|
DATE: |
July 18, 2023 and August 29, 2023 |
11 |
SUBJECT
Title
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 31.203 OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY CODE TO CREATE A NEW PATH FOR VOLUNTEER RESERVE FIREFIGHTERS (JULY 18, 2023 - FIRST READING; AUGUST 29, 2023 - SECOND READING UNLESS ORDINANCE IS MODIFIED ON SECOND READING) (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
Following the devastating effects of the 2003 and 2007 wildfires in the San Diego region, the Board of Supervisors (Board) set out to coordinate, regionalize, and improve fire protection and emergency medical services in rural communities. At that time, there were twelve (12) independent volunteer fire agencies, and four (4) local fire protection districts, protecting San Diego’s backcountry, each with varied levels of training and emergency response performance. The County established a Volunteer Reserve Firefighter (VRFF) Program to ensure coverage in communities that did not have full-time firefighters. Although the VRFF program was helpful for individuals wanting experience to pursue a career in the fire service, it was not a sustainable model. The County instead expanded its cooperative agreement with CAL FIRE to add paramedic-level career firefighters to all stations to ensure around the clock service to protect lives and property in our rural areas.
Today, San Diego County Fire (County Fire), through the partnership with CAL FIRE, is the second largest fire department in the region and staffs 22 fire stations with nearly 250 career firefighting personnel. Although career staffing is robust, there is still value in augmenting full-time staff with volunteer reserve firefighters. County Fire initiated a review to evaluate the effectiveness of the VRFF Program and determine if changes could be made to support the Board of Supervisors’ vision for creating career opportunities in underserved and impacted communities. Removing financial and access barriers to participation became the priority for a reimagined VRFF program. Access barriers include long transportation time for rural residents to attend firefighting academies and urban residents to volunteer at rural fire stations, and for lower-income individuals to purchase the necessary equipment and loss of income from not working full-time. Proposed changes include updating the stipends to support participants in recovering their financial investment to participate in the program, establishing new opportunities to join the VRFF Program, formalizing training opportunities with established high school fire and emergency medical services programs, and engaging with rural and diverse high school students to promote a firefighting workforce to match our region’s diversity.
Today’s request is for the Board of Supervisors to amend Section 31.203 in the San Diego County Code pertaining to the Volunteer Reserve Firefighter Stipend and receive a presentation on the future of the Volunteer Reserve Firefighter Program. The ordinance will be introduced on July 18, 2023, and, if approved, it will be scheduled for adoption on August 29, 2023. If the proposed ordinance is altered on August 29, 2023, then on that date a subsequent meeting date will be selected for the ordinance’s adoption.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
On July 18, 2023:
1. Receive a presentation on the Volunteer Reserve Firefighter Program.
2. Approve the introduction of the Ordinance (first reading) entitled:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 31.203 OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY CODE RELATING TO THE VOLUNTEER RESERVE FIREFIGHTER PROGRAM.
3. If, on July 18, 2023, the Board takes action as recommended in Item 2 above, then on August 29, 2023
Consider and adopt the Ordinance (second reading) entitled:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 31.203 OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY CODE RELATING TO THE VOLUNTEER RESERVE FIREFIGHTER PROGRAM.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
More than 80 percent of the San Diego County Fire Protection District’s (SDCFPD) jurisdictional area qualifies as a disadvantaged unincorporated community, based on a San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) report on the funding, administration, and performance of the former County Service Area No. 135 (now SDCFPD). The proposed changes to the Volunteer Reserve Firefighter Program are intended to remove financial and access barriers to careers in fire service. Increasing the daily stipend rate and adding additional pathways to enter the Program will help to recruit a more diverse firefighting workforce, including minorities and rural residents.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed changes to the Volunteer Reserve Firefighter Program are focusing investments on chronically underserved communities in our region to ensure sustainable, safe communities for all. Young adults in rural and urban communities may not have equitable access to joining the firefighting workforce. Proposed changes in this Board Letter increases the County’s investment to reduce financial and transportation barriers for young adults to reduce the cost for volunteering with San Diego County Fire while supporting their journey through the fire academy. The increased investment will support with the purchase of equipment, meals, and transportation costs while participating in the Volunteer Reserve Firefighter Program.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for this request are included in the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Operation Plan for San Diego County Fire. If approved, this request will result in costs and revenue of $300,000 in Fiscal Year 2023-24 for participant stipends, training, and community outreach to promote and encourage residents to join the local firefighting workforce. The funding source is existing General Purpose Revenue. There will be no change to net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
On May 15, 2023, with 4 of 5 advisory board being present, the San Diego County Fire Protection District Fire Advisory Board received an update on reimagining the Volunteer Reserve Firefighter Program (VRFF) and voted unanimously in support of the proposed program changes and updates to the VRFF assignments and stipend rates.
BACKGROUND
Following the devastating effects of the 2003 and 2007 wildfires in the San Diego region, the Board of Supervisors (Board) set out to coordinate, regionalize, and improve fire protection and emergency medical services in rural communities. At the time, residents and visitors in the backcountry were served by a patchwork of federal, state, local fire protection districts, and volunteer fire agencies. This was not ideal for maximizing the protection of lives and property. To address the immediate needs, the County established a centralized Volunteer Reserve Firefighter (VRFF) Program that paid a daily stipend to volunteers working at 12 volunteer stations. Although the program was helpful experience for individuals wanting a career in the fire service, it was not a sustainable model. Through the long-standing Cooperative Agreement with CAL FIRE, the County has consolidated 16 independent fire agencies into the San Diego County Fire Protection District and chose to expand coverage and add around-the-clock, paramedic-level career firefighters to ensure equitable service levels throughout the region by assuring career fire staff were available. The VRFF Program has continued to supplement career staffing but is not relied upon as a primary response resource. Today, San Diego County Fire (County Fire), through the partnership with CAL FIRE, is the second largest fire department in the region and staffs 22 fire stations with nearly 250 career firefighting personnel. Although career staffing is robust, there is still value in augmenting staffing with volunteer reserve firefighters. County Fire initiated a review to evaluate the effectiveness of the VRFF Program and determine if changes could be made to support the Board of Supervisors’ vision for creating career opportunities in our most underserved and impacted communities. In addition, the VRFF will create opportunities for a more diverse workforce to join the field as the region’s firefighting workforce does not match the general population’s diversity and minorities are underrepresented.
Updated Stipends and Assignments
The current VRFF Program has five assignments for participants. However, the educational and training requirements limit participation to those who have already completed the firefighting academy. The San Diego region’s firefighting agencies have a significant demand for full-time firefighters and our VRFF participants are often employed by other agencies before they are able to provide significant benefits. County Fire is proposing to adjust the current stipend assignments from five to two to simplify the process and provide more on-the-job training opportunities to individuals active in the firefighting academies. It will also provide an opportunity for those still in the firefighting academy to volunteer and gain on-the-job experience. The current VRFF stipends were last updated in 2019 and do not adequately reimburse participants for the expenses incurred to volunteer their time in the program which includes meals, equipment, and long travel distances (i.e., gasoline and vehicle maintenance). Increasing the stipends will support volunteer reserves with potentially recovering their financial investment to participate in the program.
|
Assignment |
Current Stipend Amount |
Proposed Stipend Amount |
|
Volunteer Reserve Fire Apparatus Engineer |
$145 |
Deleted |
|
Senior Level Volunteer Reserve Firefighter |
$130 |
Deleted |
|
Support Reserve (Water Tender Driver) |
$100 |
Deleted |
|
Journey Level Volunteer Reserve Firefighter |
$110 |
Deleted |
|
Entry Level Volunteer Reserve |
$95 |
Deleted |
|
Restricted Volunteer Reserve |
N/A |
$192* |
|
Full Volunteer Reserve |
N/A |
$384** |
*12 hours in a shift, at $16 per hour
**24 hours in a shift, at $16 per hour
Restricted Volunteer Reserve
The Restricted Volunteer Reserve will become the entry point into the VRFF Program. Participants must meet the minimum qualifications which include having their Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) license and be enrolled in a fire academy. Restricted Reserves will work 12-hour shifts and will assist with medical aids, traffic collisions (i.e., patient care and traffic control), structural fire protection, vegetation fire response, fire engine support functions, and overhaul operations. In some cases, eligible participants may be asked to operate County Fire apparatus such as Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances, fire engines, water tenders, and light duty vehicles. Restricted Volunteer Reserves are engaged in observational and supportive roles to career firefighters similar to a paid internship. Their primary purpose is to learn how classroom trainings are applied in the field. These opportunities support students with successfully completing their academies and improving their chances of full-time employment with a career firefighting agency. In specific cases where funding is available, such as seasonal CAL FIRE Firefighters attending paramedic school, individuals may be placed into the Restricted Reserve assignment and paid a daily stipend for attending school in exchange for a weekly shift at a County Fire station and commitment to working full-time for CAL FIRE/County Fire.
Full Volunteer Reserve
While active in the County’s program, Full Volunteer Reserves, who are required to have their California State Fire Marshal Firefighter 1 Certification, will work 24-hour shifts and perform all duties, delivering the same life-saving services as career personnel at fire stations and on emergency calls. Full Volunteer Reserves working with career staff supplement minimum CAL FIRE/County Fire staffing standards. These individuals are keeping their post-academy skills up-to-date and receiving minimum experience requirements, while they seek to become full-time firefighters in the San Diego region.
Community Engagement Opportunities
County Fire remains committed to working with local high school students to reduce barriers and support interested students with entering the firefighting and emergency medical services workforce. In Fiscal Year 2023-24, County Fire added a full-time Training Captain to the CAL FIRE Agreement to support community engagement opportunities in the San Diego County Fire Protection District (SDCFPD) and act as a liaison with existing high schools that have a fire or emergency medical services program.
High School Engagement Program
County Fire will establish a High School Engagement Program. The Training Captain will work with high schools in the SDCFPD to establish outreach opportunities with students. Interested students will receive training and opportunities to spend time at SDCFPD fire stations to learn about the culture. The Training Captain will support youth entering the VRFF Program after high school graduation and enrolling in a fire academy.
Established High School Education Programs
There are two fully functioning high school fire science programs in San Diego County. These two programs are taught by former career firefighting personnel and are in disadvantaged communities. Student graduates have completed the equivalent of the introductory fire academy courses and are able to test for their EMT license. Students who graduate from these programs who are enrolled in a fire technology program and have their EMT license, will meet the minimum qualifications as a Volunteer Restricted Reserve. County Fire will provide these programs with “in-kind” trainings and donate used materials to support students with their learning.
Future Opportunities
County Fire remains committed to promoting equity and diversity within our region’s firefighting and emergency medical services workforce. The proposed actions in this Board Letter are a critical step in achieving a vision where the workforce reflects our region’s broad diversity. County Fire is responsible for administrative oversight of the San Diego County Fire Protection District. According to the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), more than 80% of the jurisdiction qualifies as a disadvantaged unincorporated community and encompasses over 1.5 million acres of land. Many communities in the SDCFPD are lower-income, encompass tribal lands, geographically isolated, and include a significant number of non- English speakers. Transportation remains a barrier for attending in-person firefighting academies and purchasing the one-time equipment needed for participation. County Fire will continue to seek grant funding that removes those challenges and ensures each student interested in and eligible for a firefighting career has those opportunities.
Today’s request is for the Board of Supervisors to amend Section 31.203 in the San Diego County Code pertaining to the Volunteer Reserve Firefighter Stipend and receive an update on the future of the Volunteer Reserve Firefighter Program.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions support the Equity Initiative of the County of San Diego’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan by advancing opportunities for economic growth and career opportunities for traditionally underserved populations. The ordinance will be introduced on July 18, 2023, and, if approved, it will be scheduled for adoption on August 29, 2023. If the proposed ordinance is altered on August 29, 2023, then on that date a subsequent meeting date will be selected for the ordinance’s adoption.
Respectfully submitted,
HELEN N. ROBBINS-MEYER
Interim Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
ATTACHMENT A - An Ordinance Amending Section 31.203 of the San Diego County Code Relating to the Volunteer Reserve Firefighter Program (CLEAN)
ATTACHMENT B - An Ordinance Amending Section 31.203 of the San Diego County Code Relating to the Volunteer Reserve Firefighter Program (STRIKEOUT)
ATTACHMENT C - Summary of Proposed Ordinance