Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: FEBRUARY 7, 2023
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: EDDIE MANFRO, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES PREPARED BY: EDDIE MANFRO, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Laura Giannetti-Mercer, Human resources manager II
SUBJECT: CLASSIFICATION PLAN UPDATE RELATING TO FIRE DEPARTMENT POSITIONS
SUMMARY
Proposed amendments to the City of Fullerton personnel classification plan to 1) merge the Plan Check Specialist - Fire and Fire Protection Analyst classifications and retitle to Assistant Fire Marshal / Fire Plan Examiner, 2) combine and revise the Fire Prevention Specialist I / II and Fire Prevention Inspector classifications and retitle them as the Fire Prevention Specialist Series, 3) revise the Fire Captain, Fire Engineer and Firefighter Trainee classifications and 4) eliminate the Hazardous Materials Specialist Trainee, Hazardous Materials Specialist I / II and Environmental Compliance Specialist classifications.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution No. 2023-XXX.
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-XXX - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA, UPDATING AND DELETING CERTAIN CLASS SPECIFICATIONS IN THE PERSONNEL CLASSIFICATION PLAN AND AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 2022-033 (FULLERTON FIREFIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION) APPENDIX A
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
None.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statements:
Fiscal and Organizational Stability
Public Safety.
FISCAL IMPACT
The follows lists the approximate fully burdened annual cost for the proposed revisions:
Assistant Fire Marshal / Fire Plan Examiner $168,000
Fire Prevention Specialist II $162,000
The impact for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 equals approximately $27,000. Staff projects these expenditures to remain within the approved department budget and may not request any budget adjustments this year.
The other classification plan changes have no fiscal impact.
DISCUSSION
Fire Captain and Fire Engineer
The City last revised the Fire Captain and Fire Engineer classifications in 2017. The proposed changes to the qualification guidelines and special requirements for both positions include updated language and modifications to the special requirements as well as revisions to outdated language.
Staff does not recommend a change in pay level or bargaining unit.
Firefighter Trainee
The City last revised the Firefighter Trainee classification in 2014. The City requires newly-appointed firefighter trainees to complete a Fullerton Fire Department (FFD) academy during which incumbents undergo training and instruction while developing their firefighting skills. The City does not assign incumbents to a station or allow them to respond to any call for service while in the academy. As such, they do not perform the full scope of firefighter duties. The City will reclassify incumbents to Firefighter and assign firefighting duties once the incumbent completes the FFD academy. The academy generally ranges from four to six weeks.
The time spent as a Firefighter Trainee counts toward fulfilling the one-year probationary period for Firefighter. The Fire Department requests that the City not consider this time as part of the probation for Firefighter as they do not perform the full scope of duties of a Firefighter. Additional changes include modifications to outdated language.
Staff does not recommend a change in pay level or bargaining unit.
Fire Prevention
Staff reviewed positions in the Fire Prevention Division for reorganization to align with the Fire Department restructuring and proposes the following changes :
Assistant Fire Marshal / Fire Plan Examiner
The Fire Department conducts fire plan check reviews and inspects new construction for fire compliance with applicable codes and regulations along with fire suppression duties. A Plan Check Specialist – Fire performs these duties. A Fire Protection Analyst enforces compliance with applicable codes, including the California Fire Code, and issues permits, notices and citations.
The Fire Department seeks to fold these responsibilities under one job classification due to the complexity of the above duties and the need for additional fire prevention, fire protection systems and overall community risk reduction support and retitle it as Assistant Fire Marshal / Fire Plan Examiner. This reclassification, along with modification to the Fire Prevention Specialist Series (below), will ensure efficiency and effectiveness of the Fire Prevention Division. The updates also provide additional pathways for career development which aids in personnel retention.
Staff recommends placing the Assistant Fire Marshal / Fire Plan Examiner at salary range 40 ($76,572 - $97,727) which equals the salary range for Fire Protection Analyst.
Fire Prevention Specialist Series
The Fire Prevention Specialist (FPS) classification consists of two levels – FPS I and FPS II. Incumbents perform technical fire prevention inspections and enforcement tasks to ensure compliance with applicable state and local fire safety codes and ordinances. An FPS I is and entry level position while the FPS II performs at a journey level. The City has a Fire Prevention Inspector classification along with FPS I / II. A Fire Prevention Inspector performing many of the same inspection duties of a FPS and investigates the cause of fires. The Fire Department requested combining these classifications to create a series, Fire Prevention Specialist I / II / III, allowing for greater staffing efficiency while supporting service priorities. Human Resources supports this change.
Staff recommends the salary placement of each position in the series as follows:
FPS I to remain at salary range 17 ($55,483 - $70,8012) FPS II to remain at salary range 23 ($66,182 - $84,466) FPS III to place at salary range 27 ($73,108 - $93,307), the same as the salary for Fire Prevention Inspector.
These changes and updates serve to provide a sound start to the rebuilding of the Fire Department. They allow for better and more accurately defined recruitment plans and aid in employee retention by providing additional promotional opportunities for new and existing employees.
Hazardous Materials Program
The FFD processed state-mandated hazardous materials disclosures and underground storage tank programs with within the City Until recently. The County of Orange Health Care Agency took responsibility for these functions in 2021. The Fire Prevention Division works cooperatively with the County on the required disclosures and City permits. This change eliminated the City’s need for the Hazardous Materials Specialist and Environmental Compliance Specialist classifications. Staff proposed removing them from the classification plan.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 – Draft Resolution 2023-XXX Class Plan Update Attachment 2 – Fire Captain Class Specification redline Attachment 3 – Fire Engineer Class Specification redline Attachment 4 – Firefighter Trainee Class Specification redline Attachment 5 – Assistant Fire Marshal/Fire Plan Examiner Class Specification redline Attachment 6 – Fire Prevention Specialist Series Class Specification redline cc: City Manager, Eric J. Levitt
Proposed Classification Plan Update
February 7, 2023 - Page 5