to the Training Division Add an Assistant Chief position for logistics and strategic planning. Add a Deputy Fire Marshal, working under the guidance of the Battalion Chief Fire Marshal. Support. Internal promotion; hire entry level position to back fill Defer. Already use battalion chiefs for management. Internal promotion with replacement Use contract system or need on ongoing basis? UNION, FULL TIME Promote internally; backfill $100,000 /yr + VEHICLE + ($40,000) + OFFICE SPACE and $80,000 /yr $120,000/yr + VEHICLE + OFFIICE and $80,000 /yr $105,000 /yr + VEHICLE ($40,000) + OFFICE SPACE and $80,000 /yr Year 1 2009 Year 3 2011 Year 1 2009 Promote Training Captain Hire replacement firefighter ($13,000 and $80,000 financial imp act Promote 2ii1 Assistant Chief Hire replacement firefighter ($14,000 and $80,000 financial impact) Promote Deputy Fire Marshal. ($10,000 financial impact) 5. 6. 7. Add two civilian inspector positions for code enforcement and inspection work. Support. Help supplement annual inspections ( #10) $160,000 /yr + 2 VEHICLES ($80,000) + OFFICE SPACE Year 1 2009 Hire 2 civilian inspectors ($160,000 financial impact) 8. Staff a full time aid car. An additional 7.8 firefighters would be needed in order to staff an aid car with 2 FTEs Run Aid Car 8:00 AM -8:00 PM. Explore 12 -hour shifts for Aid Car staff. 3 PEOPLE (1 PER $430,000 /YR + OVERTIME OR $643,000/YR Year 1 2009 Put aid car in service; hire 3 personnel (experienced) ($240,00 financial impact; EXHIBIT B Administration Responses — Fire Master Plan Recommendations 8 -19 -08 Page 2 of 8 FIRE MASTER PLAN DISCUSSION COSTS YEAR ADMINISTRATION 9. RECOMMENDATIONS Support when necessitated by growth (long term). $1.44M /YR OR $1.92M /YR Year 4 2012 POSITION daily. SHIFT) = 30 -50 %; 6 PEOPLE = 80 %; 9 PEOPLE = ALMOST 100% Year 2 2010 Year 3 2011 new will be less) Hire 3 aid car staff (experienced) ($240,000 financial impact; new will be less) Evaluate need for additional 3 aid car personnel ($240,000financial impact) 9. Place an engine company at Station 54 when the ladder truck is reassigned to Station 51; this would call for 18 -24 firefighters, depending on daily coverage patterns. Support when necessitated by growth (long term). $1.44M /YR OR $1.92M /YR Year 4 2012 Evaluate; decision based on growth 10. Take steps to increase commercial inspection frequency to an annual or semi- annual inspection cycle. Support. Use civilian inspectors ( #7) See #7 11. Review to practice of having line - level. crew conduct moderate and high risk inspections and verify their training and capability to perform all risk level inspections. Support. More training for personnel so companies have capacity; tied to #4. LEAVE EASIER INSPECTIONS TO CREWS See #4 12. Increase the number of inspectors in the prevention section, limit company inspections to less complex occupancies, and ensure all company level personnel are trained to the level in which they function. See #11. SAME AS #7. TRAIN CIVILIAN INSPECTORS TO DO HIGHER LEVEL INSPECTIONS (FLAMMABLE, ETC) Do permit inspections (Fire and Bldg codes) plus critical site inspections (120 per month est.) See #7 13. Consider the use of contract fire and life safety plan review services to take the load off during busy times. Support. (example: Mall, where developer pays) LIKE MALL Support. EXHIBIT B Administration Responses — Fire Master Plan Recommendations 8 -19 -08 Page 3 of 8 FIRE MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS DISCUSSION COSTS YEAR ADMINISTRATION POSITION Use of Ladder Truck as an Aid Car Issue; Apparatus Issues 1. Continually review and evaluate current fire apparatus conditions and determine life expectancy and replacement based on current conditions. Support. Both Fire and Finance to do this. Year 1 2009 Support 2. Adopt and fund a long range apparatus replacement plan to meet the projected replacement schedule. See #1. Year 1 2009 See #1 3. Limit the use of the ladder truck apparatus to truck company related calls. Staff a full time 24 -hour aid car at Station 54 for medical related calls. Support. See #8 in "Personnel ". Review hours of need (need 24 hrs ?) Year 1 2009 Place aid car in 24 -hr service some of the time with 3 additional personnel; increase service in Year 2; evaluate add'! service needs in Year 3 4. Relocate the ladder truck from Station 54 to Station 51, if the southern annexation occurs along with the relocation of Station 51 to the south. If move ladder truck to Station 51 now; move Engine 51 to Station 54? Reduce use of ladder truck when bring aid car into service Year 1 2009 Year 3 2011 Bring aid car into service; reduce use of ladder truck Evaluate moving ladder truck based on growth needs 5. Relocating the ladder truck will require an additional staffed engine company to be housed at Station 54. Defer until growth occurs. Year 3 2011 Evaluate moving ladder truck based on growth needs Station Facilities Issues Start and complete a thorough space needs assessment of TFD facilities, and begin a long term funding strategy for improvements to facilities. Support. Hire architect /space planner now. Year 2010 Support. Do in conjunction with evaluation of City facilities 2. Conduct a thorough review of the condition and projected service life of the existing fire stations. See #1. See #1 EXHIBIT B Administration Responses — Fire Master Plan Recommendations 8 -19 -08 Page 4 of 8 FIRE MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS DISCUSSION COSTS YEAR ADMINISTRATION POSITION 3. Develop a capital facilities replacement plan and determine funding mechanisms. See #1. See #1 4. Remodel Fire Station 51, including seismic upgrades. Wait until decision on Tukwila South; growth, TS dictates • Year 4 2012 Evaluate based on growth 5. Relocate Fire Station 51 when the south annexation occurs See #4. $10M (2005$) + LAND Year 4 2012 Evaluate based on growth 6. Replace Fire Station 52 Defer. Year 5 2013 Evaluate based on growth. 7. Relocate Fire Station 52 if Station 51 is relocated. ' Defer until Tukwila South. decided. Add another engine to Station 51 instead of relocation? Year 5 2013 Evaluate based on growth. 8. Seismic and energy evaluations and possible upgrades for Station 53 Support, in conjunction with seismic /energy upgrades to all other stations. Year 2 2010 Evaluate seismic upgrades to all City facilities 9. Relocate Station 53 when north annexation occurs Defer. No. No plans for north annexation 10. Replace Station 54 Defer. Year 3 2011 Evaluate need in Year 3 Department Management Issues; Department Implementation OK; should be standard operating procedure. Year I 2009 In process; implement by Fire Department management 1. Plan and implement a method of regularly meeting with rank and file workers by Fire Chief and /or other executive staff officers 2. Prominently display and incorporate the department mission statement into department documents as appropriate. OK; should be standard operating procedure. OK; should be standard operating procedure. Year 1 2009 Year 1 2009 In process; implement by Fire Department management In process; implement by Fire :Department management 3. Audit all policies and procedures for gaps between practice and policy EXHIBIT B Administration Responses -- Fire Master Plan Recommendations 8 -19 -08 Page 5 of 8 FIRE MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS DISCUSSION COSTS YEAR ADMINISTRATION POSITION 4. Review and revise all policies and procedures as needed. OK; should be standard operating procedure. Year 1 2009 In process; implement by Fire Department management 5. Establish a regular time schedule for review of SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) OK; should be standard operating procedure. Year 1 2009 In process; implement by Fire Department management 6. Establish a founding policy document that describes: 1) the purpose and intent of the policy manual, 2)how the manual is to be organized, 3) when a policy is to be reviewed, and 4) definitions and explicit descriptions of key words OK; should be standard operating procedure. Year 1 2009 In process; implement by Fire Department management 7. Establish a method and responsible person to insure the Department is meeting all legal mandates. OK; should be standard operating procedure. Year 1 2009 In process; implement by Fire Department management 8. Formally adopt a decision - making process that solicits input vertically and horizontally from the appropriate levels of the organization and create a policy that reflects this new format. OK; should be standard operating procedure. Year 1 2009 In process; implement by Fire Department management 9. Work with local law enforcement and develop a plan for ongoing security of the fire stations. Specifically obtain their advice on perimeter fencing, security cameras, and updated access controls. OK; should be standard operating procedure. Don't anticipate law enforcement having time Year 1 2009 In process of evaluation 10. Provide theft deterrent systems for all vehicles. OK; should be standard operating procedure. Year 1 2009 .In process; implement by Fire Department management 11. Establish a method. and schedule to What does this take? IT Dep't Year 1 In process; implement by EXHIBIT B Administration Responses - Fire Master Plan Recommendations 8 -19 -08 Page 6of8 FIRE MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS DISCUSSION COSTS YEAR ADMINISTRATION POSITION incorporate pre -fire plans into the mobile data technology. involvement? 2009 Fire Department management 12. Coordinate with King County DEM for hazard information and update pre -fire plans accordingly. OK Year 1 2009 In process; implement by Fire Department management 13. Review the city emergency plan and update as necessary. Work with City's Emergency Management Coordinator Year 1 2009 In process; implement by Fire Department management 14. Formalize the intervention process for employees with drug /alcohol problems. OK; should be standard operating procedure. Year 1 2009 In process; implement by Fire Department management 15. Establish a model "last chance" agreement approved by both labor and management for employees with drug /alcohol problems. Conduct credit checks in addition to background checks on all applicants. ' O:K; should be standard operating procedure. OK; should be standard operating procedure. Year 1 2009 Year 1 2009 Year 1 2009 Year 1 2009 In process; implement by Fire Department management In process; implement by Fire Department management New Training Captain will address New Training Captain will address 16. 17. Undertake a process of defining goals and objectives for the training program OK; should be standard operating procedure OK; should be standard operating procedure; do with new Training Captain 18. Establish annual training requirements in the form, of hours or competencies 19. Develop a system of quarterly or annual skills competency testing See #18. Year 1 2009. New Training Captain will address 20. Provide additional and focused training and management courses, such as the National Fire Academy program for personnel in the Training Division See #18. Year 1 2009 New Training Captain will address 21. Develop a department training manual that details the operation, standards and See #18 Year 1 2009 New Training Captain will address EXHIBIT 13 Administration Responses — Fire Master Plan Recommendations 8 -19 -08 Page 7of8 FIRE MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS DISCUSSION COSTS YEAR ADMINISTRATION POSITION New Training Captain will address New Training Captain will address New Training Captain will address New Training Captain will address Being done now; some issues remain to be resolved New Training Captain will address Implement by Fire Department management Restructure with committee of departments chaired by Mayor's Office to lead 303 Fund (and. CIP) Put on Tuknet Delegate to Human Resources requirements of the training program 22. Review and improve training data recording practice. See #18 Year 1 2009 23. Implement use of the Fire RMS training program module. See #18 Year 1 2009 24. Enhance the level of training for line staff in initial fire scene evaluation and evidence preservation. See #18 Year 1 2009 25. Increase fire investigation training for command staff and line officers. See #18 Year 1 2009 26. Consider the development of a Zone 3 (South end) Fire Investigation Team. Defer Year 1 2009 27. Continue with and expand the pre- incident planning efforts. Additional resources and expertise will be required within the prevention/ inspection division to provide support and continuity of the pre -plan process and keep pace with the additional. workload requirements. Do with new Training Captain + 2 civilian inspectors; See #18 above and #7 in Staff section Year 1 2009 Other Issues; City Implementation 1. Develop a comprehensive long range financial plan for the department. Work with Finance. Year 1 2009 2. Review the 303 Facility Fund and consider revising how the fund is • administered as related to the Fire Department. Have a committee of departments chaired by Mayor's Office lead 303 Fund (and CIP) Year 1 2009 3. Provide copies of the HR manuals as all fire stations. • Delegate to Human Resources Year 1 2009 4. Establish a process to regularly review and update HR policies.. Delegate to Human Resources Year 1 2009 New Training Captain will address New Training Captain will address New Training Captain will address New Training Captain will address Being done now; some issues remain to be resolved New Training Captain will address Implement by Fire Department management Restructure with committee of departments chaired by Mayor's Office to lead 303 Fund (and. CIP) Put on Tuknet Delegate to Human Resources EXHIBIT B Administration. Responses Fire Master Plan .Recommendations 8 -19 -08 Page 8 of 8 FIRE MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS DISCUSSION COSTS YEAR ADMINISTRATION POSITION 5. Develop and implement a retention plan for HR policies. Delegate to Human Resources Year 1 2009 Delegate to Human Resources CITY LEVEL OF SERVICE (LOS) ISSUES 1. Continue and adopt existing informal level of service of 5 minutes and 33 seconds response time 90% of the time throughout the City. Agree. (Work with City Attorney on expanded definition of LOS) Year 1 2009 Adopt broader definition of LOS (including time, services, personnel, e_ qument, others) 2. Improve toward target performance objectives of National Fire Protection Association 1719 standards as the community grows. Check on these standards Evaluate the impacts of these standards 3. Base decisions on "effective" population of 157,000, not census _population Recoup costs from existing investments in capital facilities where there is still capacity to serve growth (more than needed for existing service) Review Explore whether can do Year 1 2009 Year 1 2009 Evaluate impacts Support; determine how this could be done 4. EXHIBIT C 8 -19 -08 WORKSHEET for Administration Responses on Fire Master Plan. Recommendations SHORT TERM (2008 dollars) Capital Facilities Year 1 Place existing Aid Car in service 2009 Year 2 2010 Year 3 2011 Year 4 2012 Year 5 2013 Year 6 2014 Evaluate seismic upgrades to all stations Evaluate replace Station 54 M &O Promote Training Captain Hire replacement firefighter Promote Deputy Fire Marshal Add aid car personnel (3) Move CERT /PE position to Fire Add 2 civilian inspectors Add aid car personnel (3) Expense $100,000 /yr + car + office $80,000 /yr $105,000 /yr + car + office $240,000 /yr (experienced; new will be less) $80,000 /yr + car + office $160,000 /yr + cars + office $240,000 /yr (experienced; new will be less) Funding General Fund (Differential of $13,000; $80,000; $10,000; $240,000;$160,000; for total budget impact of $503,000) Levy Lid. Lift Evaluate remodel Station 51 Move ladder to Station 51 Purchase engine for Station 54 Evaluate replace Station 52 Evaluate replace Station 53 Promote 2°° Assistant Chief Hire replacement firefighter Evaluate need for 3 aid car personnel 18 -24 personnel for engine $120,000 + car + office ($14,000 /yr differential) $80,000 /yr $240,000 /yr $1.44M /yr or $1.92M /yr Levy Lid Lift Levy Lid Lift Levy Lid Lift Levy Lid Lift LONG TERM (GROW Funding Impact fees % City _ %, -- Impact fees _% City % Impact fees % City % Impact fees % City __ %, Impact fees % City % impact fees A City % Capital Facilities M &O Expense Year 1 2009 Year 2 2010 Year 3 2011. Purchase new aid car for Station 51 Year 4 2012 Evaluate relocate Station 51 Move ladder to Station 51? Purchase engine for Station 54? Evaluate relocate Station 52 Year 5 2013 Year 6 2014 Funding Impact fees % City _ %, -- Impact fees _% City % Impact fees % City % Impact fees % City __ %, Impact fees % City % impact fees A City %