TITLE
Recommendation to adopt resolution amending and replacing Resolution No. RES-15-0036 identifying the Terms and Conditions for Fire, Police, and Health and Human Services Departments responses to incidents outside of the jurisdiction when the City is compensated or reimbursed for such response. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Under the Statewide Disaster and Civil Defense Master Mutual Aid Agreement, the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) responds to requests from the State of California Office of Emergency Services (OES) to assist with fire and emergency rescue incidents outside of Long Beach. Responses are typically for wildfires within the state of California. Additionally, in past years, the OES has called upon LBFD’s Urban Search and Rescue and Swiftwater Rescue Teams to assist in rescue and recovery efforts in the aftermath of hurricanes in Texas and Louisiana.
In such responses, LBFD compensates all personnel from the time they leave the City until the time they return. This is referred to as “portal to portal” compensation, including travel time, time spent working on the incident, and rest periods. Historically, the OES has reimbursed LBFD for all personnel and equipment costs incurred during this portal-to-portal period. LBFD participates in an annual salary survey from OES to ensure OES reimbursement is based on the most current rates.
In 2015, the OES advised all local agencies that they will reimburse only for actual hours worked on a mutual aid incident unless the local agency has a Resolution in place that memorializes its practice of compensating its employees on a portal-to-portal basis. Without the Resolution, OES will not reimburse for travel time and rest periods, even though the City would continue to incur these costs. On March 24, 2015, the City Council adopted a Resolution identifying the terms and conditions for LBFD response to incidents outside of Long Beach when the City is reimbursed for such response. Since then, employees ...
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