Item Number: 14
City Council / Board of Directors
Written Communications
Meeting of: November 19, 2024
Submitted By:
Robert Clemmer, Fire Chief
Subject:
Budget Amendment for Strike Team Deployment – Thompson Fire Recommendation:
That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 24-093 to amend the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget appropriating additional revenue in the amount of $18,056.61 and expenses in the amount of $19,548.13 for the strike team deployment to the Thompson Fire.
Fiscal Impact:
The recommended action will result in an additional revenue of $18,056.61 to account no. 1002010-47231-96141- Reimbursements, and additional expenses of $19,548.13 to the following accounts:
Account Name Account Code Amount Adjusted
Full Time Wages 1002010-51100-96141 $17,709.87
Full Time Fringe 1002010-51200-96141 $1,268.61
Payroll Taxes 1002010-51300-96141 $244.90
Supplies 1002010-52110-96141 $324.75
Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal B. Public Safety – Implement public safety strategies to support a thriving and growing community.
Background:
Through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, California Fire Assistance Agreement, our fire personnel may get deployment orders, known as strike teams, to assist other regions. The response of fire and rescue personnel and resources, through the Mutual Aid System, includes responses to major fires, earthquakes, tsunamis, 3 8
3 1
hazardous materials, and other disasters. When a strike team is deployed, the State reimburses the City for some of the costs incurred during the deployment.
Discussion:
The Fire Department received orders on July 2, 2024, to assist the Thompson Fire in Oroville, California, located in Butte County. A strike team consisting of a Captain, Engineer, Firefighter/Paramedic, and Firefighter/EMT deployed on July 3, 2024, in CalOES Engine 6315. The Thompson Fire deployment lasted for a total of 78 hours, and the strike team was then reassigned to another fire on July 6, 2024. The expenses incurred by the City during this deployment included personnel time in the amount of $19,223.38 and supplies in the amount of $324.75 for a total of $19,548.13. Per the agreement with CalOES, the personnel time was reimbursable in the amount of $18,056.61. The difference of $1,491.52 is due to a discrepancy of 18 hours for personnel time due to our staffing data collection software capturing personnel time in 24-hour blocks instead of hourly; and the purchase of a cooler in the amount of $324.75, needed to supply water for the strike team. CalOES starts tracking the deployed teams’ time once they start travelling to their assigned destination and they stop once they arrive back to their home base, which is how the reimbursable hours are determined. Our software is programed to track in 24-hour blocks since that is a normal shift for our fire personnel. In result, at times a difference of hours occurs due to the different tracking methods. Our Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution 24-093 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to reflect the expenses made during the Thompson Fire and the reimbursement received from the State.
Staff is available to answer any questions the Council may have.
Attachments: A. Resolution No. 24-093
B. CalOES Reimbursement Invoice