Advanced Life Support (ALS)
Program Implementation Update, Fire Station Upgrades
& Replacements, and Associated 5 Year Financial
Forecast Update
City Council Presentation
January 27, 2026
Fire Chief Aaron Osorio & Emily Combs, Director of Finance 1 DRAFT
Recommended Action
RECEIVE an update on the Advanced Life Support (ALS) First Responder Services, Fire Station Upgrades and Replacements, and associated Five-Year Financial Forecast; and DIRECT the City Manager to develop revenue enhancement and financing recommendations for City Council consideration –
Fire/Finance/City Manager’s Office (Chief Aaron Osorio 510-307- 8021/Emily Combs 510-890-5534/Shasa Curl 510-620-6512). 2 Overview
1. Review City Council Actions
2. Review of Deployment Model
3. ALS Program Implementation Progress
4. Updated Financial Estimates & 5 Year Financial Forecast
5. Recruitment Timeline
6. Next Steps
7. Questions
3 Synergistic Policies-Health in All Policies
Established and Approved by City Council in 2014
• Framework to guide and incorporate health-centered public policy to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes
Intervention Area 6: Quality & Accessible Health & Home Services • Many need to receive quality and affordable health care & related services Key Finding From HiAP Report 2020:
4 www.ci.richmond.ca.us/2575/health-in-all-policies
Synergistic Policies-City Council Goals & Priorities
Approved by City Council late Fall of 2023
• Established City-wide goals with measurable outcomes
• Outlines key initiatives and strategic objectives that guide the City's growth and improve the quality of life for all residents.
Strategic Goal Area 4 – Improve Public Safety
• 4.3 - Add and Improve Emergency Response and Preparedness Strategic Goal Area 5 – Strengthen the City’s Internal Infrastructure and Processes • 5.1 – Ensure that there is the right staffing level and experience to meet service goals of each City Department
5 City Council Action May 27, 2025
• RECEIVED a report & presentation regarding Advanced Life Support (ALS) First Responder Feasibility Study. DIRECTED staff to pursue next steps for implementing the recommended service models.
• Requested staff to return in six (6) months with an update. 6 Review of Deployment Model
• Hybrid Model
• Deploy three (3) Single-Role
Paramedic Squads in FY 27/28
• Phase ALS Engine Companies with
Firefighter/ Paramedics the
following 2 years
• Transition all eight (8) Fire
Companies to ALS in FY 29/30
7 Benefits of Hybrid Model
• Realistic expectation
• Better manage recruitment & on-boarding challenges
• Shorter implementation time
• 3 Years vs. 5 Years
• Provide higher level of service to the community sooner 8 ALS Program Progress
Presented program to Contra Costa County Fire Chiefs Association Meeting held on May 14, 2025
Fully supportive of moving to ALS
Offered assistance with accreditation and training
Con Fire requested RFD to consider moving dispatch centers Discussion with ambulance provider (AMR/Con Fire):
Meeting held in June 20025
Offered assistance with accreditation and training
Discussed medical equipment pass through purchasing
9 ALS Program Progress
Initiated discussions with Contra Costa County Health - EMS Agency Meeting held on July 7, 2025
Fully supportive of moving to ALS
Reviewed California Code of Regulations Title 22, Division 9 – Paramedic Service Provider Regulations
Completed initial drafts of Classification Specifications (personnel) for:
EMS Division Chief
EMS Clinical Care Manager
Single –Role Paramedic
Firefighter Paramedic 10
ALS Program Progress
Completed facility evaluation at fire stations with Public Works. Conducted with consultant firm on September 11, 2025
Determined improvements needed to house squad vehicles and additional staff.
Updated financial estimates:
Staffing
Facilities
Apparatus
Equipment
11 ALS Program Progress
Presented program to Medical Director for Contra Costa County Fire Agencies
Meeting held on October 9, 2025
Provided recommendations for recruitment of Clinical Care Manager
Provided program development recommendations
Held scoping meeting with potential consultant firm to assist with program development 12
DRAFT ALS Personnel Cost Estimates
13 Description Start
Date
Current
Item Total
Current
Grand Total
FY
2025-26
FY
2026-27
FY
2027-28
FY
2028-29
FY
2029-30 5-Year Total
Paramedic
(19) Jul-27 $189,000 $3,591,000 — — $3,591,000 $3,698,730 $3,809,692 $11,099,422 EMS
Division
Chief (1)
Oct-26 $349,080 $349,080 — $261,812 $359,552 $370,339 $381,449 $1,373,152 EMS
Manager (1) Dec-26 $270,000 $270,000 — $135,000 $278,100 $286,443 $295,036 $994,579 Associate
Admin
Analyst (1)
May-26 $195,653 $195,653 — $205,435 $215,707 $222,178 $228,844 $872,164 Paramedic
Supplies — $319,402 $319,402 — $319,402 $69,000 $69,000 $69,000 $526,402 Tuition/
Training — $3,693,954 $3,693,954 — — — — $3,693,954 $3,693,954 Vehicles Jul-26 $1,900,000 $1,900,000 $100,000 $1,800,000 — — — $1,900,000 Personnel
Cost — — — — $602,247 $4,444,359 $4,577,690 $4,715,021 $14,339,317 Total — — — $100,000 $2,721,649 $4,513,359 $4,646,690 $8,447,975 $20,459,673 Current Facility Upgrade Cost Estimates
14 Location Address Description
Base
Est.
(Low)
Base
Est.
(High)
Min. +10%
Contingency
Fire
Station 62 1065 7th Street Dorm Capacity,
Vehicle Storage $300,000 $400,000 $330,000 -
$440,000
Fire
Station 68 2904 Hilltop Drive Dorm Capacity,
Vehicle Storage $400,000 $500,000 $440,000 -
$550,000
Training
Tower Site
3506 Cutting
Blvd
Temporary Fire
Station $1,750,000 $2,250,000 $1,925,000 -
$2,475,000
Total — — $2,450,000 $3,150,000 $2,695,000 -
$3,465,000
Current Facility Replacement Cost Estimates
15 Location Address Description Rough Order of
Magnitude
Fire Station
63 5201 Valley View Road Foundation Repair &
Grading $30,051,751
Fire Station
66 4100 Clinton Avenue Station Replacement $30,402,741
Fire Station
67 1131 Cutting Blvd Station Replacement $38,003,739
Total — — $98,458,231
Squad Deployment Map
16 17
ALS
Triangulation
Current Apparatus Cost
Estimates
18 Vehicle Vehicle Type Quantity
Base
Est.
(Low)
Base
Est.
(High)
Est. Total
Squad Ford F-550 with
Build Up 4 $375,000 $450,000 $1.5M - $1.8M
Command
Vehicle Chevy Tahoe 1 $85,000 $100,000 $85,000 -
$100,000
EMS
Equipment
Storage
Upgrades
All Heavy Fire
Apparatus
(i.e.; engines,
trucks, rescues,
spare)
15 TBD TBD TBD
Total — — — — $1.585M - $1.9M
19 Scenario 1
Budget Forecast Forecast Forecast Forecast
FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27 FY 2027-28 FY 2028-29 FY 2029-30
Revenues 258,553,519 266,277,163 274,258,355 282,917,155 291,382,665 Total Revenue 258,553,519 266,277,163 274,258,355 282,917,155 291,382,665 Expenditures* 258,553,519 290,976,993 302,863,313 316,982,216 328,710,511 Local 21 - Executive Management MOU 693,192 728,060 725,306 739,812 754,608 Local 21-MM MOU 1,829,878 1,890,820 1,965,276 2,004,582 2,044,673 Local 1021 - SEIU General MOU 2,298,180 2,602,536 2,718,625 2,772,998 2,828,457 Local 1021 - SEIU Part Time MOU 25,463 26,829 28,278 28,844 29,420 IAFF Local 188 - Firefighters 1,273,649 1,406,639 1,501,620 1,531,652 1,562,285 Fire - Advance Life Support 100,000 2,721,649 4,513,359 4,646,690 8,447,975 RFMA - Fire Management 99,459 104,829 110,966 113,185 115,449 RPOA - Police Officers 1,597,195 1,692,797 1,795,023 1,830,923 1,867,542 RPMA - Police Management 261,276 276,689 293,146 299,009 304,989 Total Expenditures 266,731,810 302,427,840 316,514,912 330,949,910 346,665,911 Net Deficit (-)/Surplus(+) (8,178,292) (36,150,678) (42,256,557) (48,032,756) (55,283,246) (Bond Measure Needed)
MLK Community Center & Park,
ALS Fire Station - 173,000,000 - - - CIP Shortfall 4,480,000 29,290,000 4,928,520 51,480 - Unfunded Projects Total 53,774,000 75,583,700 99,048,000 80,736,300 72,064,000 Net Deficit (-)/Surplus(+)(After Capital
Needs)** (66,432,292) (314,024,378) (146,233,077) (128,820,536) (127,347,246) Total Afforded Positions 690 645 619 594 563 **Excluded from position affordability model
*Includes expenditures for Kids First Iniative (Measures E and K) through FY 2027-28, after which charter-mandated annual contribution is not extended. 20 Scenario 2 - With Projected Interest Earnings at 4%
Budget Forecast Forecast Forecast Forecast
FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27 FY 2027-28 FY 2028-29 FY 2029-30
Revenues 258,553,519 266,277,163 274,258,355 282,917,155 291,382,665 Estimated Interest Earnings at 4% 2,000,000 4,080,000 6,243,200 8,492,928 10,428,645 Total Revenue 260,553,519 270,357,163 280,501,555 291,410,083 301,811,310 Expenditures* 258,553,519 290,976,993 302,863,313 316,982,216 328,710,511 Local 21 - Executive Management MOU 693,192 728,060 725,306 739,812 754,608 Local 21-MM MOU 1,829,878 1,890,820 1,965,276 2,004,582 2,044,673 Local 1021 - SEIU General MOU 2,298,180 2,602,536 2,718,625 2,772,998 2,828,457 Local 1021 - SEIU Part Time MOU 25,463 26,829 28,278 28,844 29,420 IAFF Local 188 - Firefighters 1,273,649 1,406,639 1,501,620 1,531,652 1,562,285 Fire - Advance Life Support 100,000 2,721,649 4,513,359 4,646,690 8,447,975 RFMA - Fire Management 99,459 104,829 110,966 113,185 115,449 RPOA - Police Officers 1,597,195 1,692,797 1,795,023 1,830,923 1,867,542 RPMA - Police Management 261,276 276,689 293,146 299,009 304,989 Total Expenditures 266,791,810 302,550,240 316,702,208 331,204,698 346,978,770 Net Deficit (-)/Surplus(+) (6,238,292) (32,193,078) (36,200,653) (39,794,616) (45,167,461) (Bond Measure Needed)
MLK Community Center & Park,
ALS Fire Station 173,000,000
CIP Shortfall 4,480,000 29,290,000 4,928,520 51,480 - Unfunded Projects Total 53,774,000 75,583,700 99,048,000 80,736,300 72,064,000 Net Deficit (-)/Surplus(+)(After Capital
Needs)* (64,492,292) (310,066,778) (140,177,173) (120,582,396) (117,231,461) Total Afforded Positions 698 662 645 629 606 **Excluded from position affordability model
*Includes expenditures for Kids First Iniative (Measures E and K) through FY 2027-28, after which charter-mandated annual contribution is not extended.
Personnel Recruitment Timeline
• (1) EMS Division Chief – FY 26/27
• (1) Clinical Care Manager – FY 26/27
• (1) Associate Administrative Analyst – FY 26/27
• (19) Single-Role Paramedics – FY 27/28:
• Two-person Paramedic squads per shift X (3) shifts = 18 Single-Role Paramedics + One (1) floater
21 Human Resources
• Personnel Board
• Update all job specifications
• Determine pay & benefits for new positions
• Meet & Confer with all impacted bargaining units
• Unit determinations for:
• Single-Role Paramedics
• EMS Division Chief
• EMS Clinical Care Manager
• Duties and working conditions
• Work with LCW & Human Resources to update MOUs
22 FY 25/26
• New
Agreement
with
CCCEMSA
• Meet &
Confer
• Job Specs
• Initiate
Recruitment
of EMS
Director &
EMS Analyst
• Spec &
Order
Apparatus
FY 26/27
•On-Board
EMS Director
& EMS
Analyst
•Purchase
Equipment &
Supplies
•Recruitment
of Single-Role
Paramedics
•Program
Development
FY 27/28
•Accreditation
•Operational
Role Out of
Squads
•Initiate
Paramedic
School for
Existing
Employee
Training
FY 28/29
•Purchase
Equipment &
Supplies for
ALS Engines
•Complete
Paramedic
School for
Existing
Employees
•National
Registry
•Accreditation
FY 29/30
• Operational
Role Out for
ALS Engines
Draft Implementation Timeline
23 UNANTICIPATED
DELAYS MAY
PUSH FINAL
ROLL OUT TO
FY 30/31
Proposed Next Steps
24 • Meet and Confer with impacted bargaining units
• Determine the need for assistance from a consultant
• Finalize classification specifications, unit designation, approval by Personnel Board
• Due to extended delivery times, order squad vehicles
• Recruitment and onboarding of EMS Division Chief
• Recruitment and onboarding of EMS Clinical Care Manager Recommended Action
RECEIVE an update on the Advanced Life Support (ALS) First Responder Services, Fire Station Upgrades and Replacements, and associated Five-Year Financial Forecast; and DIRECT the City Manager to develop revenue enhancement and financing recommendations for City Council consideration –
Fire/Finance/City Manager’s Office (Chief Aaron Osorio 510-307- 8021/Emily Combs 510-890-5534/Shasa Curl 510-620-6512). 25 Questions?
26