HomeMy WebLinkAboutHBFA - Firefighters Association - 1998-09-08Refilb�66
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Council/Agency Meeting Held:
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Deferred/Continued to:
A prove ❑ Conditionally Appr ved ❑ Deniied
R1n/1TJ! y lerk's Signature
Council Meeting Date:" September 8, 1998
Department ID Number: FD 98-A16
CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH �5
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION::`
SUBMITTED TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS�.>
SUBMITTED BY: RAY SILVER, City Administrator -a
PREPARED BY: MICHAEL P. DOLDER, Acting Assistant City Administrator/Fire Chief ,
SUBJECT: ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. - MODIFYING THE
HUNTINGTON BEACH FIREFIGHTER°S ASSOCIATION
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Statement of Issue, Funding Source, Recommended Action, Alternative Action(s), Analysis, Environmental Status,
Statement of Issue: Should the Fire Department be allowed to modify the current
Huntington Beach Firefighter's Association Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) through a
side letter in order to Y-rate five Captain/Paramedics to reorganize the staffing of Paramedic
Engine Companies?
Funding Source: No additional general fund appropriations are required. Funding for
this adjustment is available through cost savings resulting from hiring new Firefighter/
Paramedics at a lower cost than the existing Captain/Paramedics. The cost of Y-Rating
Captain/Paramedics will be reduced as future cost of living adjustments occur.
Recommended Action: MOTION TO: Adopt Resolution No. 98 - _, Modifying the
M.O.U. Between the City of Huntington Beach and the Huntington Beach Firefighter's
Association with Side Letter attached to allow Paramedic reorganization and
Captain/Paramedics Y-Rating.
Alternative Action(s): Do not Adopt Resolution.
Analysis: The Fire Department intends to reorganize the staffing of Paramedic Engine
Companies by reassigning Paramedic responsibilities from Captain/Paramedics to all
Firefighter/Paramedics as soon as possible. The reason for the reorganization is to provide
optimum staffing for Paramedic Erigine Companies and to improve the overall operational
capabilities of the Department.
REQUEST FOR COUNCI ACTION
MEETING DATE: September 8, '1998 DEPARTMENT ID NUMBER: FD 98-016
Analysis (continued): Currently, there are nine Captain/Paramedics within the Fire Department.
The Huntington Beach Firefighter's Association, Memorandum of Understanding, Article V.,
Section D, provides for Y-rating of Paramedics after completion of five years of continuous
Paramedic service: Under this MOU provision, four of the nine Captain/Paramedics are eligible
for Y-rating. The other five personnel, although all Paramedic -certified from nine to sixteen
years, are not eligible for the Y-rating because of a break in service between the time of their
Paramedic promotion and being appointed as a Captain/Paramedic.
From the outset of the Paramedic Engine Company program, which began in 1995, using all
Firefighter/Paramedics was identified as the optimal staffing for Paramedic Engine Companies.
However, full Firefighter/Paramedic staffing was not possible because training nine additional
Paramedics would have cost $297,000 at a time when the Fire Department was directed to
implement a budget reduction. In addition, the training would have required a minimum of two
years to implement the Paramedic Engine Delivery System.
As a result of cost and availability, Captains who previously held Paramedic rank and
maintained their Paramedic Certification were used in a dual role as Captain and Paramedic.
These Captain/Paramedics provided an extremely beneficial component in the transition to
Paramedic Engine Companies that could not otherwise have been accomplished.
However, the dual roles, required of Captain/Paramedics, have caused problems in the
operation of Paramedic Engine Companies. On large-scale incidents, such as a multi -vehicle
traffic accident, Captains are directed to take command and provide leadership for the overall
incident. This requirement prevents the Captain from operating as a Paramedic, delays
necessary treatment, and usually requires calling additional units to support Paramedic duties.
In addition, with only three Captain/Paramedics per shift out of a total of ten Captains, staffing
and assignment problems are encountered. Fire Department staff and the Association have met
and agreed to a side letter to the MOU correcting the Captain/Paramedic conflicts and the
staffing shortages in the Firefighter rank by increasing Firefighter/Paramedic staffing to 48.
Reorganization of the staffing of Paramedic Engine Companies will provide long term
improvements in paramedic delivery and will eliminate current staffing and logistical problems.
Approval of the proposed resolution and side letter is the most effective method of
accomplishing the paramedic reorganization.
Environmental Status: Not applicable.
RCA Author: Reynolds, ext. 5563 s:\pmt\98 rca\rca 98016
RCA 98016 -2- 08/25/98 4:28 PM
RESOLUTION NO. 9 8 - 6 2
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH MODIFYING THE M.O.U.
BETWEEN THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH AND
THE HUNTINGTON BEACH FIREFIGHTER'S ASSOCIATION
WHEREAS, the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Huntington
Beach and the Huntington Beach Firefighter's Association, dated July 15, 1992, and adopted
by Resolution No. 6406 (the "M.O.U."), has expired but continues to remain in effect,
The City Council of the City of Huntington Beach desires to modify the M.O.U.,
regarding Paramedic reorganization and Captain/Paramedic Y-Rating set forth in Section
V.D. of that document,
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach resolves as
follows:
The Side Letter dated August 24, 1998 to the M.O.U., a copy of which is
attached hereto and by reference made a part hereof, is hereby approved and ordered
implemented in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach at a
regular meeting thereof held on the 8th day of September , 1998.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
REVIEWED AND APPROVED:
Ci Administrator
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City AttorneyIAO-
8 �S
INITIATED AND APPROVED:
w,; u�,- -
Fire Chief J'�- 24-!i J,
Firemou/jmViiV08/25/98
Res. No. 98-62
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss:
CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH 1
I, CONNIE BROCKWAY, the duly elected, qualified City Clerk of
the City of Huntington Beach, and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of said City,
do hereby certify that the whole number of members of the City Council of the City
of Huntington Beach is seven; that the foregoing resolution was passed and adopted
by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all the members of said City Council
at a regular meeting thereof held on the 8th day of September, 1998 by the
following vote:
AYES: Julien, Harman, Dettloff, Bauer
NOES: None
ABSENT: Green (Garafalo and Sullivan Out Of The Room)
4�4� &41:ae�
City Clerk and ex-officio4elerk of the
City Council of the City of Huntington
Beach, California
G/reso1uti/resbkpg/97-80
CITY bF 3 Ni BEAC!�
2000 MAIN STREET
FIRE DEPARTMENT
August 24, 1998
Donald A. Boland, President
Huntington Beach Firefighter's Association
Post Office Box 757
Huntington Beach, California 92648
SUBJECT: PARAMEDIC REORGANIZATION SIRE LETTER
Dear President Boland:
CALIFORNIA 92648
This letter shall serve as a "Side Letter" regarding our discussions on Paramedic reorganization and
Captain/Paramedic Y-Rating as identified in the Huntington Beach Firefighter's Association,
Memorandum of Understanding, Article V, Section D.
Currently, there are nine Captain/Paramedics within the Fire Department. The Fire Department intends
to reorganize the staffing of Paramedic Engine Companies by reassigning Paramedic responsibilities from
Captain/Paramedics to all Firefighter/Paramedics as soon as possible. The reason for the reorganization is
to provide optimum staffing for Paramedic Engine Companies and to improve the overall operational
capabilities of the Department.
This Side Letter shall modify the Huntington Beach Firefighter's Association, Memorandum of
Understanding, as follows:
The nine existing Appointed Captain/Paramedics will be Y-Rated as per Huntington Beach
Firefighter's Association, Memorandum of Understanding, Article V, Section D, four months
from the date new Firefighter/Paramedics are hired; i.e., new Firefighter/Paramedics are hired
October 1, 1998, Y-Rating will be implemented on February 1, 1999. Y-Rated Captain/
Paramedics will maintain Paramedic Certification and provide any necessary Paramedic level
skills until their current individual Paramedic Certification lapses or until one year from the
date any new Firefighter/Paramedic is hired, whichever is sooner. Even after their Paramedic
Certification lapses, Y-Rated Captain/Paramedics will retain their Y-Rating pursuant to the
Memorandum of Understanding, Article V, Section D.
The Y-Rated Captain/Paramedic reorganization will occur as follows:
A. Y-Rated Captain/Paramedics will provide Paramedic training and share Paramedic experience
with new Firefighter/Paramedics.
B. Y-Rated Captain/Paramedics shall apply all Paramedic skills when necessary with no additional
compensation.
C. When a Y-Rated Captain/Paramedic is assigned to a Paramedic Engine Company and a
Firefighter/Paramedic vacancy exists, a Firefighter will be hired first if signed up and the Y-Rated
Captain/Paramedic will work as a Paramedic (Captain) with no additional compensation. If an
order -in situation occurs, a Firefighter/Paramedic will be required to fill the vacancy.
August 24, 1998
Page Two
D. All duties and responsibilities listed above will continue until the Y-Rated Captain/Paramedic's
existing Paramedic Certification lapses or until one year from the date any new Firefighter/
Paramedic is hired, whichever is sooner.
E. Y-Rated Captain/Paramedics will participate with the Fire Department in developing a long-term
Huntington Beach Fire Department Quality Assurance (QA) Program.
If the Huntington Beach Firefighter's Association is in agreement with the position as discussed and
outlined in this Side Letter, please sign below and return this letter to my office. This Side Letter will be
included in the Request for Council Action requesting Council approval of the Y-Rating for
Captain/Paramedics.
CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH
Michael P. Dolder
Acting Assistant City Administrator/Fire Chief
Attachment
cc: William H. Osness, Personnel Director
Gail E. Hutton, City Attorney
Charles L. Reynolds, Division Chief/Operations
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
DONALD A. BOLAND, Preside t
Huntington Beach Firefighter's Association
INITIATED AND APPROVED BY:
MICHAEL P. DOLDER, Fire Chief
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
WILLIAM H. OSNESS, Personnel Director
DATE
-� �_�2L
DATE
�,ay-5
DATE
INITIATING DEPARTMENT:
FIRE
SUBJECT:
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. TO MODIFY HBFA
MOU
COUNCIL MEETING DATE:.
September 8, 1998
RCA A jT��
STTATUS
Ordinance (w/exhibits & legislative draft if applicable)
Not Applicable
Resolution (w/exhibits & legislative draft if applicable)
Attached
Tract Map, Location Map and/or other Exhibits
Not Applicable
Contract/Agreement (w/exhibits if applicable)
(Signed in full by the City Attorney)
Not Applicable
Subleases, Third Party Agreements, etc.
(Approved as to form by City Attorney)
Not Applicable
Certificates of Insurance (Approved by the City Attorney)
Not Applicable
Financial Impact Statement (Unbudget, over $5,000)
Not Applicable
Bonds (if applicable)
Not Applicable
Staff Report (If applicable)
Not Applicable
Commission, Board or Committee Report (If applicable)
Not Applicable
Findings/Conditions for Approval and/or Denial
Not Applicable--,
""'tXPLANATIOWfOR MISSI
d REVIEWED
RETURNED
f RDED
Administrative Staff
Assistant City Administrator (Initial)
-City Administrator (Initial)
4dV
.City Clerk
EXPLANATION FOR RETURN 0 F�' ITEM"
RUA Author: Reynolds, ext. 5563
��&CEIVED FROM
AND MADE A PART OF 7HE
COUNCIL MEETING OF RECORD AT
OFFICE OFTHE ✓��� E
CONNIE 8 CITY CLERK
ROCKWAY CITY CLERK
CITY NEGOTIATIONS WITH FIRE ASSOCIATION
Recent public comments and informational picketing by the
Huntington Beach Firefighters Association have focused attention on the lack of
a labor relations agreement between the City and the Firefighters Association. It
is the City's policy not to comment on the details of negotiations in an effort to
focus the negotiations between the City and the Firefighters Association at the
bargaining table.
The City and the Huntington Beach Firefighters Association have been
meeting and conferring for several months in an attempt to reach agreement on
changes to wages, hours and working conditions for the Firefighters Association
members. In March of this year, the negotiating team for the
Firefighters Association submitted to its membership proposed terms and
conditions for a two year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The
membership did not approve the two year MOU proposal. Negotiations impasse
has not been declared by either the City or the Firefighters Association.
The City and the Firefighters Association will be conducting further meet
and confer sessions in view of the membership's rejection of the two year
proposal. For any questions regarding the current status of negotiations
between the City and the Firefighters Association, contact Deputy City
Administrator, Robert J. Franz at (714) 536-5236.
1541111
06/01/98 6:45 PM