Joint Special Council/BFPD
07/1/24 06:00 PM
Fire Department
Heidy Riley
Amendment
Doc ID: 5695
AGENDA ITEM
AGENDA MATTER:
APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT (SIDE LETTER) TO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) WITH THE BARSTOW PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS' ASSOCIATION - UNIT 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The attached amendment (side letter) to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Barstow Fire Protection District (BFPD) and The Barstow Professional Firefighters’ Association (BPFA), Unit 5, is presented to the Fire Board for consideration and approval. The 2022-2025 MOU approved by the Fire Board includes skill pay compensation for BFPD employees who are required to possess a paramedic certification. Based upon the 2022-2025 MOU, paramedics are paid $575/month. The amendment to the MOU would increase the paramedic certificate skill pay to $1,000/month.
DISCUSSION:
The attached amendment (side letter) to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Barstow Fire Protection District (BFPD) and the Barstow Professional Firefighters’ Association (BPFA), Unit 5, is presented to the Fire Board for consideration and approval. The amendment to Article 29 – Skill Pay would increase the monthly certification pay for those employees who are classified in the Firefighter/Paramedic and possess the paramedic certification to $1,000/month. Currently, the paramedic certification skill pay adopted within the 2022-2025 Unit 5 MOU is $575/month. The increase to the paramedic certification is driven by continued discussions between BFPD Administration and the BPFA to address concerns in recruiting and retaining employees. Additionally, exit interview surveys have revealed that employees leaving the BFPD are mainly leaving for increased wages, including skills pays, and other benefits enhancements that are offered by other public agencies.
If approved, the increase to the paramedic certification stipend would become effective on Sunday, July 7, 2024. The proposed Unit 5 MOU amendment would not include any changes to the skill pays for emergency medical technicians, hazardous materials technicians, or rescue technicians certification pays. BFPD Administration has conferred with representatives of the BPFA (Unit 5) and both parties agree that the amendment to the MOU (side letter) that is being presented to the Fire Board represents the agreed upon term of compensation relating to paramedic certification skill pay.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Estimated fiscal impact in FY 25 is an annual increase of $45,900 for the additional paramedic skill pay of $5,100/year for each of the 9 budgeted Firefighter/Paramedic positions.Total overall paramedic certification skill pay for the 9 Firefighter/Paramedic positions will increase from $62,100 to $108,000.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the Barstow Fire Protection District’s Board take the following action:
1. Approve the Amendment to the 2022-2025 Memorandum of Understanding (side letter) between the Barstow Fire Protection District (BFPD) and the Barstow Professional Firefighters’ Association (BPFA) – Unit 5 pertaining to Article 29 – Skill Pay and the increase of paramedic certification pay increasing from $575/month to $1,000/month.