Public Safety Committee
December 12, 2023
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Jestin D. Johnson FROM: Damon Covington
City Administrator Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Services
at the Oakland International Airport
DATE: November 6, 2023
City Administrator Approval Date:
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Administrator To Amend The Memorandum Of Understanding Regarding Fire Protection And Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Services (ARFF) Between The City Of Oakland And The Port Of Oakland, To Extend The Term For Twelve Months To Allow The Oakland Fire Department To Continue To Provide Such Services At The Oakland International Airport
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Oakland Fire Department is seeking to amend the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Oakland and The Port of Oakland, to extend the current term for twelve months, to allow the Fire Department to continue providing rescue and firefighting services at the Oakland International Airport. This report provides a history of the contractual relationship and a foundation for the City Council to authorize the City Administrator to amend the MOU, which expires December 31, 2023. There is no additional cost associated with the recommended action.
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
In 1997, The City Council, via Resolution No. 73115 C.M.S., authorized the City of Oakland (City) to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Port of Oakland (Port) to provide fire protection and aircraft crash rescue services (ARFF services) at the Oakland International Airport (Airport).
In accordance with the MOU with Local 55 (the labor union representing the Oakland Fire Department’s firefighters), the Oakland Fire Department provides emergency response services at the Airport, with firefighters based at Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Station #22, located between the iconic Oakland International Airport Tower and its runways.
The City subsequently entered into several agreements to supplement the MOU to continue to provide ARFF services, the latest of which (the fifth supplement) expires on December 31, 2022
Jestin Johnson (Nov 28, 2023 20:47 PST)
Nov 28, 2023
2 Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Services at the Oakland International Airport Date: November 6, 2023
Public Safety Committee
December 12, 2023
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
The adoption of this resolution advances the citywide priority of ensuring holistic community safety, which includes ensuring the safety of millions of passengers which utilize the Oakland International Airport each year.
Prior to the COVID -19 pandemic (COVID -19), the City was in the process of commencing negotiations for a new MOU with the Port for the City to continue to provide ARFF services at the Airport. Since the onset of COVID-19, City staff and Port of Oakland resources have been stretched, such that completion of negotiations for a new long-term agreement with the Port was not feasible. In June 2020, both parties agreed that a one-year extension of the agreement was the best approach, and the City Council authorized a one-year extension.
On July 26, 2021, the City Council approved a three-month extension to the MOU for ARFF services with no other changes to it. At that time, staff explained that both the Port and City needed additional time to discuss with their respective bargaining units certain enhanced functions that would be required of ARFF personnel during the term of the extension .
Subsequently, t he Port and the City concluded those discussions with their respective bargaining units.
In September 2021, the City Council approved a 15 -month extension to the MOU for ARFF services with the expectation that the two sides would be able to agree on all terms for a new MOU before the expiration of the fifth supplement on December 31, 2022. The Fire Department is seeking an additional twelve-month extension to this existing agreement and using the same financial terms and ARFF services description to adopt.
In January 2023, the City Council approved an additional one-year extension of the MOU.
Meanwhile, r epresentatives from the Port and the Oakland Fire Department continue negotiations for a new, longer-term MOU, which would become effective on January 1, 2025.
In the interest of continuing to provide uninterrupted ARFF services at the Airport, City staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Administrator to amend the current MOU between the City and Port to extend the term for twelve months to allow the Oakland Fire Department to continue to provide such services at the Airport pending agreement on the longer proposed extension of the agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City has provided the Port with an updated budget outlining its current costs to provide ARFF services at the Airport.
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Services at the Oakland International Airport Date: November 6, 2023
Public Safety Committee
December 19, 2023
Extending the current agreement to provide ARFF services will not result in a negative fiscal impact to the City. Under the terms of the extension, the Port has agreed to pay the actual costs incurred by the City to provide the services in an amount not-to-exceed $10,250,000.
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
No outreach was deemed necessary for the proposed policy action beyond the standard City Council agenda noticing procedures, because the negotiation between the City and the Port of Oakland is ongoing.
COORDINATION
The Budget Bureau and the Office of the City Attorney were consulted in the preparation of this report.
SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES
Economic: There is no economic impact caused by the passage of this resolution.
Environmental: There is no environmental impact caused by the passage of this resolution.
Race and Social Equity: There are no racial or social equity impacts caused by the passage of this resolution.
4 Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Services at the Oakland International Airport Date: November 6, 2023
Public Safety Committee
December 12, 2023
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Administrator To Amend The Memorandum Of Understanding Regarding Fire Protection And Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Services (ARFF) Between The City Of Oakland And The Port Of Oakland, To Extend The Term For Twelve Months To Allow The Oakland Fire Department To Continue To Provide Such Services At The Oakland International Airport
For questions regarding this report, please contact Deputy Chief Matthew Nichelini at [email protected].
Prepared by Deputy Chief Matthew Nichelini
Respectfully submitted,
Damon Covington
Interim Fire Chief