Firefighter Issues Internatinal Assciatin f Firefighters Lcal 1352 2018
Lcal 1352 PO Bx 1801 Auburn, WA 98071 www.iaff1352.rg March 2018 Dear Bard f Gvernance Member: As yu knw, the lks t partner with the VRFA administratin and Bard f Gvernance t prvide the highest level f service t the citizens f Algna, Auburn and Pacific. T that end, we are prviding yu with this issue packet that includes three items we believe are critical t the success f the rganizatin. This Lcal, and the ver 100 Firefighters, Captains and Battalin Chiefs it represents, lk at this bk as a first step. These issues can be cmplex and we lk frward t wrking with yu t frward the VRFA Missin f being a leading public safety agency. If there is any fllw up yu may need, please feel free t cntact Jesse Mitchell, ur Plitical Liaisn, anytime. Sincerely, Reed Astley Ryan Freed Jesse Mitchell President Vice President Plitical Liaisn Reed Astley, President Ryan Freed, Vice President Rick Olsn, Secretary Nrm Glden, Treasurer Cltn Fgelberg, Executive Bard Member Jesse Mitchell Executive Bard Member
Increase Staffing by Three Firefighters Per Shift The supprt fully staffing Statin 31. The Bard f Gvernance shuld increase the Fire Benefit Charge t add three firefighters t each f the fur shifts. Backgrund The VRFA has nt increased the number f firefighters respnding t calls since 2009 when Statin 33 was placed int service. The department has, hwever, increased nn-respnse psitins such as ffice, finance, fire marshal and ther administratin staff. When Statin 31 was built in 1985, a battalin chief, aid car and fire engine (a ttal f six peple) respnded ut f the statin. THAT NUMBER IS STILL THE SAME. In 2007, the VRFA tld the vters f Algna, Auburn and Pacific that a ladder truck was required t prvide a high level f fire prtectin. The vters respnded, and verwhelming supprted a capital imprvement bnd that included a $1.3 millin ladder truck. That ladder truck is currently crss staffed with a fire engine. That means there is nly enugh staff t respnd with either the fire engine OR the ladder truck. This is nt a gd respnse mdel and is nrmally used by vlunteer fire departments. During the recent Heritage Building fire, ur ladder truck sat unstaffed at the statin while we relied n ladder trucks frm Federal Way, Kent, Rentn and Tukwila. Ladder trucks perfrm highly technical wrk n the fire scene including ventilatin, search and rescue and frcible entry. Currently, when ur firefighters respnd with the ladder truck, they are placed at a disadvantage. Respnse times are increased as the crew is required t mve all f their persnal equipment frm the fire engine t the respnding ladder truck. This can take ver 60 secnds, and if yu have been t FireOPS 101 yu knw that fire dubles in size every minute. Actin Items Direct the Administratr and Operatins Deputy Chief t cllabrate with the Lcal t lay ut a plan t increase staffing by three fr each f the fur shifts. Direct the Administratr and the Directr f Finance t calculate what the cst f the additinal staffing wuld be. Direct the Administratr and the Directr f Finance t calculate the required change in the Fire Benefit Charge that wuld allw fr this change in staffing. During the 2019 budget prcess, ensure the additin f 12 FTE s t the 2019 budget. Page 3
During the 2019 FBC prcess, set the FBC at a rate that will supprt the 2019 budget. Ntes: Page 4
Cllabratin During Prmtinal and Entry Level Firefighter Interviews The supprt a cllabrative effrt t imprve the prmtin and entry level interview prcesses. T this end, the Lcal supprts a Bard f Gvernance reslutin directing the Administratr t: Have the Lcal President/designee present fr all Chief interviews, bth prmtinal and entry level Cllabrate with the Lcal President/designee n the questins asked during the Chief interview Have a gd faith discussin with the Lcal s President/designee fllwing Chief interviews, and prir t his candidate selectin Prvide a memrandum t thse passed ver during prmtinal exams explaining: why they were nt chsen, what steps they need t take t imprve their chances f being selected next time and assigning them a mentr t assist with this prcess. Backgrund Currently, The VRFA utilizes the rule f three during the final step f prmtin and entry level interviews. The Administratr interviews the tp three candidates and, at his sle discretin, selects ne f thse candidates t fill the pen psitin. The Lcal believes that while the Administratr shuld cntinue t have sle authrity n prmtinal and entry level hiring, the department wuld benefit frm input frm thse wh wrk with, wrk fr, and live with thse that are hired/prmted. We als believe that we can prvide insight that a civilian Administratr may nt have. This prcess is nt abnrmal within ur cmparable departments. Many d nt have the rule f three and mst that d, d nt utilize it. Suth King Fire and Rescue utilizes a partnership between the Lcal and the Administratin during the hiring and prmtinal prcess. Actin Items Create a Bard f Gvernance reslutin directing the Administratr t implement changes t the Chief interview prcess by increasing the cllabratin between the Administratin and the Lcal. Supprt the Bard f Gvernance reslutin. Page 5
Request updates frm bth the Administratr and the Lcal n the new Chief interview prcess. Ntes: Page 6
Merger with Suth King Fire and Rescue The supprt the cmplete cnslidatin and merger with Suth King Fire and Rescue. Backgrund Fire Departments acrss the regin have cntinued t cnslidate t increase the level f service they prvide t their citizens. The VRFA was ne f the first agencies t realize this, when it was created by jining the Pacific Fire Department with the Auburn Fire Department. Reginalizatin allws fr increased perfrmance n the fire grund, increased purchasing pwer and decreased verhead cst. When firefighters are speaking the same language, it is easier t wrk tgether. Having the same equipment and apparatus allws fr better results n emergency calls. Buying equipment fr 250 firefighters and 13 fire statins (as ppsed t 100 firefighters and 5 fire statins) allws lgistic fficers the ability t negtiate better csts. It als allws fr a quicker replacement f items as a larger cache f extra items can be kept n hand. Suth King Fire and Rescue and the VRFA culd reduce certain psitins that have a duplicatin f task. These psitins culd be added t the peratinal deplyment mdel, increasing the level f service t the citizens. Actin Items Frm a Bard f Gvernance Cmmittee, designed t lk int a ptential merger Cnduct a retreat that includes VRFA Bard members, VRFA Administratin, Valley Prfessinal Firefighters representatives, SKFR Cmmissiners, SKFR Administratin, Suth King Prfessinal Firefighters representatives Request mnthly updates frm bth the Administratr and the Unin President at the nrmally scheduled Bard f Gvernance meetings (separate frm their ther presentatins.) Create a timeline, with reasnable gals, t cmplete a merger by the end f 2019. Ntes: Page 7
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Merger with Puget Sund Reginal Fire Authrity The supprt the cmplete cnslidatin and merger with the Puget Sund Reginal Fire Authrity. Backgrund Fire Departments acrss the regin have cntinued t cnslidate t increase the level f service they prvide t their citizens. The VRFA was ne f the first agencies t realize this, when it was created by jining the Pacific Fire Department with the Auburn Fire Department. Reginalizatin allws fr increased perfrmance n the fire grund, increased purchasing pwer and decreased verhead cst. When firefighters are speaking the same language, it is easier t wrk tgether. Having the same equipment and apparatus allws fr better results n emergency calls. Buying equipment fr 350 firefighters and 16 fire statins (as ppsed t 100 firefighters and 5 fire statins) allws lgistic fficers the ability t negtiate better csts. It als allws fr a quicker replacement f items as a larger cache f extra items can be kept n hand. The Puget Sund Reginal Fire Authrity has becme the reginal leader in cnslidatin. They encmpass the Cities f Kent, Cvingtn, Sea-Tac, alng with King Cunty Fire District 37. They are the driving frce behind the Suth King Cunty Fire Training Cnsrtium, which we currently belng t. This is imprtant as any merger wuld include the cmbining f peratinal respnses/training. PSRFA is an accredited Fire Department, certified by the Center fr Public Safety Excellence. A number f years ag, the VRFA lked at merging with Suth King Fire and Rescue. Fr reasns that were unclear t the Lcal, the Administratr put a stp t thse talks. We believe that the PSRFA has prven that cnslidatin wrks and is a better fit fr the emplyees and citizens f the VRFA. PSRFA has the same shift schedule as the VRFA PSRFA is a member f the Suth King Cunty Fire Training Cnsrtium PSRFA is already a Reginal Fire Authrity PSRF utilizes a Fire Benefit Charge Actin Items Page 7
Frm a Bard f Gvernance Cmmittee, designed t lk int a ptential merger Request a presentatin t the BG frm PSFA Fire Chief Matthew Mrris explaining what a ptential merger wuld lk like. Cnduct a retreat that includes VRFA Bard members, VRFA Administratin, Valley Prfessinal Firefighters representatives, PSRFA Bard Members, PSRFA Administratin, Kent Prfessinal Firefighters representatives Request mnthly updates frm bth the Administratr and the Unin President at the nrmally scheduled Bard f Gvernance meetings (separate frm their ther presentatins.) Create a timeline, with reasnable gals, t cmplete a merger by the end f 2019. Ntes: Page 8
Merge With The Fire Department That Is Best Fr All Stakehlders Within The VRFA The supprt the cmplete cnslidatin and merger with either the Puget Sund Reginal Fire Authrity r Suth King Fire and Rescue. Currently, the VRFA Administratin is lking exclusively at a merger with SKFR, and, t ur knwledge there has been n research n merging with PSRFA. Frm a bts n the street view, a merger with PSRFA is a better fit fr the firefighters AND the citizens f ur three cities. Backgrund Fire Departments acrss the regin have cntinued t cnslidate t increase the level f service they prvide t their citizens. The VRFA was ne f the first agencies t realize this when it was created by jining the Pacific Fire Department with the Auburn Fire Department. Reginalizatin allws fr increased perfrmance n the fire grund, increased purchasing pwer and decreased verhead csts. When firefighters are speaking the same language it is easier t wrk tgether. Having the same equipment and apparatus allws fr better results n emergency calls. Buying equipment fr 350 firefighters and 16 fire statins (as ppsed t 100 firefighters and 5 fire statins) allws lgistic fficers the ability t negtiate better csts. It als allws fr a quicker replacement f items as a larger cache f extra items can be kept n hand. The Puget Sund Reginal Fire Authrity has becme the reginal leader in cnslidatin. They encmpass the Cities f Kent, Cvingtn, Sea-Tac, alng with King Cunty Fire District 37. They are the driving frce behind the Suth King Cunty Fire Training Cnsrtium, which we currently belng t. This is imprtant as any merger wuld include the cmbining f peratinal respnses/training. PSRFA is an accredited Fire Department, certified by the Center fr Public Safety Excellence. A number f years ag, the VRFA lked at merging with Suth King Fire and Rescue. Fr reasns that were unclear t the Lcal, the Administratr put a stp t thse talks. We believe that the PSRFA has prven that cnslidatin wrks and is a better fit fr the emplyees and citizens f the VRFA. PSRFA has the same shift schedule as the VRFA PSRFA is a member f the Suth King Cunty Fire Training Cnsrtium Page 7
PSRFA is already a Reginal Fire Authrity PSRF utilizes a Fire Benefit Charge Actin Items Frm a Bard f Gvernance Cmmittee, designed t lk int a ptential merger Request a presentatin t the BG frm PSRFA Fire Chief Matthew Mrris explaining what a ptential merger wuld lk like. Request a presentatin t the BG frm SKFR Fire Chief Al Church explaining what a ptential merger wuld lk like. Direct the Administratr, alng with the Lcal, t d a side by side cmparisn f a PSRFA and SKFR merger and present it at a BG meeting. Request mnthly updates frm bth the Administratr and the Unin President at the nrmally scheduled Bard f Gvernance meetings (separate frm their ther presentatins.) Create a timeline, with reasnable gals, t cmplete a merger by the end f 2019. Ntes: Page 8