Title
An Ordinance approving Amendment No. 4 to the budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, as adopted by Ordinance No. 9441, Ordinance No. 9442, Ordinance No. 9449, Ordinance No. 9450, and Ordinance No. 9451 by amending the full time equivalent positions for the Fire Department for the City. (F&BC 10/3/22)
Body
Issue/Request:
In anticipation of the availability of revenues from the public safety sales tax approved by voters in 2022, the Fire Department has prioritized early personnel needs. The Fire Department plans to implement a new ambulance crew to improve critical emergency response times, and also add 3 personnel to the fire prevention division.
The hiring and training of personnel by the Fire Departments is a time-consuming process. Once an individual is hired, it may take up to four months (depending on training requirements, certifications, and experience) for the person to be fully implemented to active duty. As such, the Fire Department seeks to increase available full time equivalent positions to recruit and hire personnel in advance of public safety sales tax funding. The Fire Department seeks to increase authorized positions by six firefighters. These increases would allow for hiring of personnel and begin the training process prior to the availability of public safety sales tax funding.
All six positions will be funded by the public safety sales tax when available in 2023. The Fire Department does not anticipate to be able to hire these positions prior to December 2022. The Fire Department plans to fund equipment and training cost for any advanced hires out of current general fund budgets. The advanced hiring and training made available by the increase in FTE positions will provide quicker realization of programs prioritized by public safety sales tax planning process and improvement in City services.
An additional budget expansion request will outline public safety sales tax plans for the remainder of the fiscal year 2022-23. The Police and Fire Department plan to share the request with the Public Safety Advisory Board on October 18, 2022. This request is scheduled to be presented to the Finance and Budget Committee on November 7, 2022. This request is anticipated to be presented to the entire City Council on November 8, 2022.
Proposed City Council Motion:
FIRST MOTION: I move for second reading of an Ordinance approving Amendment No. 4 to the budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, as adopted by Ordinance No. 9441, Ordinance No. 9442, Ordinance No. 9449, Ordinance No. 9450, and Ordinance No. 9451 by amending the full time equivalent positions for the Fire Department for the City.
SECOND MOTION: I move for adoption of an Ordinance approving Amendment No. 4 to the budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, as adopted by Ordinance No. 9441, Ordinance No. 9442, Ordinance No. 9449, Ordinance No. 9450, and Ordinance No. 9451 by amending the full time equivalent positions for the Fire Department for the City.
Presenter
Bette Wordelman, Finance Director
Brian Austerman, Deputy Chief Fire Department
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends for Council approval
Committee Recommendation
A motion was made by Councilmember Shields, seconded by Vice Chair Lopez, that TMP-2409 be recommended for approval to the City Council. The motion carried by a unanimous 4-0 vote.