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HomeMy WebLinkAbout26-Fire Department CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO - REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION From: Michael J. Conrad, Fire Chief Subject: Approval and implementation of a Firefighter Cadet Program for the San Bernardino City Fire Department. Dept: Fire Date: May 11,2011 Meeting Date: May 16, 2011 Synopsis of Previous Council Action: RECOMMENDED MOTION: MOTION 1: That the Firefighter Cadet Program be approved and that the Fire Chief be directed to implement the program; and MOTION 2: That the following actions be referred to the Personnel Committee for review: a) Establish three new classifications (11 positions) as listed in the staff report; b) Authorize the Human Resources department to update Resolution 2008-20; c) Review and approve job descriptions for each of the newly established classification; and MOTION 3: That the Director of Finance be authorized to incorporate the revenues and expenditures associated with the Firefighter Cadet Program into the Fire Department's FY 2011-12 Proposed Budget, in the amount of $145,500, in accordance with this staff report and attachments. ~d.~ Signature rJ Contact Person: Mat Fratus, Deputv Chief Phone: (909) 384-5286 Supporting data attached: Staff Report and Attachments Ward: Citywide FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: Amount: $145,500.00 Source: (Acct. No.) 001-200-5XXX-0000-0044 (Acct Descr.) FY 11112 Fire & Rescue Program Budget-Personnel Services and Maintenance & Operation Finance: Council Notes: Agenda Item No. -=If.,;;2{p OS-lfo'c90I/ STAFF REPORT SUBJECT Approval and implementation of a Firefighter Cadet Program for the San Bernardino City Fire Department. BACKGROUND One of the continuing challenges that the City faces is creating and sustaining jobs for community members that offer a livable wage, opportunities for advancement, and competitive benefits. One occupation that offers these characteristics is the position of firefighter with the San Bernardino Fire Department (SBFD). Although the City's Fire Department provides opportunities for employment in these positions, only a small number of the City's community members are represented in its ranks. Over the last 15 years, less than 10% of the 82 firefighters and paramedic-firefighters hired by the SBFD were residents of the City. This under- representation of community members deprives the City organization of some of the positive elements of hiring locally. These elements include knowledge of community characteristics, long established connections to community members, and increased diversity among Fire Department ranks that reflects the City's diverse community. Presence of these elements has been shown to improve the quality of service in organizations such as the SBFD. In order to create opportunities for community members to enter the fire service, the Fire Department is proposing a comprehensive recruitment and training program that would focus on San Bernardino community members as young as the 9th grade, through college age (See Attachment B). Individuals who successfully complete all phases of the program will be given priority for full-time firefighter job openings in the SBFD. Opportunities for the youth of San Bernardino would begin through the expansion of the Department's Fire Explorer Program. This program provides young adults from 15 to 21 years of age with an opportunity to leam about and prepare for a career in the fire service. The program is a joint venture with the "Learning for Life" program, whose mission is to provide positive and meaningful real-world career experiences and leadership development opportunities for teenagers and young adults in their chosen field of interest. This hands-on program exposes participants to many career experiences, leadership opportunities, and community service activities. The primary goals of the program are to help young adults choose a career path within fire and emergency services and to challenge them to become responsible citizens of their communities and country. Once participants of this program reach the age of 18, they will be eligible to become a Fire Cadet. This program will be modeled after the Police Department's Cadet Program, and will accommodate a maximum of 10 participants per year (See attachment A). Participants in the program would be given advanced training opportunities and exposure to Fire Department operations that will prepare them for a career in the fire service. Additionally, participants will be required to complete the college classes needed to meet the minimum job qualifications for firefighter. Collectively, these elements provide participants with the minimum qualifications to I be eligible for a full-time job as a Firefighter with the SBFD, and the majority of fire departments throughout the State. In addition to the explorer program, the Fire Department is currently working with San Bernardino City Schools, the Public Safety Academy, and the Firefighter's ABC program to create partnerships that will capitalize on these existing resources to create a pathway from these training institutions to the cadet program as well. Collectively, these programs will create the pool of community members who will be eligible to apply for the Cadet Program. Selected individuals from these programs will be offered part-time positions as a Fire Cadet. Only community members who have participated in these programs will be eligible to apply for a cadet position. Completion of the Cadet Program may require as many as eight months, although some participants may complete it sooner based on their level of training prior to entering the program. Job duties will include participating in basic fire and EMS training with department personnel, as well as assisting with facilities maintenance, vegetation management in wildland/interface areas, and other community improvement projects. The details of the program are outlined in Attachment B. Due to the limited training resources currently in the Fire Department, additional staff will be needed to oversee this program. The Fire Department proposes that a new, non-safety position of Fire Recruitment Supervisor be created and funded to fill this need. This position would be funded for the eight months of the Cadet Program, and would not include benefits. The qualifications for the position will include a substantial background in the fire service and experience with fire service training, preferably with the SBFD. The supervisor will have to complete a background investigation and have a track record of effectiveness in working with youth and fire service training. The City will partner with the San Bernardino Employment and Training Agency (SBETA) to fund the wages for cadet positions through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) youth program. This funding source will be used to support cadet positions for up to eight months. To qualify for these positions, the applicant must fall within the WIA maximum income requirements. At the end of the eight month period, the City will be required to provide continuing employment for SBET A funded cadets for a period of at least six months. If there are vacant firefighter positions at that time, cadets who successfully complete the program would be offered those jobs, satisfying SBET A's requirement and the overall goal of this program. However, in absence of open firefighter positions, the cadets can be offered employment in other funded Fire Department positions for which they qualify while waiting for a firefighter position to become available. In the event a Fire Cadet completes the eight month program and there are no openings for employment, the City would be required to retain the employee and pay their wages for a minimum of an additional six months. In this case, the cadets would be placed in a newly created position of Fire Prevention Trainee. This will be a part-time, temporary position that will perform fire prevention duties including assisting with occupancy inspections, public education, and organizing of fire prevention records. Additionally, Fire Prevention Trainees will be able to complete many of the inspections that are currently handled as an additional duty by emergency response crews. Having the trainees complete these inspections will allow emergency resources to focus on other activities, such as training and emergency planning. 2 Some of the Fire Cadet positions may be funded by the City if funds are available; and, therefore, will not have the minimum income restrictions of the SBET A/WIA funds. This would expand the eligible pool of community members who may participate in the program and eliminate the requirement for the City to retain the employee past the eight month cadet training period. The entry level selection and screening process for these positions will be the same. FINANCIAL IMPACT The total estimated cost for the Firefighter Cadet Program will be $145,500 for FY 2011-12, with approximately $44,500 from General Fund sources and $101,500 covered by other sources. The Fire Department projects that the first program will begin with a maximum of ten cadets. These cadets will work for the City approximately 20 hours per week for $10.00 per hour for up to eight months. The total compensation cost for ten cadets will be a maximum of $64,000 ($6,400 per cadet) for eight months which will be funded by the San Bernardino Employment and Training Agency (SBETA). In order to qualify for this funding, the City must agree to provide employment (full or part time) for an additional six months after the completion of the eight month Cadet Program. Ifthe City can place these cadets in an existing funded vacant position, there would be no additional cost to the City. In the event that there are no positions available, the City would retain the employee as a Fire Prevention Trainee working a 20 hour work-week at $10.00 per hour for a minimum of six months. The cost per position that is funded as a Fire Prevention Trainee for the six month period will be $4,800. The City will also need to create and fund a new position of Fire Recruitment Supervisor to oversee the various aspects of this program. This will be a part-time position that will be staffed for the eight months of the cadet program. The hourly rate will be set at $45 per hour. This rate was based on the entry level hourly rate for a vocational instructor at the community college level. The total cost for this position will be $43,200 for eight months. Basic wildland gear would also be provided to the Cadets so that they could participate in controlled wildland firefighting scenarios and participate in mop-up operations on extinguished wildland fires. The cost for each set of gear is approximately $550. Each Cadet will be enrolled in the Fire Department's training agreement with Santa Ana Community College District (SAC CD), which provides $3.50 per training hour per enrollee. The participants in the Cadet Program and the Explorer Program will be spending the majority of their time participating in approved training, resulting in revenue from the SACCD program of approximately $25,000. These funds will be invested back into the recruitment and training program. Additionally, the program will receive $12,500 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to cover a portion of the operations. The project funding will also include $4,000 from Councilwoman Marquez's travel budget and $20,000 from the City's General Government budget. Finally, $20,000 will be generated from savings realized in Fire Department's existing traffic collision cost recovery program. These program costs and funding sources are detailed in Attachment C. 3 RECOMMENDATION I. That the Firefighter Cadet program be approved and that the Fire Chief be directed to implement the program; and 2. Refer the following actions to the Personnel Committee for review: a. Establish the following positions: i. Ten part-time Firefighter Cadets at a pay rate of $1 0.00 per hour; 11. One part-time Fire Cadet Supervisor at a pay rate of$45.00 per hour; 111. The part-time classification of Fire Prevention Trainee at a pay rate of $10.00 per hour, to be filled as needed as part of the Firefighter Cadet program. b. Review and approve job descriptions for each of the newly established positions. 3. Authorize the Human Resources Department to update Resolution 2008-20. 4. Authorize the Director of Finance to incorporate the revenues and expenditures associated with the Fire Cadet program into the Fire Department's FY 2011-12 Proposed Budget, in the amount of$145,500, in accordance with this staff report and attachments. 4 == !: ~ :t ~ ';:: ~ ~ :::: <::l ~ .:::: .;:: .~ i:: '" <~ ~~ z ~ ~ <::l :E~ =:.s u ~ < == ~ == ~d < '" ~ ~ ~ .. ~ '" ~ ~ <>.l ... .~ '" ~ .. ~ :t <>.l -s .~ ~~ .~ .e. ;: .~ ... ::::W ~ .S: ~ .-= :::: S '" .~ ~~ .. <::l ~ <>.l :::: .== ~ ~ ~~ ~ :::: ::~ ~ 00 " 'S 'a " .... " f-< " '" 'a <5 '" .... ~ ."I f-< " .. '" '" " .. ;::: = , " .~ I'l... u .. .... ~ 0 "" 0 ""' .. 0 ~ '" "" , -< - .. I'l... 00 .... -= OIl to: " "" .~ ... " = ...-;;;- e.= = .S o~ ~ roll .~ " ~ Q., =- "" .. .. .... >-= ,~ OIl ~= = .. "" "" .. .~ ....... :;;: ~ ~~ ~I-' -<0 Uc:z:: =- " " " .~ f-< = .S - " " .. " .... I'l... " .... ~ o '" >< o .... Q.,,, Q.,o -< .~ ~- IJ.) '00 a 0 .~ Q., - '""' '."I 1:: " .. " Q.,;::: "'--.. .- '" ~.E .... <8 '" !3 o -= '" " ;:; '" " -= u '" '" ~ ~~ I .... = .. e '" '" .... ~ ~ Q,t : ~ "C.. -< ~ --.. - U = "" .S ~ .... u .. - .. '" " '""' .~ " .. . u - f-< = on "" " 0",.- o "-l U _~rFJ " '" " 01) (l).!:: ~.~ ~ -..... "'C) o " " U cr< .. "'0 e " a3 (l) .~ -....'" - Q.,,, ~ Q a "'... .. "o:l ~ :2:rFJl'l... I .. .. "-l on >. :=; .. ~ ] '51 ~ ~ ~ e ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ '00 00 ~ ~ ", ~ ~ o:l ~ ~ s::< = - = " Q .- .- " = .... -= ._ (1# C,,) ~ =: '" "" .. ""' .~ -=-"" .~ ~ 0 =.."C ...:l = .. >. a " '" '" .. " U "0 U a m 0-< 50-< -5 .0 8 00 r.I:l ~ ~ ";..... > ~ ;..... 2 6 ~ ~ ~ --..... 0 t;::; ~ :0 -a e o " >< ~ I'l... "-l ~ ATTACHMENTB Firefighter Cadet Program Overview Obiective: 1. To increase interest among San Bernardino's youth and young adults in a fire service career. 2. To create opportunities for San Bernardino's community members to obtain a rewarding career with the San Bernardino City Fire Department (SBFD). 3. To strengthen the connection between the SBFD and the community it serves through involvement in Fire Department programs that teach character, community service, and job skills. 4. To maximize the benefits of the City's diverse community by increasing diversity in the community's Fire Department. PrOl!ram Summary SBFD's Fire Cadet Program is designed to provide a pathway for community members to obtain a career in the fire service. The multiple levels of this program focus on individuals from high school age through young adults. Participants receive insight into the benefits of a career in the fire service, training on fire and EMS skills, and mentoring from Fire Department personnel. Participation in the program can start as young as the 9th grade, and continues through the post- high school/college age groups. PrOl!ram Benefits · The training and experience that participants receive can be used in a broad range of fire service career options including jobs with the SBFD or other fire departments throughout the state. · The program exposes participants to the rigorous demands and professional attitude that are an intrinsic part of being a firefighter. By investing in these individuals and hiring through this pool of participants, the Fire Department employs a quality individual who is already a part of the local community. · Employees that come from the community generally have pre-established relationships with other community members including teachers, coaches, clergy, neighbors, and service groups. These relationships are important as they facilitate an understanding of community needs, and provide a pathway for educating community members on how they can effectively contribute to the safety of their homes and neighborhoods. Each of these contributes to an improved delivery of fire related services. · Recruiting from the community promotes a level of diversity in the Fire Department that is reflective of the City. Expanding the diversity of the workforce is a benefit to the work environment, and the public that is served. Prol!ram Components: The program consists of three distinct levels that bring the participant progressively closer to an opportunity for full-time employment with the SBFD. These include high school level programs, the Fire Cadet program, and the Firefighter Trainee program. Each of these programs will provide training and education that can be applied toward a fire service career. The level of training and education can range from basic orientation 6 to firefighting and EMS principles, to completion of college-level courses that are prerequisites for State accredited fire academies and paramedic programs. The following is a breakdown of the program components: · High School Level Training and Orientation Programs. Several programs will be used to disseminate information, provide training and education, and generate interest in a firefighting career. Each of these programs can be used to create a pool of talented, diverse, local candidates that could progress through the recruitment and hiring program. Examples of the resources available for this level of the program are: o Explorer Program: This program provides young adults from 15 to 21 years of age with an opportunity to learn about and prepare for a career in the Fire Service. The program is a joint venture with "Leaming for Life." This is a hands-on program that exposes participants to many career experiences, leadership opportunities, and community service activities. The primary goals of the program are to help young adults choose a career path within fire and emergency services and to challenge them to become responsible citizens of their communities and country. Currently, the SBFD and the Public Safety Academy have active Fire Explorer posts. o Public Safetv Academv: This unique charter school combines standard required high school level curriculum with basic training in firefighting and EMS concepts. Students learn in a setting that mimics the fire service environment including rank structure, professionalism, and teamwork. Many graduates from this program will have already completed the prerequisites for State accreditation. o Partnerships with San Bernardino Citv Schools: The Fire Department is currently working with San Bernardino City School Administration to develop avenues for high school aged community members to. pursue a career in the fire service. Options such as Regional Occupation Programs and general fire related curriculum are actively being explored. The Firefighter's ABC program will also serve as a recruiting resource at this level. · Cadet Program. The SBFD Cadet program will be the next step in the progression toward full-time employment with the Fire Department. This will be a paid, part-time position. The target group for recruitment will be those individuals who have been involved in the high school level programs outlined above. The objectives of the cadet program will be to provide the following: o To provide gainful employment in a position with SBFD that is related to their ultimate goal of being a full-time firefighter. o To provide time to acquire the requisite training and certifications to meet the minimum qualifications for the position of firefighter (P-I) or firefighter/paramedic (P-2) with the SBFD. This includes EMT -I certification, college level fire education classes, and may include paramedic certification. o To provide the Fire Department and the City with a pool of employees that can preform tasks that are beneficial to the department and the community as a whole. 7 Each of these functions will prepare the cadet to take the responsibilities of being a community servant and a member of the SBFD. · Cadet Selection Process The selection process for this position will be similar to the City's current firefighter hiring process. Conducting a comprehensive selection process at this stage is important because candidates who successfully complete the curriculum and requirements of the Cadet program will be eligible to move directly to a Firefighter Trainee position, and ultimately to a full-time position. Candidates will be selected through a validated process that is highly relevant the position of Firefighter. The selection process will not emphasize specific technical knowledge of firefighting principles, but instead focus on compatibility characteristics such as teamwork, tolerance for others, customer service traits, general mechanical aptitude, and basic math skills. Candidates who show the highest qualities in these areas will move on to oral interviews, physical ability assessments, and ultimately to a full background investigation. The background investigation will include the candidates' personal history, a polygraph, and a psychological evaluation. These are standard components for employment with the SBFD. Individuals who do not meet the minimum standards on these assessments cannot be employed as a firefighter with the SBFD, and therefore would be disqualified from the cadet program as well. · Firefighter TraineeIFull- Time Emplovment Candidates who successfully complete the cadet program will be eligible to apply for the position of Firefighter Trainee. This position is a transitional step to full-time employment designed to provide advanced training for the firefighter position. The candidate will be placed in a full-time training schedule and paid at a rate approximately 20% below bottom step Firefighter without benefits. Candidates who have not completed a California State accredited fire academy may be sponsored in this position by the SBFD and compensated while they attend. Candidates who have already completed an accredited fire academy may be allowed to skip this stage of the program and be immediately considered for full-time employment. Once the candidate successfully completes the trainee program, they will be offered employment as a firefighter with the SBFD as positions become available. Depending on the number of job openings and the number of participants in the program, there may be a need to recruit additional applicants for firefighter positions through conventional means (open recruitment). However, first priority would be given to those participants who successfully complete the SBFD recruitment program. Although this program does not provide direct training for Paramedic positions, individuals may choose to pursue paramedic education and certification on their own. Once licensed as a paramedic, the cadet graduates will also be given priority to open ParamedicIFirefighter positions. 8 U E-i Z ~ ~ := u -< E-i E-i -< '" ~ U h ;:::l o r/J en i:: .~ "0 i:: ;:::l I-L. "0 8 i:: i:: o "0 ..0<: ell ~ h ~ ....... '" o U ~ h en :2 i:l.. ....... ~ "0 ell U CI I-L. ~ r/J 0000000 o 0 0 lI) I./') 00 o 0 NO'. lI) f""-. II} ...f'N"'(i')v1 lff I..Q r<') o:::t ~ ,...; €A- EFt EFt EFt EFt fA '" ..c: "E o E 00 :x: '" ~ OJ al u .... <8 >> '" ~ ~ OJ .", '" u .... <8 ~ <:: OJ ~ o P.. E P-l '" ..c: "E o E >< 'r;; vi" .... ~ o OJ '" E .~ V OJ ..c: 0.- ;:l (/J ~ .... bIJ o .... ~ ~ ci ~ OJ vi" OJ :> o Oil .. <:: .S ~ "8 .", --< '- o .... ;:l o ~ ~ <:: OJ E 0.- '" 0< P-l .... 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