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Agenda Report
May 6, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Fire Department
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A PURCHASE ORDER CONTRACT
WITH REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA FOR
PARAMEDIC EDUCATION FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$90,000
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Find that the recommended actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines per Section 15061(b)(3), the "Common Sense" exemption that CEQA only applies to projects that may have an effect on the environment;
2. Authorize the City Manager to enter into a purchase order contract with Regents of the University of California for Paramedic Education for seven (7) City Service Worker Paramedic Interns, for an amount not to exceed $90,000; and
3. Neither Competitive Bidding nor Competitive Selection are required pursuant to City Charter Section 1002(H) and Pasadena Municipal Code Section 4.08.049(8), contracts may be exempted from the competitive selection process where a determination is made that the best interests of the city are served by a direct award of a contract without a competitive selection process.
BACKGROUND:
The Pasadena Fire Department (PFD) is an "All Hazard" response agency which responds to all calls for public assistance including emergency medical service, fires, technical rescues and other hazards. In fiscal year (FY) 2023, the PFD responded to 21,624 call for service, of which 16,241 (75%) were medical-related emergencies.
Emergency response services throughout the U.S. and Statewide are trying to cope with a deepening paramedic shortage. Nationwide, the turnover rate for paramedics in 2021 was 27%. Additionally, many training programs were unavailable during the MEETING OF.^6/2024_AGENDA ITEM NO.7
Authorization to Enter Into a Purchase Order Contract with Regents of the University of California May 6, 2024
pandemic, decreasing the number of people able to become certified. The Paramedic shortage impacts response times, the quality of services provided to communities, and job satisfaction and performance of existing employees.
To address Paramedic recruitment and retention, the Fire Department launched its Paramedic Internship Program in FY 2023 and the City approved six (6) 0.50 FTE CSW Paramedic Intern positions. In FY 2024, an additional three (3) more 0.50 FTE CSW Paramedic Intern positions were approved. Through the Paramedic Internship Program, individuals are enrolled in an approved California paramedic training program and required to complete a field internship to become eligible for a California paramedic license. Interns will be highly eligible for upcoming Fire Department Academies. The Internship program features:
•
Local area recruitment preference
Eligibility / Target Age Range: 18-25 years
Paramedic Program Tuition sponsored by the Fire Department o Approximately 40 hours per week of coursework, didactic and clinical rotations
20 hours per week of field training with the Pasadena Fire Department, 1040 hours total annually
The Fire Department assessed over then (10) Paramedic Programs available in the Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties, and identified the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Paramedic Program as the most effective and cost- efficient program. The UCLA Paramedic Program is a 7-month program, and is the nation's first Accredited Paramedic program, with a 97% first time pass rate on the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) Exam. The cost of enrollment for each attendee is approximately $13,000 and includes a Preparation Program, a Psychomotor and Cognitive Exam, field/clinical shift rotations, and all related Program materials.
Paramedic education has evolved significantly over the last 10 years. The profession has transitioned from preparing technicians to educating clinicians to provide pre- hospital care. As Paramedic recruitment and retention continues to be a nationwide issue for Fire Departments, it is in the best interest of the City to invest in quality Paramedic education and preparation. This will help to lay the foundation for the future of the Department, and for the community.
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
The proposed contract furthers the City Council's strategic planning goal to ensure public safety and maintain fiscal responsibility and stability.
Authorization to Enter Into a Purchase Order Contract with Regents of the University of California May 6, 2024
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
The proposed action has been determined to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3), the "Common Sense" Exemption that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost of this action is $90,000. Funding will be addressed by the utilization of existing budgeted appropriations in the Fire Department General Fund operating budget account for Fire and Rescue Services (10131005-811400). There are no anticipated impacts to other operational programs or capital projects as a result of this action.
Respectfully submitted,
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CHADAUGUSTIN
Fire Chief
Fire Department
Prepared by:
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Stephanie Chang
Management Analyst V
Fire Department
Approved by:
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M16UEL MARQUEZ
City Manager