Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: OCTOBER 4, 2022
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: ERIC LEVITT, CITY MANAGER
PREPARED BY: ADAM LOESER, FIRE CHIEF
SUBJECT: FIRE CHIEF AND CITY COUNCIL RESPONSES TO THE 2022 ORANGE COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT
SUMMARY
The Grand Jury requires City Council review the Grand Jury report Findings and Recommendations and submit a response to the Superior Court Presiding Judge within 90 days of the report release. In addition, the Grand Jury requested the Fire Chief submit a response to the Grand Jury report Findings and Recommendations and submit a response to the Superior Court Presiding Judge within 60 days of report release. The City requested a six-month response extension until November 1, 2022 to accommodate the unique summer meeting schedule.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council approve the attached response to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
Staff requests approval of the attached letter which is consistent with other the responses from other agencies.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statements:
Fiscal and Organizational Stability
Public Safety.
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact.
DISCUSSION
The 2021-22 Orange County Grand Jury released the report WHERE’S THE FIRE? Stop Sending Fire Trucks to Medical Calls on May 20, 2022. This report makes Findings and Recommendations to each city that operates their own fire department and ambulance program including the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA).
The Grand Jury required City Council to provide responses to five Findings and three Recommendations and requested a response from the Fire Chief for the same number of Findings and Recommendations. Staff, including the City Manager and the Fire Chief, reviewed the Grand Jury Report and drafted responses accordingly. The City of Fullerton wholly disagrees with Findings 1, 3 and 5 and partially disagrees with Findings 4 and 9. The City will not implement Recommendation 1 because it is not warranted or reasonable and Recommendation 5 which is not applicable. The City has implemented Recommendation 4.
The Grand Jury report focuses on the evolution of fire department emergency medical response systems and the current relationship between the Orange County Fire Chiefs and Orange County Emergency Medical System (OCEMS) leadership. The findings are historical in nature and address current operational pressures. The proposed response to the Grand Jury acknowledges that the City of Fullerton Fire Department is a dynamic organization which continually evaluates the methods by which it provides fire and emergency medical services to our community. However, our current all-hazard delivery model is appropriate for the complexities of our city and the needs of our citizens and businesses.
Attachments:
Attachment 1: Orange County Grand Jury Report
Attachment 2: Proposed response letter to Superior Court Presiding Judge 2022 Orange County Grand Jury Report Responses
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