DATE: April 4, 2023
DEPARTMENT: ADMINISTRATION
FROM: Steven S. Carrigan, City Manager
Sam Klemek, Fire Chief
BY: Marina Horta-Gallegos, Human Resources Director
TITLE: AUTHORIZATION TO OVER-HIRE FIVE FIREFIGHTERS; WORKFORCE ALLOCATION ADJUSTMENT RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Staff recommends that the City Council provide authorization to over-hire five Firefighters and one Administrative Fire Captain within the Fire Department.
BACKGROUND:
The authorized workforce for the Fire Department consists of 103 personnel of which 92 are currently filled suppression staff. However, the department regularly operates with at least seven or more less personnel due to industrial leave, job protected leave, or operational activities. This results in significant overtime due to minimum staffing requirements and long-term acting assignments. In addition to battalion company acting assignments, the department has staffed up to two suppression Captains in Administration to support training and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) functions in addition to other operational activities. These assignments have necessitated backfilling at 10% out-of-class pay and, when coupled with overtime, significantly impacts the department’s overtime budget. Staff have costed the impact at an annual cost of approximately $1,230,000.
Staff recommend piloting an over-hire of five Firefighters and adding one Administrative Fire Captain. A permanent Administrative Fire Captain will eliminate the need for the 10% out-of-class pay while supporting the administrative functions of the Fire Department and further backfilling which we anticipate will reduce overtime. The Firefighter positions would need to be filled externally. The hiring process for Firefighters takes several months to accomplish with recruitment, application screening, interviews, background investigation, and medical and psychological exams. The hiring process is followed by a Fire Academy which can run up to approximately sixteen weeks. With anticipated retirements we expect the over-hires to be absorbed in the approved workforce through attrition.
Staff anticipate that the proposed action will help reduce overtime, eliminate some long-term acting assignments, and allow for daily minimum staffing sufficient to staff apparatus without overtime.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
The City of Salinas has determined that the proposed action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378).
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
The proposed action meets the Effective and Culturally Responsive Government Council goal.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
The Fire Department, Finance Department, and Human Resources coordinated in this effort.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
The cost for five Firefighters and one Administrative Captain is approximately $1,000,000. Assets and fund balance from the current fiscal year are expected to be sufficient to meet minimal fiscal impacts this year. The cost will need to be included in the FY 2024 budget.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING FIVE FIREFIGHTR RECRUIT OVER-HIRE AND FY 22-23 WORKFORCE ALLOCATION ADJUSTMENT BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF SALINAS that an over-hire of five Firefighters is approved and the Fire Department workforce will reflect the addition of one Administrative Fire Captain.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 4th day of April 2023, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN: APPROVED:
____________________________________ Kimbley Craig, Mayor ATTEST:
______________________________
Patricia M.Barajas, City Clerk
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