TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an Affiliation Agreement for a period of three years, and all necessary amendments including term extensions, with the Palomar Community College District for the Long Beach Fire Department to provide supervised field service experience for Emergency Medical Service Program students. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to enter into an Affiliation Agreement with the Palomar Community College District (Palomar College) for the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) to provide supervised field service experience for Palomar College Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program students. Palomar College provides a curriculum for Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic training, which includes a field internship wherein a student is assigned to a paramedic unit and functions as a paramedic under the supervision of two licensed paramedics. This agreement with Palomar College will allow Long Beach Firefighters to serve their required field internships with the LBFD while enrolled in the Palomar College training program. In addition, the LBFD will allow field internships for Palomar College students from other fire departments as space permits.
The LBFD has been participating in similar affiliation agreements with other institutions for many years. The increased demand for Paramedics statewide has resulted in EMS providers competing for limited spots. Adding Palomar College as a training partner through this Affiliation Agreement will help the LBFD replenish the current critically low Paramedic staffing levels within the department.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Arturo D. Sanchez on September 15, 2022 and by Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on September 21, 2022.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on October 11, 2022, to ensure that the Affiliation Agreement is fully executed prior to the start of Palomar College’s next training class.
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