HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/28/2005 - STAFF REPORTS (4) O�p pLM SpR
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C'Q41FOR��p City Council Staff Report
DATE: July 20, 2005 NEW BUSINESS
SUBJECT: AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT NO. 3436 WITH THE COUNTY OF
RIVERSIDE AUTHORIZING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ASSUME
FIRE SERVICES WITHIN FIRE PROTECTION AREA #2N IN
ANNEXATION NO. 26, AND INCREASE ON DUTY STAFFIING AT FIRE
STATION 443 TO THREE PERSONS.
FROM: David H. Ready, City Manager
BY: Blake Goetz, Fire Chief
SUMMARY
The City Council will consider amending Agreement No. 3436 with the County of
Riverside and authorizing the Fire Department to assume fire services within Fire
Protection Area #2N as outlined in ARTICLE 10 of the Annexation No. 26 agreement
entered into with Riverside County on October 11, 1994 (Resolution No. 18486).
Additionally staff is requesting authorization to increase daily staffing of firefighters at
Fire Station 443 to three persons (Captain, Engineer, and Firefighter) in the first quarter
of 2006.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Adopt Minute Order No. , Approving Amendment 1 to Agreement No. 3436
with the County of Riverside and the Community Redevelopment Agency of the
County of Riverside providing for the City to assume fire services in the Fire
Protection Area #2N.
2. Authorize increased staffing at Fire Station No. 443 to three persons (Captain,
Engineer, and Firefighter) in the First Quarter of 2006 and direct staff to prepare
the appropriate amendment to the Allocated Positions Resolution.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
When Annexation Area 26 was approved by LAFCO in 1993 (LAFCO 93-28-3), it
required the City and the County to develop an agreement (#3436) that provided for fire /�
Item No. 5 .A o
City Council Staff Report
.Duly 20, 2005 -- Page 2
Agreement No. 3436 Fire Services
services in the annexation area. Fire Protection Areas #2N (North of railroad tracks)
and #2S (South of railroad tracks) and Fire Protection Area #1 (South of Acanto Rd.)
are specific fire protection service areas that each jurisdiction is responsible for
providing fire services to.
Fire Protection Area #2N is City land north of the railroad tracks that currently receives
its fire services from the Riverside County Fire Department, usually from Fire Station
#36 located on Dillon Rd.
Fire Protection Area #2S is south of the railroad tracks in unincorporated County land
adjacent to Highway 111 known as the "Windy Point/Overture Neighborhood", and it
receives its fire services from the Palm Springs Fire Department, usually from Fire
Station 443 on Racquet Club Rd.
The Palm Springs Fire Department is also required to provide fire services for County
areas in the southern end of Palm Springs located in the "Bella Monte/Park Andreas"
area (Acanto Rd.) and areas west of Bogart Trail. This is known as Fire Protection Area
#1, and Palm Springs Fire Station 444 usually responds to this area.
In addition to the defined response zones, the City is required to pay the Riverside
County Fire Department for their services in Fire Protection Area #2N. In FY 04/05, the
City paid $198,000 and County Fire is estimating that the payment for FY 05/06 will be
$214,000.
ARTICLE 10 of the Annexation Agreement allows the City to assume fire protection, fire
prevention/code enforcement, and BLS services for Fire Protection Area #2 at some
future date. If it does, the City may cease making the annual payment to the County.
Staff is recommending that that this option is exercised and the funds be redirected to
increase firefighting staffing at Fire Station 443.
Staff has analyzed the impacts of providing services to the City north of the railroad
tracks and believe that the impacts are minimal compared to the benefit of staffing Fire
Station 443 with 3 firefighters. The Fire Department is currently conducting all new
construction plan checks, field inspections, annual fire inspections of business
occupancies, and public education and prevention presentations in Fire Protection Area
#2N. The Palm Springs Fire Department will continue to provide fire services per the
agreement to Areas #2S (Overture Dr.) and Area #1 (Bella Monte/Park Andreas).
The Palm Springs Police/Fire Emergency 911 Communications Center receives the 911
calls in this area, and reports that there are approximately 10 fire and EMS calls for
service in Fire Protection Area #2N each month. Buildings in Fire Protection Area #2N
are equipped with commercial fire sprinkler and alarm systems allowing the built in fire
protection systems to provide early warning and fire extinguishment. On any large
incident, the Incident Commander would initiate the Mutual Aid System and call in
surrounding resources for support.
City Council Staff Report
July 20, 2005 -- Page 3
Agreement No. 3436 Fire Services
In March 2005, Citygate Associates LLC prepared a Standards of Response and
Deployment analysis for the fire department and recommended that the first priority was
to increase firefighter staffing at Fire Station 443 from 2 persons to 3. If approved by
the City Council, the Fire Department would prepare promotional exams for Fire
Captain, Fire Engineer, and recruitment for entry level firefighter. This would be
accomplished by the first quarter of 2006 at which time Fire Station 443 could increase
its daily staffing to 3 persons.
FISCAL IMPACT:
If the City notifies the County of it's intent to assume fire services in Fire Protection Area
#2N beginning on September 1, 2005 and increases firefighter staffing in the first
quarter of 2006 there will be no additional increase to the Fire Department adopted
budget.
Next fiscal year, the approximate costs will be as follows:
Next Year
FY 06/07
Hire 3 Firefighter's at Step 1 (salary and benefits) $238,278
Promote 3 Fire Engineers to Fire Captain $50,210
(for station supervision)
Increase in overtime $20,000
Personal Protective Equipment (average per year) $1,500
Sub Total $309,988
Subtract Contract Costs (FY 06/07 Est.) ($222,000)
Total Increase to FD Budget (FY06/07) $87,988
Blake G. Goetz, Fire ChbaV David H. Ready, City Mana
Attachments: '
� -
Minute Order
Annexation Maps
MINUTE ORDER NO.
APPROVING THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT #3436
AS IT RELATES TO FIRE SERVICES
(ARTICLE 10), AND AUTHORIZING
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO
INCREASE DAILY STAFFING AT FIRE
STATION 443 FROM TWO PERSONS
TO THREE PERSONS (CAPTAIN,
ENGINEER, AND FIREFIGHTER).
----------------
I HEREBY CERTIFY that this Minute Order, approving the
proposed amendment to Agreement #3436, resulting in the
elimination of the financial obligation to the City for the operation of
County Fire Station #36 (Article 10), and authorizing the Fire
Department to increase its daily staffing at Fire Station 443 to three
(3) persons (Captain, Engineer, and Firefighter).
James Thompson, City Clerk