BLUE FOLDER ITEM
Blue folder items are additional back up material to administrative reports and/or public comments received after the printing and distribution of the agenda packet for receive and file.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
H.13 APPROVE A SIDE LETTER AGREEMENT AMENDING THE JULY 1, 2020 TO JUNE 30, 2024 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE REDONDO BEACH FIREFIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION AND THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, RENAMING THE
EXISTING JOB CLASSIFICATIONS OF DEPUTY HARBOR MASTER/BOAT CAPTAIN AND
HARBOR PATROL OFFICER TO FIRE RESCUE BOAT OPERATOR AND FIRE RESCUE
BOAT SPECIALIST RESPECTIVELY
CONTACT: PATRICK BUTLER, INTERIM FIRE CHIEF
• COMMUNICATIONS FROM HARBOR COMMISSIONERS JIM LIGHT & ROGER
CARLSON
• PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
Commission and concerned boaters have repeatedly asked for. As a Harbor Commissioner and avid King Harbor Boater, I request you stop this erosion of our already degraded Harbor Patrol.
We have described multiple times example of when calls have gone out to the Harbor Patrol for on water incidents and needs only to find later they were responding to land side fire department calls and were out of the Harbor for extended periods. Our Harbor Patrol continues to erode in its ability to do the actual job of Harbor Patrol.
Rather than training and maintaining qualifications required for on-water response for actual harbor patrol duties, we continue to reduce these qualifications and put increased burden for land side fire department related duties and training.
Here are examples of language buried deep in the agenda materials that evidence the continued erosion of the Harbor Patrol and exacerbates the degradation:
- “Fire Rescue Boat Operator and Fire Rescue Boat Specialist positions shall become special assignments for the existing Firefighter/Paramedic or Fire Engineer classifications."
- "Members assigned to Fire Station 3 shall have expanded Emergency Medical duties that include staffing a Paramedic Squad to respond to calls for service as directed by the Fire Chief.”
In our harbor, the role of the Harbor Patrol is even more important than other harbors since we are not large enough to have Vessel Assist/Tow Boat US in our harbor or a Coast Guard station or vessels. Bay Watch cannot be counted on - their primary duty is outside the harbor patrolling County Beaches and responding to aid lifeguards. The police boat has been a laughable waste of money that we keep pouring money into for no real gain. And now we continue to erode the role, the training, the qualifications, and the availability of the Harbor Patrol.
The Harbor has no single voice for land side and water side activities. We saw this during the recent CenterCal debacle where the Fire Chief and Harbor/Economic Development Director advocated for an inherently unsafe boat ramp location strongly opposed by all the members of the Harbor Patrol, the entire Bay Watch crew, and a large number of the boaters who actually boat in the harbor. It is time we treat our harbor like an actual harbor instead of a piecemealed adjunct to multiple city departments.
Channel Islands Harbor is governed by the Ventura Board of Supervisors. The Harbor is about 310 acres, twice the size of ours but still a small harbor. There is a separate County Harbor Department that does all administration of the Harbor. Harbor Patrol are assigned to the Harbor Department. The Channel Islands Harbor Patrol is on duty 24/7, 365 days per year. Their duties include:
§ Rescue & Emergency Services
§ Licensed EMT’s & Coast Guard Boat Operators
§ Patrol inner/outer Harbor
§ Boating Safety & Education
§ First-in Fire Suppression
§ Coordinates with Coast Guard, Fire, Police & Sheriff
§ Manages small boat & commercial fishing marinas, transient docks, live aboard inspections
§ Limited Law Enforcement
§ Commercial Activity Permits
The Harbor Department has MOAs for support from the Fire and Police Departments.
Newport Harbor, Dana Point Harbor, and Sunset/Huntington Harbors are administered by Orange County. They each have their own Harbor Department responsible for andminstration and operation of land-side and waterside harbor activities. The Harbor Departments are served by a Harbor Patrol Bureau that falls under Orange County’s Homeland Security Division. The Harbor Patrol are law enforcement officers permanently assigned to the Bureau who receive 480 hours of specialized training in precision boat handling, marine firefighting, navigation, heavy weather boat operation, and advanced first aid. On top of this, they receive 295 hours of training (along with one year of operational on-water experience) to achieve the Masters Certificate in Open Water Rescue and Enforcement. Twelve members of the Harbor Patrol Bureau are also fully certified for dive operations including underwater search and recovery.
This training is similar to the standards the King Harbor Harbor patrol met before it was assigned to the Fire Department - but our Harbor Patrol also had requirements for Coast Guard Captain’s licenses and underwater salvage activities.
Two counties and four recreational harbors with slightly different management solutions but several basic similarities:
1) Each harbor has its own dedicated department and staff for adminstration and operation of the landside and waterside harbor activities. 2) Harbor patrols are dedicated and available. They are not distracted and taken off station for additional landside duties outside the harbors. 3) Harbor patrols receive ample additional specialized marine related training and maintain specialized professional qualifications.
Our harbor patrol are no longer even dedicated to harbor patrol duties. Their training has eroded along with morale. We have lost our most experienced and qualified harbor patrol after the move to the fire department. And our harbor and boaters are suffering from lack of responsiveness and loss of proactive patrolling and inspections.
The proposed action exacerbates the situation. This summer we have had increased illegal swimming and snorkeling activities in the harbor. We had teens jumping off the breakwall into the harbor waters daily. Kids have been jumping off the pilings that retain the hand launch boat ramp into the shallow water. Boats have been running through the fairways and main channel at excessive speeds. And we have had inexperienced SUP’ers, kayakers, and paddleboaters with no clue about safe navigation putting themselves and others at risk…often without appropriate safety equipment. If anything, our harbor is in desperate need of a dedicated, qualified, and proactive harbor patrol. And as we improve the harbor amenities, we can expect this need to increase - especially with a two lane boat ramp. It will take years to restore the Harbor Patrol to the qualifications it once had, it is time to course correct now rather than doubling down on previous bad decisions and reinforcing the continued degradation of the Harbor Patrol
Please put an end to this continued erosion of the Harbor Patrol. And please strongly consider the Harbor Commission’s repeated plea to establish a Harbor Department with a Director or Manager that has responsibility for the land and waterside operations, programming, planning and strategic development of the Harbor - and allocate staff to support this new position, including decimated Harbor Patrol staff, facilities and equipment.
I am also very concerned that this is a consent agenda item. It seems an attempt to slip this through without public scrutiny. With the repeated concerns formally submitted by the Harbor Commission, I question why this was not brought to the Harbor Commission. We had a Public Safety report at our last meeting and there was no mention of this item.
VR
Jim Light
Sent from my iPad
H.13. APPROVE A SIDE LETTER AGREEMENT AMENDING THE JULY 1, 2020 TO JUNE 30, 2024 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THE REDONDO BEACH FIREFIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION
AND THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, RENAMING THE EXISTING
JOB CLASSIFICATIONS OF DEPUTY HARBOR MASTER/BOAT
CAPTAIN AND HARBOR PATROL OFFICER TO FIRE RESCUE BOAT
OPERATOR AND FIRE RESCUE BOAT SPECIALIST RESPECTIVELY
CONTACT: PATRICK BUTLER, INTERIM FIRE CHIEF
Conspicuously absent from the Administrative Report is the substantive part of the proposed Side Letter to the MOU:
"Fire Rescue Boat Operator and Fire Rescue Boat Specialist positions shall become
special assignments for the existing Firefighter/Paramedic or Fire Engineer classifications."
"Members assigned to Fire Station 3 shall have expanded Emergency Medical duties that include
staffing a Paramedic Squad to respond to calls for service as directed by the Fire Chief.”
Attached:
Administrative Report
Side Letter to the MOU
Administrative
Report
H.13., File # 23-6700 Meeting Date: 9/5/2023
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: PATRICK BUTLER, INTERIM FIRE CHIEF & HARBOR MASTER TITLE
APPROVE A SIDE LETTER AGREEMENT AMENDING THE JULY 1, 2020 TO JUNE 30, 2024 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE REDONDO BEACH FIREFIGHTERS’
ASSOCIATION AND THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, RENAMING THE EXISTING JOB
CLASSIFICATIONS OF DEPUTY HARBOR MASTER/BOAT CAPTAIN AND HARBOR PATROL
OFFICER TO FIRE RESCUE BOAT OPERATOR AND FIRE RESCUE BOAT SPECIALIST
RESPECTIVELY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Over the course of 50 years, the roles and responsibilities of Harbor Patrol have shifted from a traditional marine law enforcement function, with weapons and powers of arrest, to a more contemporary fire, rescue, and emergency medical services model. This shift is not reflected in the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and civil service classification. The current classifications of Deputy Harbor Master/Boat Captain (Herein referred to as Boat Captain) and Harbor Patrol Officer do not reflect the current duties and responsibilities of the assigned personnel.
Renaming the classification from Boat Captain and Harbor Patrol Officer to Fire Rescue Boat Operator, with a 5% bonus, and Fire Rescue Boat Specialist respectively, will resolve current conflicts in the MOU and better reflect the positions’ current roles and responsibilities.
BACKGROUND
The Redondo Beach Harbor Patrol Unit has been deployed according to several operating models over the past 50 years. The Unit was originally organized as a stand-alone City department, has been a unit of the Police Department, and now serves as a branch of the Fire Department. Its mission has also shifted from a law enforcement focus to marine rescue, fire, and emergency medical services. The professionalism and specialized skills of Harbor Patrol members are tailored to specifically serve the King Harbor community. They are amongst the most qualified, dedicated, and experienced operators in this unique service sector.
In 2022, the Redondo Beach Fire Department Harbor Patrol responded to 690 emergency calls for service. 56% of those were for fire, rescue, Mayday, and EMS response, while 18% of them were for marine law enforcement. The harbor personnel also occasionally respond with a paramedic squad on land-based calls in the area. This dual role allows the personnel to respond via land and sea for emergency calls for service. This provides a specialized resource with incredible value to the community with a focus on the King Harbor community, that can also, at times, serve the City at-large during critical emergencies. The Redondo Beach Fire Rescue Boat is the only paramedic qualified
H.13., File # 23-6700 Meeting Date: 9/5/2023
boat in the Santa Monica Bay, providing Advanced Life Support (ALS) skills to both the City and boating community. It is authorized by the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Authority to operate in this capacity.
In 2022, the last remaining Boat Captain retired and the Fire Chief, in collaboration with the Redondo Beach Firefighters Association (RBFA), worked to develop a new model for the harbor community that would better reflect RBFA’s mission and also provide the Fire Rescue Boat Operators with merit pay. Currently, the position of Boat Captain is filled with Paramedics and an Engineer who receive 5% acting pay, as per the current MOU. The MOU states that this type of acting assignment cannot be for a period longer than 6 months. The negotiated side-letter includes a retroactive date of January 14, 2023, to address this issue. The new Agreement will ensure that the personnel assigned to the existing Boat Captain position will be able to continue receiving the 5% merit pay without interruption and allow the department to maintain the level of service that is currently being delivered to the King Harbor community.
COORDINATION
This side letter and administrative report were coordinated with the Human Resources Department, the City Attorney’s Office, and the RBFA.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
· Side Letter - Amending the July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2024 MOU between the RBFA and the City of Redondo Beach renaming and altering rules for two positions
From: Roger Carlson < >
Date: September 3, 2023 at 8:02:49 AM PDT
To: Bill Brand <[email protected]>, Nils Nehrenheim <[email protected]>, Todd Loewenstein <[email protected]>, Zein Obagi <[email protected]>, Paige Kaluderovic <[email protected]>, Scott Behrendt <[email protected]>, Eleanor Manzano <[email protected]>
Cc: Jim Light < >, Mike Witzansky <[email protected]>, Elizabeth Hause <[email protected]>, Tom Bauer <t c , Mark Hansen < >, Greg Kapovich <[email protected]>
Subject: DO NOT REPLY ALL***. For Public Record on item H.13, Harbor Patrol Related Item [You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ]
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Regarding item H.13:
Our harbor deserves a harbor patrol with its own dedicated leadership. Please don't water down what little we have left.
We will soon have a launch ramp and our harbor will become busier. We should have the leadership to plan for that and respond to it.
We have unique challenges, like the Beachlife festival, boat parades, and on water concerts, which greatly increase on water crowds.
Other harbors are beginning to see new challenges, such as significant increases in theft from boats in slips. Most boats have a lot of items in unlocked areas, protected only by the gate at the top of the dock, thieves coming by water have found east access to soft targets. https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sfchronicle.com%2Fcrime% 2Farticle%2Foakland-pirates-boat-theft-marina18327425.php&data=05%7C01%7Celeanor.manzano%40redondo.org%7C6831107c3e5a458b0b7908db ac8ed35e%7C08ea6101a7cb4984aff676e3d00172df%7C0%7C0%7C638293501688285914%7CUnknown %7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3 000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=WSRFCXbroKSSkJS00sju9SoS6DDxAaA5coWHS7McfN0%3D&reserved=0 Will activity like this move to our harbor once we have a boat ramp? https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Flosangele s%2Fnews%2Fpanga-boat-carrying-at-least-17-people-washes-ashore-in-rancho-palosverdes%2F&data=05%7C01%7Celeanor.manzano%40redondo.org%7C6831107c3e5a458b0b7908dbac8 ed35e%7C08ea6101a7cb4984aff676e3d00172df%7C0%7C0%7C638293501688285914%7CUnknown%7 CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000 %7C%7C%7C&sdata=9ARDoW7KuAX%2BdlkV9GlkHZnEh2P%2BZnTZazAjku19yBQ%3D&reserved=0 Harbor patrol should be inspecting incoming boats and inspecting older boats for seaworthiness to ensure they aren’t polluting the water with sewage or fuel, aren’t fire risks, and seaworthy for storms and tsunamis, strong currents and heavy rain. Commercial marina management no longer seems to understand that they are managing boats, not apartments, and no longer perform this service. Security has been reduced, dock gates are unmaintained and unlocked, the dock captain program has been ended, and liveaboards, the last group of people keeping an eye on things, are being phased out. Many boats go months without the owner using or inspecting them, particularly during winter storms. Harbor safety is decaying.
We have not had a tsunami surge in our harbor yet, but when one comes from the right direction, in can be highly dangerous, even in a back basin. Boats should be inspected, harbor patrol should be familiar with the docks, where problem boats are, where liveaboards may be in danger. Here’s a recent tsunami surge in Ventura harbor:
https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3F v%3Dgj0iCfeDNw&data=05%7C01%7Celeanor.manzano%40redondo.org%7C6831107c3e5a458b0b7908dbac8ed35 e%7C08ea6101a7cb4984aff676e3d00172df%7C0%7C0%7C638293501688285914%7CUnknown%7CTWF pbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C %7C%7C&sdata=lu%2By7qOPbOlTPfl6oem0rOwtewnwlntXkcgPOupvi5E%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3F v%3DrIq2hFl6lZw&data=05%7C01%7Celeanor.manzano%40redondo.org%7C6831107c3e5a458b0b7908 dbac8ed35e%7C08ea6101a7cb4984aff676e3d00172df%7C0%7C0%7C638293501688285914%7CUnkno wn%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7 C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=tMl3lT4WsBMFgqr5eOEdb1NKrD2dIfs%2B8tmxQ%2Bp8ft4%3D&reserved=0 Sea level rise and increasing storms increase the threats to lives and property in the harbor. We often have waves coming over our breakwall, but these waves are not coming constantly. People have been killed on the breakwall. These storms will happen with greater force and frequency. Here are a few articles on deaths on our breakwall.
https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flocal%2Fla now%2Fla-me-ln-1-dead-3-hurt-redondo-beach-20160225-
story.html&data=05%7C01%7Celeanor.manzano%40redondo.org%7C6831107c3e5a458b0b7908dbac8e d35e%7C08ea6101a7cb4984aff676e3d00172df%7C0%7C0%7C638293501688285914%7CUnknown%7C TWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000 %7C%7C%7C&sdata=8xmri5k1tbmyXeC80BJUVhZXi3vEcyQrKKvXKLggS%2BA%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Farchives%2 Fla-xpm-1992-08-16-me-6760-
story.html&data=05%7C01%7Celeanor.manzano%40redondo.org%7C6831107c3e5a458b0b7908dbac8e d35e%7C08ea6101a7cb4984aff676e3d00172df%7C0%7C0%7C638293501688285914%7CUnknown%7C TWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000 %7C%7C%7C&sdata=dSPbL6PQeVibaAFi7yZsBychc73di9WVm4z0fyFZRVc%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Farchives%2 Fla-xpm-1995-02-04-me-27841-
story.html&data=05%7C01%7Celeanor.manzano%40redondo.org%7C6831107c3e5a458b0b7908dbac8e d35e%7C08ea6101a7cb4984aff676e3d00172df%7C0%7C0%7C638293501688285914%7CUnknown%7C TWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000 %7C%7C%7C&sdata=sYKqdOJvzpcWPipWr%2F%2FagQV6bz3CX%2FK7Dt3%2BiHjPQrg%3D&reserved=0 Here are some rescues performed by our harbor patrol. Rescues like this take specialized training and dedication to ocean skills. These skills may not be needed frequently, but they are needed.
Sailboat on rocks:
https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3F v%3DeuARI7PkOiA&data=05%7C01%7Celeanor.manzano%40redondo.org%7C6831107c3e5a458b0b790 8dbac8ed35e%7C08ea6101a7cb4984aff676e3d00172df%7C0%7C0%7C638293501688285914%7CUnkn own%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D% 7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=YulMHQ1Ir9VOLml4YHLoZ1ZZ4wFww%2Ff8%2Bs0Qa5ieUeg%3D&reserved =0
Sailboat under pier:
https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3F v%3DAdYTGre3fAA&data=05%7C01%7Celeanor.manzano%40redondo.org%7C6831107c3e5a458b0b79 08dbac8ed35e%7C08ea6101a7cb4984aff676e3d00172df%7C0%7C0%7C638293501688285914%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D %7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=csVPGwbEEfvSamVl7XUIO%2FVsVpbV%2F4%2FUy0Ak5DvA98c%3D&rese rved=0
Swimmer on pier:
https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3F v%3Db hCAb7rUh4&data=05%7C01%7Celeanor.manzano%40redondo.org%7C6831107c3e5a458b0b79 08dbac8ed35e%7C08ea6101a7cb4984aff676e3d00172df%7C0%7C0%7C638293501688285914%7CUnk nown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D %7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=uhhDgBr8TiN%2F4OcJPKxxBLaQCPaCoFWRxJxXIwqzmGc%3D&reserved=0 From: Mark Hansen
To: Mayor and City Council of Redondo Beach
Date: Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Re: Agenda Item H.13
RENAME DEPUTY HARBOR MASTER / BOAT CAPTAIN & HARBOR PATROL OFFICER to
FIRE RESCUE BOAT OPERATOR & FIRE RESCUE BOAT SPECIALIST
APPROVE A SIDE LETTER TO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE FIREFIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION AND THE CITY.
1. Administrative Report 2. RBFA Side Letter - Harbor Patrol Title and Special Assignment Pay Conspicuously absent from the Administrative Report is the substantive part of the Side Letter:
"Fire Rescue Boat Operator and Fire Rescue Boat Specialist positions shall become special assignments for the existing Firefighter/Paramedic or Fire Engineer classifications." "Members assigned to Fire Station 3 shall have expanded Emergency Medical duties that include staffing a Paramedic Squad to respond to calls for service as directed by the Fire Chief.” Our Harbor Patrol officers have been being sent out on landside calls and have sometimes not been available to respond to on-the-water incidents. The proposed Side Letter would further erode their ability to perform their primary harbor safety duties.
It is critical that there be 24/7 water rescue response from within our harbor.
Harbor Patrol response from inland locations, including hospitals during call outs, is not a viable safety option.
Baywatch coverage is not a viable safety option, as their area of responsibility stretches up and down the county beaches.
We will soon have a public boat launch ramp, and other new harbor amenities, that will make our harbor even busier with a greater need for 24/7 onsite harbor patrol.
When boats become disabled near the breakwater, which is not uncommon, a response from inland or from down the coast will arrive much too late to save lives.
This critical harbor safety issue should be referred to the Harbor Commission.
I strongly recommend that the City Council direct Staff to coordinate with the RBFA to establish 24/7 water rescue response from within the Harbor, and NOT further erode this safety coverage for our community.