TITLE
Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund Group in the Fire Department by $490,409, offset by a transfer of Measure A revenue from the Capital Fund Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department, to fund a Fire Engineer Academy. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to approve the reallocation of Measure A funds, appropriated for Fire Station 1 Apparatus Door Replacement in the Public Works Department, to the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) to fund a Fire Engineer Academy in June 2021.
In Fiscal Year 2020 (FY 20), Measure A funds in the amount of $495,000 were allocated for improvements to Fire Station 1, which included the design, purchase, and installation of new apparatus bay doors. After a subsequent analysis, it was determined that the existing doors are functioning adequately and blend in well aesthetically with the recently completed Measure A-funded façade improvements to Fire Station 1. Therefore, the LBFD has determined that these funds would be better utilized to support the one-time costs of a Fire Engineer Academy.
For the past seven years, the LBFD has had difficulty promoting Firefighters to Fire Engineer, the position that is responsible for operating fire engines, fire trucks, and other large fire department apparatus. Due to the technical requirements of the position, the examination process is very rigorous and, historically, has resulted in a relatively small number of qualified candidates on the Civil Service eligible list, with an average passing rate of only 33 percent. This has resulted in consistently high vacancy rates in the Fire Engineer ranks. Due to the LBFD’s constant staffing requirements, these vacancies have led to a large volume of overtime shifts, which puts a significant strain on the workforce.
In FY 19, the LBFD designed and implemented the first Fire Engineer Academy, in an attempt to better prepare candidates for the more complex and rigorous performance com...
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