Agenda

Return

C. 10

To:	Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Board of Directors
From:	Jeff Carman, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Date:	November 13, 2018

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Add Nine (9) Firefighter-Paramedic Recruit Positions

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 11/13/2018

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, Director
Candace Andersen, Director
Diane Burgis, Director
Karen Mitchoff, Director
Federal D. Glover, Director

Contact:	Jackie Lorrekovich, Chief Admin Svcs (925) 941-3300 x1300
cc:	Paul Reyes Jackie Lorrekovich

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: November 13, 2018
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ADOPT Position Adjustment Resolution No. 22370 to add nine (9) Firefighter-Paramedic Recruit (RP7A) (represented) positions at Salary Plan and Grade 4N5 1583 ($6,959.62) in the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The SAFER grant budget is approximately $5 million over three years. The Federal share is approximately $3.1 million and the District's share is approximately $1.9 million. The cost share requirement for the FY 2017 SAFER grant awards is significant. The Period of Performance is three years. No extensions beyond three years will be allowed. During that three-year period, the District will be responsible for providing a 25% cost share in the first and second years and a 65% cost share in the third year. Additionally, FY 2017 awards limit position costs to the usual annual cost of a first-year firefighter at the time of the grant application. The District will be responsible for funding 100% of merit increments and negotiated wage increases over three years. It should be noted that the FY 2017 SAFER grant application was submitted on April 27, 2018, and, therefore, project costing could not include the July 1, 2018, wage increase.

BACKGROUND:

On August 24, 2018, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (District) was awarded a three-year federal grant in the amount of $4,976,451 to fill nine (9) Firefighter or Firefighter-Paramedic positions. The grant was awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The grant program is Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, also known as SAFER. This authorizes the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (District) to accept the award for a fiscal year (FY) 2017 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant.

The purpose of SAFER grants is to provide funding directly to fire departments to assist them in increasing the number of firefighters to help communities meet industry minimum standards and attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards. A fire company is typically staffed with a captain, an engineer, and a firefighter, at least one of which is a paramedic. With this grant, the District intends to add a fourth position, a Firefighter or Firefighter-Paramedic classification, on our busiest ladder truck companies at Fire Station 6 in Concord, Fire Station 83 in Antioch, and Fire Station 84 in Pittsburg.

On September 18, 2018, the Fire Board of Directors authorized the Fire Chief to accept the FY 2017 SAFER grant. The grant period of performance (i.e., the date of eligibility for reimbursement) begins February 18, 2019. Plans are underway to start a fire academy in February 2019. After completion of the fire academy, successful recruits will graduate and be placed in fully operational front line positions. The classifications of Firefighter Recruit and Firefighter-Paramedic Recruit are flexibly staffed. Upon successful completion of the District's fire academy, recruits are promoted to Firefighter or Firefighter-Paramedic (depending on the EMS certification they hold).

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If action is not approved, the District will be unable to fill grant-funded positions.