APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
__________________________
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. ______________ C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT NIKKI FORTUNATO BAS,
FIRE CHIEF REGINALD FREEMAN
RESOLUTION HONORING AND CELEBRATING DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF
MELINDA DRAYTON, MA, FSEDI, FOR HER LEADERSHIP, VISION,
SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF OAKLAND AND
CONGRATULATING HER UPON HER RETIREMENT
WHEREAS, Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas and Fire Chief Reginald Freeman, would like to take the opportunity to honor and celebrate Deputy Fire Chief Melinda Drayton for her leadership, vision, service and commitment to the city of Oakland and congratulate her on her retirement; and
WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Melinda Drayton began her service career with the City of Oakland in 1998 and was promoted through the ranks and most recently served as the Deputy Chief in charge of the Support Services Division which encompasses facilities, apparatus, contract compliance, legislative matters, capital improvement projects, fire communications and grant management; and
WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Drayton served as the Incident Commander for th e East Bay Incident Management Team deploying to disasters in both California and across the U.S. and also held a trustee position for I-women representing the Western Division; and
WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Drayton’s leadership has really shined in labor neg otiations and has assisted a variety of departments nationally and internationally with policies and best practices involving pregnancy, fertility issues, family care and birth bonding; and
WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Drayton was a leader in the emergin g understanding of the need to provide emotional wellness resources and care for post-traumatic stress injuries. Countless firefighters turned to Chief Drayton in their darkest hours, both for an empathetic ear and also for a fierce ally in navigating the complexities of the health care and worker's compensation system; and
WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Drayton, while serving as Interim Chief, played an important role in developing the new Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO) Program, bringing her personal and professional experience and commitment to improving
2 alternative crisis response efforts in collaboration with both city staff and community stakeholders; and
WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Drayton always worked to put the lives, safety, and health of firefighters at the forefront of her decision making, whether that meant fighting to maintain OFD's living quarters or writing policy to protect the rights of firefighters who were new or expectant parents; and
WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Drayton earned her Bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Cruz and has a Master’s degree in Sport Psychology from John F. Kennedy University; and
WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Drayton is the recipient of the prestigious Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI); now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: The City of Oakland and its residents have benefited tremendously from her leadership and are a healthier and safer city because of it; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Oakland City Council celebrates and honors the leadership, vision, service and commitment of Fire Deputy Chief Melinda Drayton to the city of Oakland and congratulates her on her retirement.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - FIFE, GALLO, KALB, KAPLAN, REID, TAYLOR, THAO AND
PRESIDENT FORTUNATO BAS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
ATTEST:
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the
City of Oakland, California
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