HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - February 5, 2003 E-11CITY OF Lov
AGEN A TITL.F. Approval of Special Allocation Request Lodi/Stockton Fire Academy
MEETING DATE: February 5, 2003
PREPARED Michael Tietz, Fire thief
RECOMMENDED AC'T'ION: That Council approves $49,500 from contingency funds to continue
firefighter academy training.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The Lodi Fire Department has a history of -providing afire a a e iy
for newly faired firefighters. During a fire academy firefighter.recruits
learn basic essential firefighting shills. In prier years the Lodi
firefighters were trained through a 10 week in-house fire academy,
The in -hoose academy required the fall time services of the
department's Training Officer as well as. other members of the
department. The cost of the in -hoose fire academy was $45,980 or
$9,196 per student. In May 2002, the Lodi Fire Department and the
Stockton Fire Department held the first joint fire academy. This fire
academy is a 14-16 week long training program for new hires.
The costs associated with joint participation lowered the overall cost of this necessary training to 31,520 or
6,304,13 per student, a savings of over $14,460. The Lodi Fire Department was able to obtain additional
training for its members at either minimal or no cost. These classes included trench rescue training and
hazardous material training, after evaluating costs associated with an in-house academy or accepting the
offer to jointly participate with the Stockton Fire Department, Lodi Fire Department staff decided.to enter
into a joint participation arrangement.
In addition, the. Fire Department is a member of the State of California. Joint Apprenticeship Committee and
some costs are reimbursed to the department. During the last academy the department was eligible for
$7,700 in reimbursements,
With the retirement cif"three firefighters in 2002 and previous approval to hire three firefighters in 2402, the
department will main send the new firefighters to the joint academy in March 2003. The three neer
firefighter positions will bring to six of the ten firefighters necessary for re-establishing an engine company
at station ##1. The cost of sending the six firefighters to the Stockton Academy is $27,000. Total cost to the
City of Lodi is $49,500. Total cost to the City of Lodi for an in-house academy would have been over
1€?1,156.
H. Dixon Flynn -- City Manager
CITY OF LODI
E
FUNDING: $22,500-00 May 26, 2002 to August 23, 2002
$j7 Q0000 February 2003 w May 2003
$49,500.00
Michael E. Pretz
Fire Chief
Vicky McAthie
Finance Director
-s �
CITY OF STOCKTON w FINAR
REVENUE SERVICES DIVISION
C. K J_ (-42.-,S,,-. N EL DORADO ST
STOCKTON, CAA 95202
(209) 937-8297
TO ODI CITY OW
OD r -H DEPARTMENT
-30
ELM
FTE A 9524,0
Stockton
buftid
1NV0l('-E NO., o"4137
DATE . 1(1/4,3I�`i_�'�
AN`.0 L T , r 43 E `1(- F, "a.. T T `.ml
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TOTAL DUE, $2215.00.00
DATE; 10/ 31/02 DUE DATE; 11/25/02 LORI CITY O
PLEASE REMIT TO
CITY OF STOCKTON FINAR
FINANCE UIVI 100
425 N L DORADO ST
STOCKTON
C, 9 52 0
I
IC
NvOICE VO:
84137
CUSTOMER NO:
21913
CUSTOMER TYPE:
RC/ 2191
TERMS: NET 25
DAYS
AMOUNT:
$22.,5.1001,0
CITY OF LODI
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Presented to
Lodi Fire Chief Michael 'rets
April 19, 2002
From the Training Division
Battalion Chief Kevin Donnelly
The Current Situation
I believe there is enough statistical and empirical information included in this report to support the Lodi
Fire Department entering into a joint fire academy with the Stockton Fire Department. This would begin
with the next academy that is stated to begin in May. During the past year this department has
experienced much change. Included has been the rapid change in the personnel at each classification.
One of the places this most evident is the number of new fire recruits that must be processed through out-
Firefighter
urFirefighter Academy. A lot of time must be dedicated to each academy by personnel in the department.
The time required to implement and administer a quality program monopolizes paining staff activities,
and may cause laps in productive training for the remaining suppression personnel.
fie best way to optimize recruit academy time is to include as much required instruction as possible.
1'hee most efficient way is to reduce duplication of efforts. The Academy is a full time job for the training
Officer often putting in 10 or more hours of overtime during such events. Several off duty personnel are
also utilized to instruct particular areas of expertise or specialized skills. The amount of man hours
required to facilitate an academy is time well spent on our new personnel. The academy is the most
efficient Sime to give tire necessary and mandated training to employees. Current academy length has
been 10 weeks. This is not enough time to deliver all the required material to the new recruits.
The Problem
Changes in the California State Fire Training curriculum mandates add additional strait on the Training
Division_ 'These mandates are intended to assure that all fire department personnel are given the skills
and information needed to perform their duties safely and effectively. Additionally these requirements
for state certification require some special training facilities or instructors that the Lodi Fie Department
does not have at this time. Examples of this would be Confined Space Operations and ICS 200.
Ano(her important consideration for training during an academy is the availability of adequate facilities
and equipment. The department does not have a dedicated facility, or fire apparatus with which to train.
Through creative scheduling and the use of private properties the academy training has continued Often
drills and training are disrupted or must be modified because an apparatus or a particular building is not
available. For live fire training, finding, preparing, and utilizing donated structures has become difficult.
List academy, the two property owners were reluctant to allow their buildings to be burned during a
time frame that would meet the needs of that academy. This in turn led to no structures to bun in Lodi,
and left no other options than to pay for live fire training time at a college facility in Modesto, It is a
costly proposition and may lead to upwards of $IOO.dO in fees for a full day usage. It must however be
consider a cost to be incurred daring all future academies.
A Solution
I therefore propose that the Lodi Fire Department enter into a Joint training agreement with the Stockton
Fire Department for the training of new recruits in a Firefighter I Academy. This offers a solution to
several of the identified shortcomings of holding our own stand alone academy. It also offers
opportunities that have not yet discussed. First this is the most effective and efficient use of dollars spent
Per recruit. Secondly there would be additional resources to be utilized during the recruit academy. The
recruits would receive required California State Firefighter I curriculum including new mandates and
some firelighter Ii course work. Each recruit would receive the required California State Firefighter I
curriculum including new mandates and some Firefighter II course work. This proposal could also
offers the unique opportunity to build a link with the Stockton Fire Department for future training
academics, special operations, and company level training. Additionally, if this program is adopted it
could assist with the personnel goals of the department by opening up opportunities to currently excluded
ILIroups.
The most effective use of the way to train is an emersion program. The most efficient is to include all of
the necessary components in the academy when the recruit is assigned full time to training. This nneans
giving the course work and manipulative skills training that require a lot of coaching and close
supervision to assure safe and correct application of required skills. These skills need to be practiced on
a daily basis until they become second nature. Scheduling of instruction that needs to be. given to all
recruits is best during this time period to avoid shift scheduling considerations and overtime costs. The
comparative costs of the Joint acadenty offer a savings of -
$3000 per candidate over that of having an
exclusive Lodi academy. This also assures that the training given to each recruit is consistent and timely.
Together the plait presents a full emersion into entry level firefighting training and does so before the
costly alternative of -scheduling once on shift.
The additional resources that can be afforded by teaming with a larger department like Stockton help to
assure the quality of the training program. The academies held independently by the Lodi Fire
Department over the past ten years have been of a very high quality. But, as the needs to provide for
more required training continue to grow, so does the demand for training facilities and apparatus with
which to train. During the last academy the only live fire training that was available for training was to
rent a facility. This cost was almost $800.00 for the four hour rental. Future academies should be
allotted at least a full day of fire training. This would mean an approximate $1500.00 cost for that one
day of training alone. Stockton has indicated that they have at least a half dozen building available to
burn. They currently have a flash over trailer on site that is utilized during academies. They are also in
the process of building a new training facility that wilt incorporate live fire naming as well as other
training needs, such as forcible entry, search and rescue, laddering, and more. Sites within Lodi city
would also be identified and utilized during the academy by all recruits. They would be chosen an the
basis of which offers the best opportunities for training
Recent changes in the California State Fire Training Curriculum require additional costs for recruit
training. in order to meet the new state requirements all firefighters will have to complete this new
cturiculum. These requirements mean that in addition to student materials, new instructor materials will
have to be purchased. In addition there are requirements for ICS and Confined Space Awareness. These
M-0 two exanxptes of training that we were not able to facilitate for the last academy and must not arrange
for while they are on shift. Recruits will still be required to complete self study guidelines to complete
the state training requirements, and they will be required to show maintenance of skills taught during the
academy throughout their first year. Attending this joint academy the recruits would receive both of
those as well as the required California State Firefighter I curriculum including new mandates and some
Firefighter II course work.
Possible Future Benefits
There are certain intangibles that should also be considered as timely opportunities. As the department
grows every effort is being made by the city and department to address the Head to attract and retain
individuals from currently under represented groups. The participation in this joint academy removes the
treed to require. Firefighter I coursework completion prior to applying for employment. The Stockton
Fire Department does not have such a requirement opting instead to present all the require material in
during the recruit academy and first year, By adopting this progzam the city and the department could
expect a greater another of applicants with a wider range of diversity.
Joint training leads to better understanding and a better working relationship. Lodi Fire Department and
Stockton Fire Department have shared a good working relationship through participation in joint county
wide training and teams such as thre Joint County Hazardous Materials Response Tearn. This relationship
has become even closer over the past year- after the entering into the fire dispatch agreement. fly joining
resources for the purpose of training recruits we can expect that over the next several years additional
training between the departments would create a more seamless delivery of emergency services,
particularly in the event of a major disaster like the floods that affected the south county a few years ago.
SUMMARY
The current growth of the department offers a unique opportunity at this time. 'This is an effort; to
bring the hest available training to this department, in a manner that will positively effect the
development of all individuals within the department for the years to come. By opening the
doors to a joint training opportunity with Stockton Fire Department, the Lodi Fire Department
makes strides to improve the training for all Fire Department employees. The continual shortage
of facilities and equipment needs during an academy may be met. Staffing costs are reduced
while assuring that new employees get the required training in a cost effective manner. This
proposal also makes it possible to hire from a greater pool of candidates increasing the
opportunities for broaden the composition of the department.
LORI ACADEMY
TO Salary
14
40
X
$36.37
$20,369.83
TO OT
14
20
X
$54.56
$15,277,37
Confined Space
5
X
$250.00
$1,250.00
ICS Instructor
16
x
$65,00
$1,040,00
HZMT Instructor
40
X
$35.38
$1,415,30
Academy Instruct(
24
9
x
$35.38
$7,642.60
Books
5
x
$90,00
$450.00
Class Materials
5
X
60.00
300.00
Course Certificatic
3
5
x
$15.00
$225.00
Live Fire Training
2
X
$780.00
$1,560.00
Materials
1
x
$250.00
$250,00
Repairs
1
x
$250,00
$250.00
Administration
x
$0.00
Tools
1
x
$250.00
$250.00
Fuer'
100
x
$2.00
$200.00
Other
1
x
$1,000.00
$1,000.00
$51,480.09
JAC Rermbursment
$7 700
Total Cost
$45,980,09
# of
Candidates
5
Cost per Candidate
$9,196,02
JAC Academy
5
2000
X
2.75
5,500.00
JAC Additional
5
800
X
2.75
2,200.00
7,700.00
STOCKTON JOINT ACADEMY
Recruit Fees
5
5
X
4,000.00
20,000.00
RIOT
9
44
X
$22.81
9,031.85
Back Fill
9
24
X
3538
7,642.60
TO
5
14
X
36.37
2,546.23
39,220.67
JAC Reimbursments
7,700.00
Total Cos,
31,520.67
# of
Candidates
5
Cost
Per Candidate
6,304.13
TO = Training Officer
Lff = Drill Instructor
OT = Overtime pay
JAC = Joint Apprenticeship Committee
ICS = Incident Command System
HZMT = Hazardous Materials