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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg 2020-04-06 Item 6B - Handouts Distributed at Meeting - Coronavirus (COVID-19): Fire Department Staffing Levels / Budget ImpactsTO: City Council FROM: Mayor Ekberg CC: David Cline, City Administrator Jay Wittwer, Fire Chief DATE: April 6, 2020 SUBJECT: Appropriate Staffing Levels for Fire Department due to COVID-19 Pandemic ISSUE The City has experienced a financial impact due to loss of sales and other taxes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fire Department has experienced a reduced call volume due to the COVID-19 pandemic and consistently receives a higher percentage of aid calls than ones for fire. The following information outlines the Mayor's directive for fire staffing during this pandemic. DISCUSSION Financial Impact - The City of Tukwila is expected to have a $6.1 million reduction in revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic between the start of the Coronavirus outbreak through May. That shortfall could grow depending on the duration of the pandemic. Recognizing this new reality, on March 25, 2020, the Mayor instituted a five part strategy to align the budget to these reduced revenues, which includes 1) a hiring freeze, 2) cancelling all travel, 3) furloughing part-time temporary staff, 4) eliminating transfers to capital project funds and 5) reducing overtime unless authorized by the Mayor. This directive was shared will all staff and elected officials in March. These reductions are estimated to save the City $4 million. There will be further reductions necessary to achieve the full $6.1 million savings needed through May. In addition, there is expected to be additional significant financial impacts caused by COVID-19 through the end of 2020. Current Staffing - The current Fire Department staffing model assumes staffing 3 fire engines and 1 ladder truck across the four stations with 13 personnel. It is recognized that more than 80% of calls to the Fire Department are for aid -related calls. When firefighters are on vacation, using Kelly days, and/or calling in sick, this engine -specific staffing model uses overtime to pay for firefighters to have 13 personnel on duty. As the Council knows, this overtime use has caused nearly $500,000 a year in overtime costs. Reduced Call Volume — Due to the "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" proclamation from Governor Inslee, fully effective March 25, the Fire Department has seen a decrease in INFORMATIONAL MEMO Page 2 overall call volume, with an additional emphasis for more aid calls than fire calls. Placing an aid car in service, instead of expensing overtime, is a better resource match for this change in service level. For example, March call volume was down 10% and April is expected to be down much greater as the residents and businesses fully comply with the "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" directive which is now extended through May 4tn The City's service volume is reduced as a result of more than 100,000 people no longer visiting our city for work, hotel accommodations, shopping, recreation, entertainment, and the like. For several years, the City has analyzed a more appropriate service standard of staffing 1 aid car instead of an engine, to better respond to the aid call volume. The most recent analysis shows that Fire Station 52 would be the most appropriate station to change this service level. This station has the least amount of calls, less than 3 per day. If an aid car was in service, it would move less than 1 call per day to another station, while still maintaining our overall City -adopted time response level. This data results from the recent Council request to bring in an outside review of the Fire Department. If this policy had been in place from January 2020 through March, on average, an aid car would have been in service 9 days per month. All shifts were staffed at a 3-person engine response during this time period. Cost Containment- To reduce overtime costs going forward, Fire Station 52 will continue to be staffed at a 3-person engine staffing level when staffing allows. However, if staffing levels need to be adjusted the Mayor has acknowledge the following, to be implemented by the Fire Chief: Minimum staffing levels are identified below, if necessary, to adjust down to as low as 10 personnel on duty for a 24-hour work period, effective April 1, 2020 to support Fire's staffing of two back-to-back 24-hour work periods per contract. a. Staffing of 13 firefighters or above — all fire stations fully staffed with minimum of 3 firefighters on shift with one BC on duty (BC to be staffed in all situations listed below). b. Staffing of 12 — Fire station 52 to staff at 2 personnel, Aid Unit shall be in service at FS 52, in place of an engine. c. If staffing drops further, inform the Mayor of this condition to seek authorization for overtime. OUTCOME As Mayor, I do not advocate closing down any station. Due to the financial impact to the City as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fire Department staffing needs to be adjusted, when necessary, as defined herein.