FEAS!BILITY STUDY
FOR THE PROVISION OF FIRE PROTECTION,
PARAMEDIC, MARINE, AND INCIDENTAL SERVICES
FOR
THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
BY
THE CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
January 2019
Apyrozte[ 6y Los Angefes County Eoar[ of Superaisors
februnry 19,2019
rIB€
APPENDIX F
FEASIBILITY'STtlDt'FOR SERI.ICES TO THE CITI'OF REDONDO BEACI:I B1'THE
CONSOLIDAT'ED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT' OF LOS AATGELES COUNI-''
TABLE OF CONTENTS
l. lntroduction
ll. Executive Summary 2
lll. City of Redondo Beach 4
lV. Proposed Operation by the Fire District... . , , ..........7 1 Vlll. Summary
Vl. Benefits of Annexation to the Fire District
Vll. Transition from City to Fire District
Appendices
Glossary of Terms
The Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County Additional Fire District Seruices
Annexation Process
13 21
25 Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
I
FEASIBILITY'STADY FOR SERIryCES TO TI]E CITI'OF REDONDO BEACIT B'' TI]E
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNT'' I. INTRODUCTION
ln accordance with the guidelines approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (Board) on July 1 3, 2010, for the preparation of such proposals, this feasibility study was prepared for the Board by the Fire District to outline the Fire District's preliminary recommendations for proposed statfing in the City and to provide findings regarding the following:
Reciprocal benefits to Los Angeles County and Fire District residents and businesses, as well as those of the City, including increased staffing and units that will be available to serve the Fire District and the City; a
Evaluation of any increased County risk exposures and costs, including but not limited to liability and workers' compensation benefits, to ensure that the fee structure would include a proportional charge for such costs to the City, and if appropriate, a charge back of any unique costs identilied for the City's contract; and Evaluation of the City's financial solvency based on the City's bond rating lf authorized by the Board, the Fire Chief will submit this feasibility study to the City for review. The City would then determine whether or not to proceed with negotiations for annexation to the Fire District, lf the City decides to proceed, it would be required to sign a Reimbursement Agreement that ensures payment to the Fire District of its costs for evaluating the City's facilities, equipment, and vehicles to determine potential one-time costs of conversion to Fire District operation.
lf negotiations with the City are successful, the Fire District would retum to your Board with final recommendations and request that the Board make application to the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to annex the City to the Fire District. Appendix D outlines the steps in the annexation process.
On June 19, 2018, the City Council ot the City of Redondo Beach (City), at the final public hearing on the City's proposed FY 2018-2019 budget, passed a decision package for obtaining a proposal from the Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County (Fire District) for the provision of Fire, EMS and Harbor Rescue services to the City. The city manager formally requested the Fire District provide a proposal to the City on July 1 1, 2018.
FEASIBILITI'STUDI'FOR SERTTICES TO TIfE CIT'' OF REDONDO BEACT{ B'' TI]E CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COI]NTI' II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Annexation of the City of Redondo Beach to the Fire District would provide reciprocal benefits to both agencies. The City would benefit from the Fire District's regional and specialized resources, and the Fire District and Los Angeles County would benefit from both the addition of two paramedic squads and the assessment quint that would be staffed within the City.
The Fire District has proposed two options for the provision of services to the City. ln both options, the Fire Districl would operate the City's three fire stations located at 401 S. Broadway, 24OO Grant Avenue and 280 Marina Way. The Fiscal Year 2018-19 estimated fee for Fire District service is $15 million under Option A, and $18.2 million under Option B. Under Option A, constant staffing in the City would include 2 paramedic assessment engines, 1 paramedic assessment quint, 2 paramedic squads, and one paramedic assessment harbor patrol/squad for a total of 16 unilormed personnel on duty daily. Under Option B, staffing would be at the same level as current City staffing which includes a third paramedic assessment engine for a total of 19 uniformed personnel on duty daily in the City, with the chief officers located in nearby stations outside of the City.
A service contract between the Fire District and the City would provide benefits to both agencies, including:
i Specialized Fire District resources, such as hazardous materials and urban search and rescue squads are constantly staffed and would be available to respond within the City as needed. Within approximately five miles of the City, 24 Fire District units are constantly staffed and would respond to maior or simultaneous incidents within the City. ! The two paramedic squads assigned to City Stations 1 and 2, as well as the paramedic assessment quint assigned to City Station 1, could serve as second-due units to neighboring Fire District areas.
L lmproved communications and efficient use of resources with the City and the Fire District's lifeguard operations working as a single entity, eliminating duplication of emergency medical services documentation and emergency responses, as well as the continued involvement by the Fire District's lifeguard operations participating in the City's community programs.
The Fire District's fee structure ensures that the city would pay its proportional share of costs associated with providing fire protection and emergency medical services, including expenses such as liability, worker compensation, and overhead. 2 FEASIBILITY'STUD'' FOR SERIIICES TO TT{E CIT'' OF REDONDO BEACH B'' THE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRTCT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTI' Specif ically, this study lound
1) The Fire District's rate structure for salary and employee benefits ensures the City would proportionally share in the workers' compensation costs associated with positions assigned to the City.
2) Transferring City employees would be required to leave retirement contributions on deposit with the California Public Employees Retirement System (CaIPERS) and establish reciprocity with the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA), limiting the Fire District's retirement benefit costs. The transfening employees' LACERA contribution rates would be based on their age upon entering the CaIPERS system. The Fire District's rate structure for salary and employee benefits includes a component for retirement costs for positions staffing City stations; therefore, the Fire District cost would be fee oflset.
3) The Fire District's overhead rate calculation includes actual liability costs incurred by the Fire District over the last five fiscal years. The proposed annual fee for the City would include a propodional amount of liability costs based upon City staffing costs. 4) As recommended by the Los Angeles County Office of the Auditor-Controller as a method in determining the solvency of a city, the City's bond rating was reviewed. The City's rating is currently an "AA+" (S&P), which is an indicator lhat the City would be able to meet its financial obligations.
Based upon the above evaluation, the following Board actions are recommended:
1) Authorize the Fire Chief of the Fire Districl to provide an approved copy of the Feasibility Study to the City of Redondo Beach.
2) Authorize the Fire Chief to begin the process of negotiations and, should the City Council decide to proceed, to execute a Reimbursement Agreement with the City to reimburse costs incurred by the Fire District to survey City equipmenVfacilities and other incidental costs incurred during negotiations. 3) Upon successful conclusion of negotiations with the City, the Fire District would report back to your Board to request adoption of a resolution making application to LAFCO for the annexation of the City to the Fire District. Upon LAFCO's approval of the annexation, the Fire District would return to your Board to request final approval of the negotiated annexation agreement as approved by the Redondo Beach City Council.
3 FEASIBILITY'STUD'' FOR SERT/ICES TO TIIE CIT-T'OF REDONDO BEACT{ BY THE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT' OF LOS ANGELES COUNT'' II!. THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
The City of Redondo Beach (City) is partially located along the Pacific coast and shares a common boundary with the District-served cities of Havythorne, Hermosa Beach, and Lawndale, as well as the cities of Manhattan Beach and Torrance.
I!." 9itY is mixed use but primarily residential with a population of 69,843 (2017) residents.
The city's primary attractions include the Municipal pier and sandy beaches. some of the pertinent statlstics of the City are:
Population:
Area:
Assessed Valuation:
Annual Fire Dept. lncidents in the City:
Redondo Beach Fire Department
]ne Qity Fire Department is comprised of 59 sworn employees and is administered by a Fire chief with three division chiefs, 16 captains, one oi which is assigned to Fire Prevention, 12 engineers, 24 firefighter paramedics, and three firefighlers, with constant daily uniformed staffing of 20. Non-sworn employees are comprised of one administrative analyst, one administrative specialisvpayroll, one plans examiner, one fire prevention officer/inspector, and one pan-time office assistant.
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t69,843 - Residential
6.3 Square Miles
$1 4,545,268,6 07 (2017)
7,420 (average)
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FEASIBILTTY'STUD''FOR SERIryCES TO TT{E CITI'OF REDONDO BEACIT BI'TITE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTIONDISTRICT OF LOS AATGELES COUNTI' The City Fire Department provides services from three tire stations. City Station 1 was built in 1959 and serves as the administrative headquarlers. lt houses one division chief, one paramedic assessment engine staffed with a captain, an engineer, and a fire fighter paramedic, one truck company staffed with a captain, an engineer, a firefighter paramedic, and a firefighter, and one paramedic squad staffed with two firefighter paramedics.
City Station 2 was built in 1959 and houses lwo engines each of which are staffed with a captain, an engineer, and a firefighter paramedic, and a paramedic squad staffed with two f iref ighter paramedics.
City Station 3 is a two-structure campus and serves as the base for the City's harbor patrol unit which is staffed with a boat captain and a fire fighter paramedic who also cross staff a paramedic squad assigned to this station. The main building was built in 2012 and currently has shared occupancy with the Los Angeles County Fire Deparlment Lifeguard Division. The older harbor office building was built in 1980.
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FE:ASIBILITY'STLIDI'FOR SERIlICES TO TT{E CIT'' OF REDONDO BEACI! BI" TT{E
CONSOLI DATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRTCT OF LOS ANGELES COUNT'' EMS Transport
The City contracts with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services for patient transport and basic life support (BLS) care which are provided by McCormick Ambulance.
For patients requiring advanced life support (ALS), one or more paramedics accompany the ambulance crew to the hospital. Fees collected by McCormick Ambulance for ALS care are remitted to the City.
Dispatch & Comm unications
The Redondo Beach Police Department staffs and operates the City's independent Communications Center which is the primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), providing call-taker and dispatch service to both the City's fire and police departments 24 hours a day.
ln August of 2016, the City entered inlo a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) Agreement with the lnteroperability Network of the South Bay (INSB), comprised of the cities of Torrance, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and El Segundo. The INSB will provide radio system coverage throughout the Area G jurisdiction and operate as a regional subsystem integrated with the City of Glendale-based lnteragency Communications lnteroperability System JPA. The shared regional INSB system will place its seven members and their field unit radios on the same radio platform expanding mutual aid communication and roaming coverage throughout the Area G region and beyond. This infrastructure model makes possible direct interoperability with law enforcement, fire, and local government agencies beyond the Area G region, including Burbank, Pasadena, Glendale, Pomona, Culver City, Beverly Hills and San Gabriel Valley cities.
Mutual Aid
Redondo Beach Fire Department has automatic aid agreements with the neighboring agencies of Manhattan Beach, Torrance, and El Segundo.
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FEASIBILITY'STUDI'FOR SERITICES TO TITE CITI'OF REDONDO BEACI{ BY' TITE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNT'' IV. PROPOSED OPERATION BY THE FIRE DISTRICT
OPTION A
Recommended Fire District Staffing Level
Station Operctions :
City
Station Equipment
Post
Positions a)
3 4
',
2 2
Paramedic Assessment Engine
Paramedic Assessment Ouint
Pararnedic Squad
Pararnedic Assessrnent Engine
Pararnedic Squad
Paramedic Assessment Harbor
Patrol/Squad
$2,257, 4 b)
1,966,381 ")
1,145,014 d)
2,257,614 b)
1,145,014 d)
1 ,754p04 el
J
2 Subtotal Station Operations $ 10,52s,641
$599,266
Fire Prevention Staffinq :
Fire Prevention Engineering Asst. ll (Plan Check)
Captain
Fire Fighter Specialist (lnspecto0
1.00 0.34
1.75 Subtotal Fire Prevention
Total Estimated Salary and Employee Benefits
Overhead 34.9382"/"
ESTIMATED 2018-19 ANNUAL FEE
a) Three persons staff each position through a 56-hour workweek. Station operalions costs include overtime required to maintain 24-hour constanl statfing.
b) The paramedic bonus cost lorthis unit is included in the paramedic squad cosl. c) Fire District will lund 33% of this resource due to the regional benefits of a truck resource. d) Fire Dislrict will fund 207. ol this resource due to the regional benefils of a paramedic squad. e) The paramedic harbor unit will be statled with a fire captain and fire lighter specialist paramedic. $ 1 1 ,124,907
3,886,842
$ 15,011 ,749
't
The Fire District has evaluated lhe fire protection and emergency medical service needs ol the City and developed the following two options for the proposed staffing level, resource deployment, and estimated 2018-19 annual fee structure for Fire District services.
Option A, which is based on the Fire District's regional staffing model, is comparable to other Fire District fee{or-service cities and proposes constant on-duty uniformed line staffing of 16 within the City daily. Option B is comparable to the City's current staffing model and includes 19 constant on-duty uniformed staffing in the City.
Estimated 2018-19
Clty Cost
1 $141 ,298
85,465
372,503
FLUSIBILITI'STAD'I FOR SERIICES TO THE CITI'OF REDONDO BEACH B'' TITE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT' OF LOS ANGELES COUNTI'
OPTION B
Based Upon Bedondo Beach Fire Department Statfing Level Station Operations :
City
Station
Post
Positions a)
Estimated 2018-19
City Cost
4 2
,1
3 2
2 Paramedic Assessment Engine
Paramedic Assessment Quint
Paramedic Squad
Paramedic Assessment Engine
Paramedic Assessment Engine
Paramedic Squad
Paramedic Assessment Harbor
Patrol/Squad
$2,257 ,614 b)
1,966,381 ")
1,145,014 d)
1 ,754,004 "r
Fire Prevention Engineering Asst. ll (Plan Check)
Captain
Fire Fighter Specialist (lnspector)
2 Subtotal Station Operations
1 .00
0.34 1.75
$141,298
85,465
372,503
$ 12,859,956
$599,266
$ 13,459,222
4,702,410
Subtotal Fire Prevention
Total Estimated Salary and Employee Benefits
Overhead 34.5382%
ESTIMATED 2018.19 ANNUAL FEE
a) Three pelsons stafl each position through a 56-hour workweek. Slation operatiorE costs include or/ertime required lo maintain 24-hour constant stafling,
b) The paramedic bonus costlorthis unit is included in the pararnedic squad cosl. c) Fire District will lund 33% of this resource du6 lo the regional benefits ol a l(rk resource, d) Fire D istrict will lund 20% of this resource due to the regional benelits ol a paramedic squad. e) The paramedic harbor unit will be stalfed with a fire captain and lire lighter specialist paramedic.
For both options, the first level of station management is a battalion chief. Battalion chiefs are routinely responded to all fires, traffic collisions with persons trapped, incidents involving law enforcement, bomb threats, certain emergency medical service calls, and hazardous materials incidents. The City's fire stations would be assigned to Battalion 18 which is headquartered at Fire District Station 161 in the City of HaMhorne. 8 Equipment
2,257,614 b)
2,334,3'15
1 ,145,014 d)
Fire Pretnntion Staftina :
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FEASIBILIT'' STUD'' FOR SERIIICES TO TITE CITI' OF REDONDO BEACI{ B}'T}fE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTI' Ambulance transpod within the Fire District is typically provided through private ambulance contracts administered by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) under the exclusive operating area arrangement. The City currently does not operate a transpod system.
OPTION A
City ol Redondo Beach Fire District Proposal
City
Station
Apparatus Type
Paramedic Assessment Engine
Paramedic Assessment Truck
Paramedic Squad
Division Chief
Staffing
3 4
2 1
Apparatus Type
Paramedic Assessment Engine
Paramedic Assessment Quint
Paramedic Squad
Staffing
1 4
2 2 Paramedic Assessment Engine
Paramedic Assessment Engine
Paramedic Squad
3 2
Paramedic Assessment Engine
Paramedic Squad 2
3 Paramedic Assessment Harbor
Patrol/Squad
2 Paramedic Assessment Harbor
Patrol/Squad
20 Total Daily Staffing 16
9 The Fire District would continue to staff the City's three stations with permanent, full-time firefighting personnel. Option A below is the Fire District's proposed station staffing as compared to the City's current configuration. Option B reflects the current City staffing level except that the chiel officer would be located at Fire Station 161 in Hawthorne. 2 Total Daily Staffing
Insurance Services Office (lSO) Fire Protection Class
This City's current ISO protection class is a rating of 2. lt would be necessary for the City to contact the ISO directly for clarification of whether or not their rating would be impacted by the annexation of the City to the Fire District and any resultant staffing level modifications.
FEASIBILIT'' STUDY FOR SERTryCES TO TI]E CIT'' OF REDONDO BEACH B'' TITE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF LOS
^IITGELES
COUNT''
V. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The annual fee, as described in this report, would fund all fire suppression, hazardous materials response, fire prevention, emergency medical services, and support functions such as dispatching, training, equipment maintenance, supplies, procurement, and all other services required for the effective operation of a modern fire department. However, special events held in the City which draw large crowds and which require augmented Fire District staffing may require reimbursement of any resultant overtime staffing costs from the City or event organizer.
The City would pay the annual fee directly from municipal funds. The annual fee would be prorated on a monthly basis; payments by the City would be due monthly in advance. lnterest would be added to any payment received after the due date.
Fire protection, hazardous materials, and emergency medical services would not be perlormed unless the City:
1) Has available funds previously appropriated to cover the annual fee; and 2) Has paid the appropriated funds to the Fire District.
Approximately 90 days prior to the upcoming Fire District fiscal year (July I - June 30), the Fire District would provide the City an estimate of the fee for the upcoming fiscal year.
When the Fire District has information available to determine the actual annual fee, the Fire District would present the City with a statement reflecting the difference between the actual and estimated fee. An adjustment representing that difference would be charged or credited to the City over the following 12 months in the subsequent fiscal year.
Annual Fee Payment Cap:
The minimum term of an annexation agreement between the City and the Fire District would be ten years. A five and one-half percent (5.5%) rollover payment cap would be placed on any increases to the City's annual fee each year for the first five years of the Agreement. This payment cap applies only to the City's annual fee payment amount (i.e., the salary, employee benefits, and overhead cost). Calculation of the rollover payment cap would not include any conversion costs, credits, rebates, etc., which may be factored into the City's monthly payment amount.
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Annual Fee for Fire District Services
The Fire District's estimated 2018-19 Annual Fee is comprised of salaries, employee benefits, and overhead costs for the proposed staffing level to be provided within the City.
This estimated annual fee amount can be compared to the City's current Fire Department budget, plus any Fire Department related costs incurred by the City that are not a part of the Fire Depadment budget, to project the amount of savings the City would have realized had it been annexed to the Fire District the entire fiscal year.
FEASIBILITI'STLTD'' FOR SERVICES TO THE CITI' OF REDONDO BEACH B'' THE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT' OF LOS ANGELES COUNTI' For the sixth year of the Agreement term, the payment cap would be the average of the immediately preceding four years' percentage increases in the annual fee plus one percent. For the seventh year of the Agreement and each subsequent year, the payment cap would be the average of the immediately preceding five years' percentage increases plus one percent.
Any year in which the City's annual fee payment amount exceeded the preceding year's payment plus the applicable payment cap, payment of the excess amount would be defened to a subsequent fiscal year when the increase in the annual fee payment for that fiscal year over the preceding fiscal year is less than the payment cap. The excess amount would be repaid by the City in any subsequent fiscal year to the extent the City's annual fee payment increase in that fiscal year is less than the excess amount for that fiscal year.
Workers' Compensationz
The Estimated 2018-19 Annual Fee (pages 7 and 8) is based upon Uniform Position Cost calculations which are comprised of both salaries and employee benefits for firefighter series positions. Workers' compensation costs are included as pan of those employee benefit calculations. The total estimated workers' compensation costs that the City would fund under Option A is $869,949, or $1,052,840 under Option B. Rates are updated annually to ensure all cities pay a proportional share of the Fire District's workers' compensation costs.
Liability:
The Fire District's overhead rate calculation includes actual liability costs incurred by the Fire District over the last five fiscal years. The overhead rate is charged as a factor to the total salary and employee benefits costs in the City. Therefore, the estimated annual fee for services each year would include the City's proportional share of liability costs. Based upon the Estimated 2018-19 Annual Fee, the total eslimated liability costs that the City would fund is $63,718 under Option A or $77,087 under Option B. Rates are updated annually to ensure all cities pay a proportional share of the Fire District's liability costs.
Fire District Special Tax:
The City would not be a part of the Fire District's special tax for fire and paramedic services.
Certain items of City apparatus, equipment, and facilities would require conversion, repair, upgrade, or replacement to be compatible with Fire District operations and meet Fire District standards. The City would be required to reimburse the Fire District for all expenditures made to convert the City's Fire Department to Fire District operations. A comprehensive evaluation and conversion cost estimate would be completed by the Fire District if negotiations are commenced. The City would be required to enter into a Reimbursement Agreement with the Fire District for the reimbursement of the costs incurred by the Fire District in completing the survey, which costs would total $24,000.
Conversion Costs:
FEASIBILIT'' STUDI'FOR SERI.ICES TO THE CI71'OF REDONDO BEACIT B'' TTIE CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF LOS AATGELES COUNT*' Revenues:
Fire Prevention fees imposed in the city and collected by the Fire District would be passed through to the City in the form of a credit on the City's annual fee for which the Fire District shall retain a 5% administrative cost.
Other revenues, if any, generated by the Fire District for its services would be revenues of the Fire District. Those revenues may include fees from hazardous materials inspections (cost recovery) or others. Revenues derived by the City for Fire District services such as business license inspections may be collected and retained by the City as long as they are not in conflict with any Fire District charges. Should the Cily undertake a City ambulance transport program, any revenues the City would derive from such a program would be retained by the City.
ln addition, the ambulance companies currently providing transport services for the Fire District levy a paramedic on-board fee on the Fire District's behalf whenever a Fire District paramedic accompanies a patient during transport to the hospital. The revenues received by the ambulance companies are reimbursed to the Fire District, who in turn provides a credit to the appropriate cities' annual fees. Likewise, any transports in the City for which paramedic on-board fees are received by the Fire District would be credited to the City's annual fee each year.
The annual fee for service is predicated upon the City's current service requirements and boundaries. To maintain adequate levels of service, increases in fire and emergency medical services resources may be required by the Fire District if City annexations occur.
Should the City annex additional territory, the City and the Fire District would need to assess resultant service needs.
The Los Angeles County Office of the Auditor-Controller recommends that as a method of determining a city's solvency, that a city's bond rating should be comparable to that of Los Angeles County's rating. Currently, the City of Redondo Beach has a bond rating of "AA+" (S&P), thus it is anticipated that the City would be able to meet its financial obligations to the Fire District.
ln recognition of the benefits to the areas served by the Fire District in proximity to the City, the Fire District would share in the cost of the paramedic squads assigned to City Stations 1 and 2, and the assessment quint assigned to City Station 1 under both Options. ln 2018- '19, the cost to the Fire District would be $1 ,541 ,022. t2
City Annexations:
Redondo Beach Solvencv Determination
Fire District Cost
FEASIBILITY'STLTDI'FOR SERI/ICES TO TI{E CIT'' OF REDONDO BEACH B'' THE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF LOS AAIGELES COUNT'' V!. BENEFITS OF ANNEXATION TO THE FIRE DISTRICT
Both the City and the Fire District provide outstanding fire protection and emergency medical seruices. However, the Fire Districl, due to its overall size and economy of scale, is able to provide a broader range of in-depth, quality services than most municipal fire depadments. There are cedain benefits to being part of a larger organization that strives to be an attentive and responsive hometown fire department to each of the cities and communities it serves. For a general overview of the Fire District, please see Appendix B Reqional Concept of Services Delivery
The Fire District operates under a regional approach in providing emergency services to its Fire District cities and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Some of the nearby cities and communities that are served by the Fire District include the unincorporated Del Aire, Wiseburn, and El Camino areas, and the cities of Hermosa Beach, HaMhorne, Lawndale, Gardena, and Palos Verdes Estates. To ensure the best response times possible, the closest available resource is dispatched to an incident, regardless of jurisdictional or municipal boundaries, thereby providing an oplimum level of service. Both the Fire District and the City would benetit from annexation of the City as follows:
a
a
With the Fire District also providing lifeguard services to the City, the seamless integration of the lifeguard and fire station operations by one agency would enable a more streamlined operation eliminating duplication of services and a more efficient use of emergency resources. Also, participation in community events would be integrated.
Benefit to the County:
The unincorporated communities of Del Aire, Wiseburn, and El Camino, as well as the cities of Hermosa Beach, HaMhorne, Lawndale, and Palos Verde Estates would benefit lrom the proximity of the two paramedic squads and the paramedic assessment quint in the City. Because paramedic squad jurisdictions cover a larger area than the first-in engine, the paramedic squads assigned to the City would enhance the level of paramedic service available to these areas. Likewise, a quint's jurisdiction covers a larger area, and the quint assigned to the City could serve as a second-due unit to neighboring Fire District areas.
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Benefit to the Citv:
The City would benetit from the 24 Fire District emergency response units located within approximately five miles of the City that would be available to provide enhanced responses to large incidents, and/or simultaneous incidents when the City's resources are assigned to other incidents (see table on page 18 for list of resources).
FEASIBILITI'STUDY FOR SERIryCES TO THE CIT'|'OF REDONDO BEACI:I Bt'TI{E
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTIONDISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTI' The following map shows the Fire District's jurisdiction that is within approximately five (5) miles of the three Redondo Beach fire stations. These areas would particularly benefit from the additional service that would be available by annexing the city to the Fire District. 006
Resoonse Times
The Fire District would respond from the city's fire stations on a "first-in" response. As a result, response times in the city would be the same as the existing response times.
Maior or Simultaneous lncidents
The city has addressed the need to respond to large, complex, or simultaneous incidents involving major loss of life or property through the use of automatic and mutual aid agreements. While these agreements can provide signilicant resources, emergency operations are less effective under these agreements than if City forces were an established part of the Fire District and all responding resources were under a unified command. Also, there is usually a dispatch "lag time" for automatic and mutual aid requests, which causes longer response times for assisting units. 170
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FEASIBILITY'STUD}'FOR SERI/ICES TO TI,IE CITI' OF REDONDO BEACH B'' TI.IE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTI' The fire service has recognized standards for the provision ol fire and emergency medical services. Some of these standards are dictated by federal or state regulations. Tasks such as commanding and coordinating responding units, operating fire equipment, searching for and rescuing trapped persons, laying out and attacking the fire with hoses, etc., must be done by an adequate number of properly trained and equipped staff. All the tasks must be accomplished in rapid sequence within very llmited and critical time frames. Criteria such as "prior to flash over," "confinement to building of origin," "prior to brain death," and "time to intervention" are applied.
The service configuration presented in this Feasibility Study, with supporting Fire District resources, provides strengthened numbers of trained staff to quickly perform required tasks within the City.
Response Matrix
The Fire District's Command and Control Division, Dispatch Services Center, utilizes standardized response prof iles to dispatch resources to emergencies. lnitial response for a building fire is dependent on the required fire flow in gallons of water per minute necessary to extinguish the fire. Following are a few examples of the Fire District's typical response to reported fires:
lnitial Commercial Response: The standard initial response for a commercial building fire includes the following units:
5 Engine Companies
2 Ladder Truck Companies
1 Paramedic Rescue Squad
2 Battalion Chiefs
lf the initial response does not provide the necessary resources, greater alarms may be requested by the incident commander.
Commercial Third-Alarm Response: The standard third-alarm response for a commercial building fire includes the following:
13 Engine Companies
6 Ladder Truck Companies
2 Paramedic Rescue Squads
1 Hazardous Materials Task Force (engine and squad)
1 Mobile Air Unit
1 USAR Task Force (engine and USAR squad)
6 Battalion Chiefs
2 Assistant Chiefs
1 Deputy Chief
Additional resources, including various specialized pieces of equipment, technical teams, etc., may be requested by the incident commander. When it is anticipated that an l5
Fire Ground and Emerqencv Ooerations
engine company would be out for 30 minutes or more in designated critical coverage areas, companies are automatically dispatched to "move-up" to pre-designated vacant stations near the greater alarm incident so that coverage is available for any subsequent emergency.
Seventy-three (73) paramedic rescue squads are strategically assigned among the Fire District's 173 tire stations. Paramedic rescue squad personnel provide advanced life suppod, including drug therapy and sophisticated medical procedures, in addition to their basic firefighting duties. ln 2005, the Fire District instituted the 12-Lead Electro-cardiogram (ECG) Program, The primary goal of this program is to improve patient care and outcomes by immediately correlating the chief complaint, clinical presentation, transport decision, and hospital intervention. The Fire District has the capability of responding numerous additional paramedic squads lo an incident or area when a high demand lor service occurs.
ln appropriate locations, the Fire District operates paramedic engine companies and paramedic assessment engines to increase the optimum use and efficiency of personnel.
A paramedic assessment engine has one qualified paramedic firefighter who can perform more advanced care, such as heart monitoring and interpretation of cardiac rhythms, manual defibrillation and synchronized cardioversion, intravenous (lV) therapy, and advanced pharmacology drug calculations and administration. A paramedic squad is simultaneously dispatched with the paramedic assessment engine to provide additional paramedic support and aid with transport, il needed.
Hazardous Materials Services
The Fire District provides hazardous materials response services to all of its jurisdictional area and, upon request and availability, to cities oulside the Fire District's jurisdiction. The Fire District constantly staffs three hazardous materials task forces which are strategically placed within the Fire District's central, east, and north regions and staffed with a fourperson engine company and a five-person Hazardous Materials Squad. Hazardous materials task force personnel are trained to identify and deal with a hazardous materials release or potential release on emergency incidents.
Related Services
The Fire District conducts a variety of public service, educational, fire prevention, and related programs such as: the Explorer Program which introduces young people ages 15 through 21 to the fire service as a possible career through training and pafiicipation in actual situations; Hands Only CPR/Sidewalk CPR; the Community Emergency Response Team which provides training to members of the community to prepare for and learn how to assist others during a disaster; and the Yogi Bear schoolhouse earthquake simulator, which provides earthquake preparedness training.
The Fire District also provides ocean lifeguard, forestry, hazardous materials regulation, and other health and safety related services.
l6
FEASIBILIT'' STLTDI'FOR SERI.ICES TO TI,IE CIT'' OF REDONDO BEACH B'' TITE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY Paramedic Services
FEASIBILITY'STUD'' FOR SERI.ICES TO TI,IE CITI' OF REDONDO BEACI T B'' THE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTL' Patient Transport
The Fire District provides pre-hospital paramedic and emergency medical services, including Advanced Life Support (ALS). The Fire District does not provide ambulance transportation. Patients are transported to the hospital utilizing private ambulance service under contract with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, using the exclusive operating area arrangement. Fire District firefighter paramedics accompany the patient in the ambulance if needed for patient care. The private ambulance firm charges the responsible private party for transportation including a charge for the paramedic who aids in the transport. Revenues collected for the paramedic on board the ambulance are passed through to fee-for-service cities.
Fire Prevention
Fire District fire prevention and related services are provided by both the Prevention and Operations Bureaus as follows:
. Building inspections for all commercial, industrial, high-rise, and multi-residential occupancies.
. Fire prevention inspections in connection with the issuance of business licenses, at the request of the City.
. lnspection of schools and inslitutional occupancies.
. Dwelling brush clearance inspections.
. Public education programs.
. lnvestigation of all fire hazard complaints, such as arson, from area residents. . Review of all building plans, subdivisions, conditional use permits, zone changes and water system improvement plans.
. Review of applications for lilming and special elfects permits, sets requirements and conducts inspections at filming locations to ensure public safety and compliance with the Fire Code.
The Fire District will negotiate with the City regarding participation in any one-stop plan check programs which the City may wish to continue. The nearest Fire Prevention otfice that would serue the City is located in the City of Hawthorne al 4475 W. El Segundo Boulevard.
The Fire District has 14 fire stations, housing 24 units that are staffed daily with 69 firefighters, within approximately five (5) miles of the City which would provide direct and support service underthe regional service delivery concept. The following chart lists all of the resources:
Neiqhborinq Fire District Resources
t1
FEASIBILITY'STUDY'FOR SERI.ICES TO TITE CITI! OF REDONDO BEACIT B'' TITE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF LOSANGELES COUNT'' Fire District Stations and Resources within Five Road Miles of the Nearest City of Redondo Beach Boundary
-Paramedic unit
The following map depicts the location of Fire District stations localed within five miles of the City's borders:
J.-J
2 X X 5 0.38
6 X x 5 3.94
18 4 3.34
21 X x 0.88
95 X 4 4.50
'100 x X 5 0.68
106 X X X 9 4.82
158 x X 6 2.83
'159 X- 3 3.57
160 X 0.90
161 X X 6 1 .87
162 X 3 3.80
-t70 X x 6 4.90
171 X X 5.00
14 4 12 I 69 TOTALS
Ta- -Lt\
I
t8
o
)
a
a
U
----I-l
Ouint
E ngine
Company
Approx. Distance From
Station to Nearest
Citv Boundarv (Miles)
Paramedic
Rescue
Squad
Post
Position
Staffinq
o
FEASIBILITY'STUDY FOR SERI.ICES TO THE CITI'OF REDONDO BEACIT B'' TI,IE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES CO UNTI' Move-Up Coveraqe
Fire District policy requires automatic engine company "move-up" coverage of any designated critical coverage city station when the jurisdictional engine is committed to emergencies anticipated to last 30 minutes or more. Due to the proximity of the City to neighboring Fire District resources, in the event the City's resources are anticipated to be committed on an incident for prolonged period of time, a Fire District resource assigned to a station outside the City would be used to move up and cover a designated City station.
Dispatching for Fire District units in the City would be provided from the Fire District's Fire Command and Control Facility located at 1320 North Eastern Avenue, Los Angeles. Fire communications specialists staff the facility, all of whom are Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMDs). They are trained to provide lifesaving instructions over the phone while persons are waiting for the arrival of emergency units. lf the City annexes to the Fire District, the "911" emergency repofting system would remain in effect. A direct computer link and a direct telephone (ring-down) line or "speed dial" system would be maintained between the City's PSAP and the Fire District's Fire Command and Control Facility.
All Fire District emergency vehicles contain mobile data computers (MDCs) and automatic vehicle locators (AVLs) for the most efficient communication and allocation of resources.
Command and other appropriate units use cellular phones in addition to radios.
Recognizing that constant liaison is essential between the City and its fire depadment, the area Assistant Fire Chief, who is located at Fire Station 158 in the City of Gardena, along with his community services representative, would maintain a day-to-day working relationship with the City Manager and, through her/him, the City Council. The Assistant Fire Chief would be responsible for representation at meetings called by the City Clerk, meetings of the City Council, and other City staff meetings where Fire District input is needed. The Assistant Fire Chief would act as the personal representative of the Fire Chief of the Fire District on all daily operations between the City and the Fire District. l9
Automatic Aid
The Fire District utilizes automatic aid agreements with other fire departments to provide the most expeditious response to designated areas on a day-to-day basis while maintaining a reciprocal exchange of services. The Fire District would continue lo participate in the City's existing automatic aid agreements and mutual aid programs if the City were to annex to the Fire District. Modifications would be made as appropriate.
Dispatch and Communications
Coordination Between Citv and Fire District
FEASIBILITI'STUDI'FOR SERI.ICES TO TIIE CITY'OF REDONDO BEACI{ BI'TITE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY Emeroe ncv Preparedness
lnternal City emergency management, programs, and responsibilities would remain with the City.
Public Education
Community and school education programs are provided as a Fire District service by local fire stations, assisted by the regional Community Services Liaisons.
Fire Cause and Arson lnvestiqation
Fire cause determinalion services are provided by the Fire District. According to established policy, either the engine company officer, Battalion chief or, if necessary, the Fire lnvestigation Unit conducts an initial investigation and establishes the cause of the fire.
Should the cause be determined to be arson, the Fire District's arson investigation service would handle the investigation assisted by the City Police Department.
Hazardous Materials Proqrams
The city currently contracts with the Fire District to administer the city's Hazardous Materials Program. lf the city were to annex to the Fire District, this would remain unchanged.
Hvdrants
The Fire District would annually inspect all fire hydrants within the City to ensure that they are mechanically operable and capable of delivering water in accordance with standard Fire District policy. The Fire District would notify the California Water Service, in writing, of any maintenance requirements as soon as possible after such inspections and at any other time the Fire District becomes aware of maintenance or repair requirements. The Fiie District would maintain liaison with the City's water service provider for water needs during emergencies and routine functions.
Additional Fire District Services
See Appendix c for additional details regarding services provided by the Fire District 20 FEASIBILITY'STUD'' FOR SERI'ICES TO TTTE CITI'OF REDONDO BEACH B'' TITE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNT'' V!I. TRANSITION FROM CITY TO FIRE DISTRICT
The California Health and Safety Code (Section 13861) and the California Government Code (Sections 53292 and 55632) provide the legal authority for the Fire District to turnish services to the City and to blanket in or appoint City Fire Department personnel to Fire District status. Ultimately, the blanketing in of personnel is subject to ioint agreement between the City Council and the Board of Supervisors, the details of which would be specified in an agreement for services.
Firefighting personnel with less than six months' service with the City at the time of transfer to the Fire District, as well as trainees, reserves, auxiliaries, cadets, and fire fighter apprentices, could nol be brought in as Fire District employees. Positions and salaries of all personnel blanketed in to the Fire District would be specified in the agreement for services between the City and the Fire District. There would be no reduction in salaries of City fire fighters blanketed in as Fire District lire fighter series employees. City paid bonuses would be reviewed for possible inclusion in Fire District salaries.
Appointment of non-uniformed civilian or non-medically qualified fire fighters for non-safety positions is subject to Fire District needs and negotiation and would require a probationary term for any of these employees.
All personnel would be subject to a medical examination, drug screening, and an appropriate personnel review prior to acceptance as Fire District employees. Those not qualifying would remain the obligation of the City.
All employees blanketed into the Fire District would receive benefits now provided to Fire District personnel. All time spent in rank as City/Fire District employees would be considered for purposes of determining benefit accrual except for retiree health insurance premiums, Some of the prevailing benefits and conditions are vacation time, holidays, sick leave, retirement plan, and group insurance.
So that no employee is transferred to the Fire District without any available benefit time, the City would be required to transfer to the Fire District for each employee, to the extent the employee is entitled to such benefit time in City employmenl, a maximum of 20 vacation days, or 10 shifts, whichever is applicable, and 12 sick days, or 6 shifts, whichever is applicable.
lt
Citv Personnel
Personnel costs associated with annexation of the City to the Fire District including transfer of any sick and/or vacation time as discussed below, would be defined during the negotiation process.
Benefit Time
FEASIBILITT'STUDYFOR SERI.ICES TO THE CITY'OF REDONDO BtulCI:I BY TIIE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNT'' The City would reimburse the Fire District for transferred benefit time at City salary rates.
All remaining benefit time, such as vacation days, holidays, sick leave, etc., accrued prior to the employee's transfer to the Fire District would remain as obligations of the City. All City employees would be subject to the Hospital lnsurance Tax and any other applicable federal regulations.
CaIPERS/LACERA Retirement
A sworn City employee transferring to the Fire District would become a LACERA member on the first day of the month following the transfer of service to the Fire District. CaIPERS and LACERA retirement systems are reciprocal. A transferring City employee would leave his or her retirement contributions on deposit with CaIPERS and establish reciprocity. The member's LACERA contribution rate would be based on his or her age upon entering the earliest reciprocal system.
Service with CaIPERS or other reciprocal system is not used to determine the amount Los Angeles County contributes towards the members' retiree health insurance premiums.
Probation
Any Clty employee on probation on the commencement date of service by the Fire District would remain on probation until the Los Angeles County probation requirement for the respective rank is met.
Promoted Positions
current policy of the Fire District is to accept only as many officers and other promoted personnel as there are positions created within the Fire District as a result of the City's annexing to the Fire District. The City would be required to designate the following number of promoted positions and the remaining firefighting members would be blanketed in as fire fighters:
OPTION A Captains 12
FireFighterSpecialists/Engineers 13
OPTION B Captains 15
FireFighterSpecialists/Engineers 16
All personnel designated for promoted positions must be duly qualified to hold those positions.
22 At the time of retirement, a reciprocal member would receive retirement benefits from both agencies based on the benefits of reciprocity, such as adding service credit under each system to determine eligibility to retire and using the highest earnings under either system to calculate benefits from both.
FEASIBILITY STLTD'' FOR SERI.ICES TO TI]E CITI'OF REDONDO BEACTI B'' TT,IE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNT'' Senioritv
The annexation of the City to the Fire District would create 49 additional Fire District sworn positions under staffing Option A; thus, the 49 uniformed personnel with the highest City Fire Depaflment seniority would receive seniority rights based on service time with the City Fire Department. Under Option B, 58 additional Fire District sworn positions would be crealed and 58 uniformed personnel with the highest City Fire Department seniority would receive seniority rights based on service time with the City Fire Department. Any remaining transferring employees would be assigned a seniority date consistent with the effective date of transfer and placed on the Fire District's seniority list in order of their relative service time with the City Fire Department. As those transferring uniformed employees with full seniority status leave Fire District service, the other transferring uniformed employees would be assimilated into full seniority status based on their total time in service as uniformed City/Fire District employees.
Employees would be eligible for promotional examinations within the Fire District without regard to the normal six-month period applicable to new employees. All time spent in rank as City/Fire District employees would be considered for purposes of determining eligibility for promotional examination.
The City would transfer to the Fire District its interest, right, and title, which shall be free and clear, in specified pieces of vehicular equipment which would be necessary for the operation within the City by the Fire District. Major fire equipment or other equipment essential to the operation of the vehicles or stations would also be transferred. All vehicles and major equipment transferred would be specified in an agreement for services negotiated by the City and the Fire District. Expendable equipment, tools, fixtures, furnishings, supplies, and all items incidental to the operation of the Fire Depadment would also be transferred but not specified. This includes all items currently in possession or assigned to the City Fire Department unless specifically excluded.
The method by which any vehicles leased by the City would be transferred would be addressed in an agreement for services. An agreement for services would also specify the disposition of the equipment and vehicles transferred in the event the agreement is terminated. Unless negotiated otherwise, the Fire District would return comparably aged vehicles to the City upon termination of service.
Citv Fire Department Facilities
lf the City were to annex to the Fire District, the City fire stations would be occupied by the Fire District. The Fire District would lease the City fire stations for $1 per year per facility.
For the first five years, lire station mainlenance and minor repairs would be the responsibility of the Fire District to the extent of $50,000 per station for the first year, and would increase by 10% each year until the sixth year. All repairs in excess of the Fire District's annual share would remain the responsibility of the City. Beginning the sixth year, 23 Citv Equipment
FEASIBILITY'STUD'' FOR SERI/ICES TO TI.IE CIT'' OF REDONDO BEACIT B'' TI-IE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF LOS AATGELES COUNT'' all fire station minor repairs and maintenance would be the responsibility of the Fire District, and major repairs ($100,000 and over) and/or replacement would remain the responsibility of the City.
Landsca Maintenance
All routine maintenance of the landscaping at the City fire stations would be performed by Fire District fire station personnel.
The City would retain all responsibility for any existing or previously removed underground fuel tanks located at the City's fire stations. The City's apparatus are fueled at the Redondo Beach city Yard. lf agreeable to the city, the Fire District would continue fueling at this location. Costs and procedures for the purchase of fuel by the Fire District would be negotiated.
Site Assessments
Priorto the commencement of services by the Fire District, the city would be required to have performed an Electromagnetic Field Survey, a Phase I Site Assessment and Building Asbestos Survey, and a Phase ll Site Assessment, if subsequently required, for the City's fire stations. The site assessments would be conducted by a Ca|-OSHA registered environmental assessor who would determine if asbestos, fuel, lead paint, or other environmental contaminants or hazards are present.
All site assessment reports would be reviewed by the Fire District and its environmental services consultants to determine if pertinent standards have been met or if further mitigation measures are required. The city would be required to mitigate and abate all environmental hazards and provide evidence to the Fire District that all recommended measures have been completed and that all applicable laws and requirements have been complied with. Any residual contaminations discovered any time after Fire District occupancy would be the responsibility of the City to abate.
All costs relating to Phase I and ll site assessments and hazard abatemenvmitigation measures would be bome by the City.
wirhdrawal f rom the Fire District
An annexation agreement entered into by the city and the Fire District would be for a minimum term of ten (10) years. Should the agreement be terminated by either party subsequent to the initial term, the distribution of assets would be determined as defined in the agreement. The Fire District would not be obligated to return to the City any item such as apparatus, vehicles, furnishings, equipment, tools, or other personal property for which a monetary or in-kind credit was given to the City.
Fuel Tanks
24 FEASIBILITY'STAD'' FOR SERI/ICES TO TI,IE CIT'' OF REDONDO BEACI.I B'' TIfE
CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OFLOS ANGELES COUNTY' VIII. SUMMARY
Annexation of the City of Redondo Beach to the Fire District would result in the City becoming an integral part of an organization that provides quality service to 59 cities and the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County through a regional fire protection system Under this regional concept, fire stations are strategically located throughout the service area, ensuring the most efficient use ol resources for response to alarms.
All three of the City's fire stations would be occupied by the Fire District. Daily, on-duty staff ing would total 1 6 in the City under Option A, and 19 under Option B. A total of 69 daily, on-duty staff, located within approximately five (5) miles of the City's boundaries, would also be immediately available for fire, hazardous materials, and medical emergencies within the City.
Participation in the Fire District offers a means for the City to provide and maintain a very high level of emergency services. lt also affords the Fire District enhanced coverage to the unincorporated communities of Del Aire, Wiseburn, and El Camino, as well as the Fire Districlserved Cities oI Hermosa Beach, HaMhorne, Lawndale, Gardena, and Palos Verdes Estates. Based on the proposed operation by the Fire District, the City's estimated 2018-19 annual fee would be $1 5 million under Option A, or $18.2 million under Option B.
The initial agreement term of any service agreement would be a minimum of ten (10) years.
25 ALS
ASSESSMENT ENGINE
BLS
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
CITY
CITY COUNCIL
FIRE DISTRICT
EMS
EMT-1
EMT-D
GLOSSARY
Advanced Life Supporl including emergency care by a
certified paramedic (EMT-P)
The staffing on a Paramedic Assessment Engine includes
one fire fighter paramedic. ln addition to the care that EMTs provide, an assessment engine can provide advanced EMS
care such as: heart monitoring and interpretation of cardiac rhythms, manual defibrillation and synchronized
cardioversion, lV therapy, and advanced pharmacology drug calculations and administration. A paramedic squad is
dispatched simultaneously with an assessment engine to
assist with patient care and follow up at a receiving hospital, if necessary.
Basic Life Support including emergency care provided by an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-1 )
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Board of
Directors of the Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County.
the City of Redondo Beach
the City Council of the City of Redondo Beach
The Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County, also commonly referred to as the Los Angeles
County Fire Department
Emergency Medical Services
Emergency Medical Technician D - personnel certified to pedorm basic life support and first aid, and to operate an automatic defibrillator. Currently, all engine and truck companies carry automatic external defibrillators and their personnel are certified at the Emergency Medical TechnicianDefibrillator (EMT-D) level.
APPENDIX A
Emergency Medical Technician 1 - personnel certified to perform basic life support and first aid.
LACERA
LAFCO
PARAMEDIC ENGINES
QUINT
TRUCK
GLOSSARY
Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association
Local Agency Formation Commission
The usual staffing on Paramedic Engines is four, which
includes two fire fighter paramedics. ln addition to the care that EMTs and the single paramedic on assessment engines can provide (see above), the two paramedics on a paramedic engine can calculate and administer controlled drugs.
Paramedic engines also maintain a disaster cache with
medical inventory for chemical and biological acts of
terrorism. Paramedic engines pedorm patient follow-up, if necessary, lo a receiving hospital. A paramedic squad is not dispatched with a paramedic engine.
A fire service apparatus that serves the dual purpose of a ladder truck and also functioning as a pumper, carrying a water tank.
A fire service apparatus designed with ladder capabilities and rescue tools such as the "laws of life."
THE CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
The Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County was established in 1949 and is a "special district" under California law. Pursuant to California Government Code Section 55632, the Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles County, as the governing body of the Fire District, may contract with any other neighboring city, county or fire protection district for the furnishing of lire protection to such other agency.
Population and ResourceS
The Fire District serves approximately 4 million people in 59 cities and all of the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. The Fire District is a nationally recognized fire department that provides a variety ol high-quality emergency and safety related services.
The Fire District operates 173 fire stations with 164 staffed engine companies, 33 truck companies which are quint apparatuses that have both pumper and ladder truck feature, four light forces, which are comprised of both an engine and truck company that respond in tandem; four hazardous materials response squads; two urban search and rescue task forces; three staffed paramedic air squads (with the capability of stalfing an additional five air squads); and 72 paramedic rescue squads. ln addition, numerous support services and special pieces of equipment are utilized.
Orqanizational Structure
The Fire District's organizational structure is as follows:
Fire Chief
Chiel of Starl
Sc(]atary Special Asrastant
Offac€ o,
Emer8ency
M.natemeht secrlon
Plannint Daviiion
Employe. Services
s.ctlon Grants 5€ction
Emer3ency Operations Business Op.ratlons t€.de.ship & Proression.l 5landards Euaeau
T.ainlng 5ervi.es
Olvlrlon
Prolaa.n
EM5 Bureau
Homel..d SeG!raty
Se€tion
Oel Valle Sectaon
Risl
Sactlon C.ntrrl
8urcau
East
Op€.atlonr
Admlnlrtratlvc
guaaau
Special
R.l.tlont
O.3.nl.ational
Olvlrlon
APPENDlX B
trccuiive 5uppon
Dlvlsloh
Sectaon
r
THE CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
For efficient managemenl, the Fire District is divided into eight functional bureaus, each commanded by a Deputy Chief:
o Central. East. and North Reqional Operations Bureaus: The firefighting, hazardous materials emergency response and emergency medical forces of the Fire District are assigned into these three Regional Operations Bureaus. These forces are divided into nine field divisions, each under the command of an Assistant Fire Chief. Each field division is composed of two to three battalions.
Each battalion is made up of six to twelve fire stations and is supervised 24 hours per day by a Battalion Chief. The Battalion Chief provides overall supervision and administrative control of the stations and is the first line of management responsible for dealing with union-represented employees. An on-duty Fire Captain is assigned to each engine and truck company. The Fire Captain supervises the station and is responsible for the fire prevention and suppression, emergency medical, and other emergency and routine services lhat are provided within the station's lurisdictional area.
The City of Redondo Beach would be included in the Central Regional Operations Bureau.
The Deputy Fire Chief in command of the Central Regional Operations Bureau is localed at Fire Station 171 in the City of lnglewood. The local Assistant Fire Chief is located at Fire Station 158 in the City of Gardena.
. Prevention Services Bureau: Comprised of the Prevention, Health/Hazardous Materials, and Forestry Divisions.
Special Services Bureau: Comprised of the Command and Control, Fire Fleet Services, and Construction and Maintenance Divisions.
a
a
Administrative Services Bureau: Com prised of the Human Resources, Financial Management, Materials Management, and lnformation Management Divisions Leadership & Professional Standards Bureau: Comprised of the Privacy and Access Program, Recruitment Unit, Professional Performance Section; Del Valle Section, ReturnTo-Work Section, Risk Management, Employee Relations, Training Services, and Organizational Development Divisions.
Emerqencv Medical Servtces (EMS) Bureau: lncludes a full-time Medical Director, and is responsible for paramedic training, certification, equipment, quality improvement, and legal aspects for all basic and advanced emergency medical services.
The Fire Dislrict operates four regional training centers. A newly hired Fire District employee is given approximately 20 weeks of intense training at the Fire District's training centers. our training system is designed to ensure that only highly trained firefighting personnel are available for all emergency and non-emergency duties. ln addition to basic firelighting skills, the recruit fire fighter is trained for medical emergencies and is certified as an EMT-.1 and EMT-D. For one year after graduation, the employee is on probation and is rated monthly on training progress. The probationary fire fighter receives daily drills and must pass a final examination before being approved for permanent employment. ongoing training for all personnel is accomplished by mandatory, daily, two-hour drills.
Personnel are continually introduced to new or improved emergency and non-emergency procedures.
APPENDIX C
ADDITIONAL FIRE DISTRICT SERVICES
Traininq
Technical Expertise
schools and lnstitutions - conducts inspections of schools and institutional type buildings.
Area Offices -
occupancies, pu
plan checks.
p.9 flre District is a progressive leader in the lire service. lt is comprised of many individuals and groups with specialized skills and equipment who provide a high d-egree of efficiency and cost-effectiveness for both routine and emergency iunctions. Atnougn tre Fire District's urban search and rescue, hazardous materials squads and helicopter operations receive much publicity, the Fire District's scope of expertise and specialization is wide and varied. A few examples follow:
. Arson investigators are full-time professionals.
. Specially trained members of the Joint Regional lntelligence Center (JRIC) Terrorism Early warning Group (TEW) comprised of personnel from other agencies such as the Sheriff's Department, L. A. City Fire Department, L. A. City polic; Department, Depafiment of Health Services, FBl, the Rand Corp., and others. . 14 FEMA certified urban search and rescue dogs.
. Swift water rescue teams.
. Fire prevention staff are specialized and develop in-depth knowledge in particular areas. These areas include:
lnspections include new construction, tenant improvement, large blic assemblies, some smaller prolects and tenant improvement Petroleum and Chemical Unit - Conducts inspections of refineries, large chemical plants, etc.
Arson/Fire lnvestiqation Unit - Conducts arson investigations and cause determination investigations.
E no ineerinq/P la n Check Section - Reviews all new construction/large tenant improvement plans for Fire Code requirements.
Health/Hazardous Materials Division - Handles hazardous materials disclosure.
A full{ime, professionally equipped video unit produces quality and etfective audio and visual training materials.
Special committees provide procedures and training for railroad incidents, truck operations, wildland pre-attack, fire prevention and other specialized areas.
Experienced administrative paramedics or the Fire District's Emergency Physician/Medical Director coordinate multi-casualty medical procedures A full-time, licensed breathing apparatus technician and experienced, trained assistants repair and maintain breathing apparatus.
Registered n u rse/professional educators coordinate EMT training.
The lnformation Management Division, with approximately 67 skilled technicians, provides computer support to the field, administration, and the Command and Control Division (dispatching).
The Fire District's 55 fire shop and field mechanics maintain the Fire District's apparatus for maximum use and efficiency.
A state-otthe-ad, computerized Command and Control Center dispatches and manages the closest available resources on an incident. All first responder units are equipped with an automatic vehicle locator device (AVL) that sends real time data reflecting the location of each unit, unit type, and current rate of travel.
Following are examples of the Fire District's specialized emergency apparatus and units:
Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Task Forces -Comprised of a USAR Squad and a USAR Engine, these two units form a USAR Task Force that is specially trained to respond to technical rescues, collapsed structures, trench rescues, confined space rescues, swift water rescues, cliff rescues, major vehicle accidents with entrapment, and structure fires. a
a
a
a
a Dispatching and command stafl see exactly where resources are at any time so that units can be moved or repositioned, il necessary, to optimize the use of emergency first responders based upon their actual location. a
Hazardous Materials Emerqencv Resoonse Task Forces - Comprised of a Hazardous Materials Squad and Engine, these two units are staffed with firefighters who are specially trained lo provide immediate response to hazardous chemical emergencies and collapse incidents and provide additional personnel for major emergencies.
Water Tenders - Provide water if hydrants lail.
Metropolitan lncident Resource Vehicle lMlRVl - A vehicle designed to convey supplies and equipment to suppon a multi-casualty mass decontamination operation.
Tractors - Transport bulldozers and search and rescue trailers to incident sites Rehabilitation and Food Trucks - Assist firefi ghters working on incidents for extended times.
Bulldozers - Dike off hazardous materials flows or f Iood waters, assist in rescue efforts, fire overhaul, and wildland firefighting.
Lisht Units - Provide lighting and electricity for effective nighttime operations.
Brush Patrol Trucks - Provide jurisdiction patrolling and immediate extinguishment of small fires in the urban interface areas.
Foam Units - Provide special types of foam application for chemical and petroleum fires. These are separate from foam units carried on engine companies.
Mobile Air Units - Provide on-scene refill of breathing apparatus to enable continuous f iref ighting operations
Command and Comm unication Centers - Allow on-site communication and coordination of resources at maior incidents such as floods, earthquakes, explosions, large industrial or life loss incidents.
Helicopters - Provide paramedic treatment and transport in lifethreatening situations as well as fire suppression water-dropping, search and rescue capabilities, and air reconnaissance for major disasters. The Fire District has 8 helicopters including three Firehawks with a water capacity of I,000 gallons, and 5 Bell 412s with a water capacity of 360 gallons.
Deluse Units - Provide very large water streams for effective application and knockdown of large industrial fires.
While the resources listed above are representative of the specialized capabilities of the Fire District, application of these specialized resources in addition to the economy of scale leads to the high quality and wide variety of service the Fire District offers the city.
APPENDIX D
ANNEXATION PROCESS
This process has been designed for the most timely method ol annexation. Modilications to the process may result in increasing the length ol time to complete the annexation.
District Fire Chief Transmits completed Feasibility Study to the Board of Supervisors for approval. Upon Board approval, transmits the Study to the City.
City: Requests negotiations of an annexation agreement with the Fire District's Fire Chief, approves Reimbursement Agreement with the Fire District for costs incurred to evaluate City's facilities and equipment lor conversion to Fire District standards. Upon successful conclusion of negotiations, City signs annexation agreement and adopts a $-0- Joint Property Tax Transfer Resolution.
Fire District: Submits for Board approval a Resolution Making Application to the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), $-0- Joint Property Tax Transler Resolution, Negative Declaration, and legal description.
Upon Board approval, submits Resolution Making Application to LAFCO, $-0- Joint Propedy Tax Transfer Resolution, Negative Declaration, and a legal description to LAFCO.
Local Agency
Formation Commission
Fire District:
Board of Supervisors:
Local Agency
Formation Commission:
City:
Holds a public hearing after receipt of Board Resolution Making Application and approves annexation.
Submits the annexation agreement to the Board lor approval.
Approves the annexation agreement.
Records annexation on date requested. Notilies the County Engineer, County Assessor, the District Fire Chief , and the State Board of Equalization upon completion ol the annexation procedures. Map and filing tee must be received by LAFCO before recordation and filing can be made.
Adopts ordinance to use the Fire District Fire Code and an ordinance for the Fire District to be the administering agency for hazardous materials programs, il applicable.