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>> WE'RE GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 06:30 PM ON NOVEMBER 8TH.
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
IF YOU COULD ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE.PLEASE PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
WE ARE HAVING AN ASSESSMENT OF OUR FIRE OPERATIONS.
[4. Assessment of Fire Operations - The Fire Chief will provide the City Council with an overview of his assessment on various aspects of Fire Department operations and recommendations for initial improvements.]
IS THAT CORRECT, MR. RUSSI? YES. MR. MAYOR, ON A MINUTE, CHIEF NIGG WILL COME UP AND GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW.I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT FOR THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE PUBLIC AND THOSE IN ATTENDANCE, THERE WILL BE NO ACTION TAKEN TODAY.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO GIVE COUNSEL AN OVERVIEW AND SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AND GET SOME DIRECTION FROM YOU THAT WE WILL BRING BACK FOR ACTION AT A LATER DATE.
WHAT CHIEF NIGG IS GOING TO DO AS YOU KNOW, HE TOOK OVER ON AUGUST 31ST.
IN THAT FIRST DAY, HE INDICATED THAT HE WITHIN THE FIRST 100 DAYS, WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK WITH SOME TYPE OF ASSESSMENT.
WELL, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT THE 60TH DAY AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT HE HAS SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HE WANTS TO BRING FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL FOR YOU TO CONSIDER AND SOME CHANGES THAT HE FEELS WOULD IMPROVE THE DEPARTMENT'S OPERATIONS.
WITH THAT, HE'S GOT A PRESENTATION THAT HE WANTS TO GO THROUGH WITH YOU AND THEN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
GOOD EVENING, MR. NIGG. YOU'VE GOT THE MIC SIR, PLEASE FILL US IN.
GOOD EVENING. GLADLY. HOPEFULLY I LEARN FROM YOUR TRICKS HERE.
[LAUGHTER] GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PRO TEMPORE CITY COUNCIL.
GERALD, CAN YOU GO AND PUT UP THE PRESENTATION? YES, SIR. READY TO GO.
THERE'S ALWAYS MORE WORK TO DO.
LET ME FIRST THANK YOU FOR TAKING SOME TIME TONIGHT TO PARTAKE IN THIS SPECIAL STUDY SESSION, AND SECOND, HAVING A DESIRE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND REPAIR THE ISSUES WITHIN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THIS EVENING REPRESENTS AN EXCITING TIME FOR THIS WHOLE CITY.
AS WE ALL LOOK TO MOVE BEYOND THE DISPARAGING RECENT EVENTS, MARRING LA VERNE PROUD REPUTATION LEGACY.
WE ARE FACING SEVERAL PRESSING ISSUES, ALL OF WHICH I AM CONFIDENT WE CAN RESPONSIBLY RECTIFY TOGETHER. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
UPON MY APPOINTMENT, I COMMITTED TO BEING ATTENTIVE TO THE NEEDS OF EVERYONE AROUND ME AND IN DUE COURSE, PROVIDING TANGIBLE CHANGE WITHIN MY FIRST 90 DAYS.
I MADE THAT LOFTY COMMITMENT TO CITY MANAGER BOB RUSSI, EACH OF YOU, MYSELF, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR DEDICATED FIREFIGHTERS.
THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT IS TRULY BEEN DOING THE PROVERBIAL MORE LESS FOR MANY YEARS AND WITHOUT ANY REAL VISION TO ASPIRE TO.
CONSEQUENTLY, LOW MORALE IS CRIPPLING OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE HIGHLY TRAINED FIREFIGHTERS OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS, WHILE ALREADY CONTENDING WITH AN UNPRECEDENTED AND HIGHLY COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY DEMAND FOR LABOR.
THE AFOREMENTIONED SIMPLY EXPOSES US TO THE UNNECESSARY LIABILITY BY WAY OF INSUFFICIENT STAFFING, INADEQUATE TRAINING, LOST REVENUE, POOR EXTERNAL CUSTOMER SERVICE, ABSENT COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION AND TIME-CONSUMING ANTIQUATED PHILOSOPHIES.
MY TENURE HAS JUST PASSED THE 60 DAY MARK AND MY INCOMING INTUITIONS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED.
AS I'VE SAID THROUGHOUT, MUCH OF THE INGREDIENTS FOR THE SUCCESS OF OUR DEPARTMENT ALREADY EXIST.
BUT IT IS A VISION, PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF THOSE INGREDIENTS WHICH MUST BE IMPROVED UPON BEFORE WE CAN REALIZE THE FRUITS OF THAT LABOR.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT READY TO EXTEND THAT MUCH NEEDED VISION AND STRATEGY AND PREPARE TO EXECUTE WITHOUT DELAY.
MY STRATEGY ADDRESSES AND OFFERS SOLUTIONS TO 90 PERCENT OF THE PROBLEMS PLAGUING OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT WHILE ALSO PROVIDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE TO IMPROVE COST RECOVERY AND A MORE MODERN DAY, REASONABLY EFFICIENT DEPLOYMENT MODEL.
HOWEVER, BEFORE I MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR DISCUSSION, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE AND UPDATE THE COUNCIL ON OUR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED STANDARDS OF COVER STUDY AND SIMULTANEOUS PROPOSAL FOR CONTRACT SERVICES FROM THE LA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
EXCELLENT. IN MARCH OF 2020, LA COUNTY FIRE RESPONDED TO LA VERNE'S JUNE 2019 REQUESTS FOR A STUDY REGARDING ITS FEASIBILITY OF PROVIDING FIRE PROTECTION, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES OR EMS AND OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY INCIDENTAL SERVICES.
AFTER COUNCIL CONSIDERATION, A REQUEST FOR AN ESCALATED EVALUATION WAS FUNDED BY THE CITY AND IN FEBRUARY OF 2021,
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FURTHER ANALYSIS OF ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS RELATED TO TRANSITIONING OVER PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND OTHER ANCILLARY ITEMS WAS PROVIDED.TO DATE, WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN ANECDOTAL DRAFT CONCEPTS WHICH STILL REQUIRE FURTHER UNDERSTANDING AND DISCUSSION.
UP UNTIL MY INVOLVEMENT, SEVERAL OUTSTANDING NEGOTIATION POINTS REMAINED UNADDRESSED.
CITY MANAGER RUSSI AND I CONTINUE TO GAIN GROUND ON THOSE NEGOTIATIONS AS TO PROVIDE COUNCIL WITH ALL OF THE NECESSARY INFORMATION NEEDED TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR THE CITY AT LARGE.
SHOULD THE COUNCIL DESIRE TO PROGRESS IN THE PROCESS AFTER THOSE NEGOTIATIONS ARE FINALIZED, THE NEXT STEP OUTSIDE OF TAKING THE DECISION TO CITY VOTERS WOULD BE AN APPLICATION TO LACOFD FOR ANNEXATION CONSIDERATION INTO THE COUNTY'S FIRE DISTRICT.
NEXT SLIDE. WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY CONSIDERING OPTIONS WITH LA COUNTY FIRE, THE CITY CONTINUES TO UNDERSTAND THERE'S VALUE IN MAINTAINING ITS OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WISELY OPTED TO SEEK INPUT FROM AN INDUSTRY CONSULTANT TO DETERMINE THIS ACTUAL SAFETY NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
AP TRITON WAS SELECTED IN JUNE OF 2021 TO EXECUTE A WELL-KNOWN AND WIDELY USED ANALYSIS FOR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS, BETTER KNOWN AS A STANDARDS OF COVER AND COMMUNITY RISK ANALYSIS.
TRADITIONALLY, THESE STUDIES HAVE FOCUSED ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF FIRE HAZARDS AND PLANNING AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE FORCE FOR THOSE FIRE HAZARDS.
HOWEVER, IN MODERN APPLICATION, THESE STUDIES GO WELL BEYOND THE FIRE PROBLEM BY INCORPORATING MEDICAL AND OTHER EMERGENT COMMUNITY SAFETY THREATS.
CONSEQUENTLY, THAT WIDE ARRAY OF HAZARDS AND THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH AN ADVERSE EVENT INVOLVING THOSE HAZARDS WILL FORCE US [NOISE] TO FACE THE REALITY OF AN EFFECTIVE RESPONSE NEEDED TO MITIGATE THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO HUMAN LIFE, OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, THE ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC CONFIDENCE, AND OUR CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS.
[NOISE] UPON MY ARRIVAL, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORK REMAINED TO BE COMPLETED WITH AP TRITON, WHICH INVOLVED EFFORTS FROM ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS WHO'VE BEEN REALLY GREAT BY THE WAY.
A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THESE STUDIES IS DEPENDENT ON RESPONSE DATA AND INCIDENT REPORTING OVER A THREE PLUS YEAR PERIOD.
HAVING SWITCHED COMMUNICATIONS CENTERS AND RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PERIOD, WE'VE BEEN HAMPERED BY TECHNICAL INABILITY TO COLLATE SOME OF THE CRUCIAL DATA.
WE ARE CURRENTLY FINALIZING WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE THE FIX WITHIN OUR PD COMMUNICATION CENTER AND HOPE TO HAVE ALL REMAINING INFORMATION TO THE CONSOLE WITHIN THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS.
MOVING FORWARD, AP TRITON WILL ANALYZE THE INFORMATION AND TO FORM A GENERAL IMPRESSION OVER A 45 TO 60 DAY PERIOD.
THEY WILL THEN SEEK TO INTERVIEW CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY MANAGER, FIRE COMMAND STAFF, FIRE ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP, AND ANY OTHER IDENTIFIED STAKEHOLDERS OVER A TWO-WEEK PERIOD.
ANOTHER 45 TO 60 DAY PERIOD WILL BE NEEDED TO FORM A FINAL IMPRESSION, WHICH WILL THEN BE PRESENTED TO ME FOR REVIEW.
IF NO CORRECTIONS ARE NECESSARY, THE FINAL PUBLIC DOCUMENT WILL THEN BE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL SOMETIME AROUND APRIL OR MAY.
I'VE REMAINED IN A ROUTINE CONTACT WITH AP TRITON AS I HAVE FORMULATED MY FORTHCOMING RECOMMENDATIONS TO WHICH THEY ANECDOTALLY SUPPORT AT THIS POINT.
IT IS MY EXPECTATION THAT THEIR ANALYSIS WILL SUBSTANTIATE MY NEW DEPLOYMENT MODEL, POTENTIALLY EVEN RECOMMENDING MINOR ADJUSTMENTS OR EVEN RECOMMENDING A NEED FOR INCREASED FIRE SUPPRESSION STAFFING IN THE MODEL ALREADY IMPLEMENTED. EXCELLENT.
LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS HISTORICALLY SHOWN CONSISTENT ADVANCEMENT IN ITS SIZE, RESPONSIBILITY, AND CAPACITY RELATIVE TO THE COINCIDING GROWTH OF THE CITY AND THE AGGREGATE DEMAND ON THE CALIFORNIA FIRE SERVICE OVERALL.
RECENT INTERNAL EVENTS HAVE OSTENSIBLY PROVEN TO BE THE FIRST DECLINE IN LA VERNE FIRE'S CENTURY LONG HISTORY.
IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS ALONE, LA VERNE HAS EXPERIENCED A GROWTH OF 94 RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, 160,000 SQUARE FEET OF NEW OR MODIFIED COMMERCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL SPACE, AND 330,000 SQUARE FEET OF MULTI-STORY INDUSTRIAL ADDITIONS, NOT TO MENTION THE INCOMING GOLD LINE PROJECT.
COINCIDENTALLY, LA VERNE FIRE HAS NOT ONLY REMAINED STATIC, BUT HAS EVEN DECLINED IN ITS SERVICE LEVELS.
ALTHOUGH FIRE STATION 3 WAS OPENED IN 2007, IT WAS NOT ADEQUATELY STAFFED FOR THE URBAN MAKEUP OF LA VERNE. FIRE STATIONS ARE DEPLOYED TO ADDRESS GEOGRAPHIC GROWTH, ULTIMATELY LEADING TO REDUCE RESPONSE TIMES TO NEWLY POPULATED AREAS.
IN TURN, THE PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE PREPARED TO ADDRESS ANY TYPE OF EMERGENCY WITHIN 4-6 MINUTE RESPONSE STANDARDS.
STRUCTURE FIRES, CAR ACCIDENTS, TECHNICAL RESCUES, AND OTHER HIGH-RISK, LOW FREQUENCY CRITICAL CALLS STILL DEMAND THE SAME LEVEL OF RESOURCES REGARDLESS OF CITY SIZE OR ECONOMIC STATUS.
NFPA 1710 SETS THE STANDARD FOR A CAREER FIRE DEPARTMENTS FIRST ALARM RESPONSE TO THE PREDOMINANTLY RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES WITHIN LA VERNE.
ALTHOUGH LA VERNE MAY NOT BE STATISTICALLY POSITIONED TO PROVIDE 17 OF ITS OWN FIREFIGHTERS TO A WORKING FIRE OR OTHER CRITICAL INCIDENT,
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IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE CITY UNDERSTAND THAT IT MUST PROVIDE FOR FULLY EQUITABLE RECIPROCATING AUTO AID AGREEMENTS IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF PERSONNEL ARRIVE TO MITIGATE THE EMERGENCY.IN EARLY 2020, LA VERNE LOST ITS THIRD STATION AND SUBPAR STAFFING THAT IT DID HAVE EFFECTIVELY RENDERING THE ENTIRE NORTH AND NORTHEAST PORTION OF OUR COMMUNITY WITHOUT COMMENSURATE RAPID RESPONSE AFFORDED TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE OTHER RESPONSE DISTRICTS.
CONSEQUENTLY, OUR RELIANCE UPON THE SURROUNDING LA COUNTY FIRE STATIONS GREW EXPONENTIALLY.
UNDERSTANDABLY, LA COUNTY FIRE IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF SUBSIDIZING OUR CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OUR AUTOMATIC AID AGREEMENTS HAVE SUFFERED AS A RESULT.
OUR LA VERNE FIREFIGHTERS ARE LEFT TO MITIGATE EMERGENCIES WITH LITTLE TO NO HELP AT TIMES, RIVALING THE RESPONSES OF A VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT IN A RURAL SETTING.
WE STRUGGLE TO RETAIN FIREFIGHTERS AS THEY LEAVE TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT WITH AGENCIES WHO OFFER THE SAFETY AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO TAKE THE CALCULATED RISKS THEY ARE TRAINED TO.
FURTHERMORE, OUR CAPACITY TO COMMIT TO COST RECOVERY EFFORTS, PROACTIVE COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION, INNOVATIVE SUSTAINABILITY IDEAS, ALL CONTINUE TO DECLINE AS THE ROLE OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT PLAYS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY IS DIMINISHED.
WITH ITS OWN AMBULANCE TRANSPORT PROGRAM AND ROBUST FEE SCHEDULE, THERE'S NO REASON TO PROLONG THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE RECENTLY BECOME ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH. NEXT SLIDE.
WHAT DO WE KNOW RIGHT NOW? WE KNOW THERE IS A DEEP COMMUNITY DESIRE TO MAINTAIN AND ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IN MY 10 WEEKS AS THE FIRE CHIEF, I HAVE YET TO HEAR ANY REAL DESIRE TO CONTRACT OUT THESE SERVICES FROM ANYONE.
THAT INCLUDES THE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, ASSUMING MY CONCERNS ARE VALIDATED IN THESE DISCUSSIONS.
WE KNOW WE ARE FALLING SHORT OF SEVERAL INDUSTRY STANDARD METRICS.
WHEREAS THE PARTNERS WE ARE RELIANT UPON FOR AID, HEED THOSE METRICS AND ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO SUCH.
WE ARE RISKING LOSING ALL AUTOMATIC AID AND RISK POTENTIALLY EVEN BEING REQUIRED TO START PAYING FOR RESPONSES INTO OUR CITY BY LA COUNTY FIRE.
WE KNOW THAT WE RISK LOSING OUR CURRENT ISO RATING RESULTING IN INCREASED INSURANCE PREMIUMS TO LA VERNE RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY ALIKE.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE RECENTLY BEEN INFORMED BY OUR CONTRACT PRIVATE AMBULANCE PROVIDER, WHO WE AGREED TO EMERGENCY TERMS WITH WHEN WE COULDN'T STAFF OUR AMBULANCES, IS NOT INTERESTED IN CONTINUING BUSINESS WITH US IN THE CURRENT FASHION.
RENEGOTIATING TERMS WOULD LIKELY COST THE CITY IN EXCESS OF TWO MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY AND LOSING THEIR SERVICES COULD PROVE TO BE CATASTROPHIC IF WE DON'T REESTABLISH OUR OWN PROGRAM IN ITS ENTIRETY.
WE KNOW THAT THE 1980 PARAMEDIC FEE RESOLUTION IS CAUSING US TO OFFSET REVENUE THAT THE AMBULANCE PROVIDER CANNOT ATTEMPT TO COLLECT.
TO DATE, WE HAVE ENCUMBERED AND UNANTICIPATED $217,000 IMPACT TO THE GENERAL FUND IN FEES ON TOP OF ALL OF OUR LOST REVENUE.
WE KNOW THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE PROVIDED HALF OF THE COST FOR $1.6 MILLION QUINT STYLE LADDER TRUCK TO ADDRESS THEIR NEW MULTI-STORY DORMS. THE QUINT HAS BEEN LARGELY ON STAFF SINCE BEING ENTERED INTO THE FLEET.
AS SUCH, WE HAVE NO TECHNICAL RESCUE, MULTI-LEVEL FIRE RESCUE CAPABILITY OR FIRE VENTILATION TACTICS AVAILABLE WITHIN OUR OWN DEPARTMENT AS A RESULT.
THE FARTHEST EASTERN REGION OF LA COUNTY IS IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL LADDER TRUCK COVERAGE, WHICH WE ARE NOW SITUATED PERFECTLY TO PROVIDE.
WE KNOW THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A FIRE TRAINING SITE IN THE CITY AND ARE RELIANT UPON THE LA REGIONAL TRAINING AREAS, WHICH ARE A MINIMUM OF 20 MINUTES AWAY.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE OPERATIONAL DEPTH TO SEND OUR CREWS TO THOSE SITES TO GET THE NECESSARY TRAINING TO REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE OR THE LA OPERATIONAL AREA.
WE KNOW THAT HAVING OUR RESOURCES SPREAD THIN LIMITS OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PROACTIVE COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION EFFORTS.
LACK OF ANNUAL FIRE INSPECTION INCREASES POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC EMERGENCIES, OPENS THE CITY TO LIABILITY, RENDERS US OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH STATE FIRE MARSHAL MANDATES, AND REDUCES ABILITY TO MEET REVENUE PROJECTIONS.
WE KNOW THAT THERE IS NO INTERNAL SUCCESSION PLANNING BECAUSE THERE'S LITTLE TO NO CAREER GROWTH POTENTIAL OR ASPIRATION TO INCREASE RESPONSIBILITY DUE TO THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE KNOW THAT STATEWIDE PRIVATE AMBULANCE COMPANIES ARE STRUGGLING TO MEET PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS OF THE AREAS THAT THEY SERVE.
WE KNOW THAT REGIONALLY AMONG THE CITIES USED FOR OUR COMPENSATION COMPARISON, THEY INVEST APPROXIMATELY 5.6 MILLION ON AVERAGE PER FIRE STATION WHEN DETERMINING THEIR OPERATING BUDGET.
CONSIDERING THE GENERAL CALIFORNIA FIRE SERVICE INDUSTRY RULE OF THUMB IS 3-4 MILLION PER STATION FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITH THEIR OWN DEPARTMENTS.
MY FORTHCOMING RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE IN LINE WITH THE STATE INDUSTRY AVERAGE AND YET STILL LESS THAN OUR COMPARABLE CITIES AS REFERENCED ABOVE.
FINALLY, WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE CITY HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO HEAVILY INVEST IN ITS OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
BY WAY OF MY PERMANENT APPOINTMENT,
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THE SIGNIFICANT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STANDARDS OF COVER STUDY, THAT'S BEING DONE RIGHT NOW, AND THE EXTENSIVE CAPITAL OUTLAY IN OUR MODERN FLEET OF NEW FIRE ENGINES, LADDER TRUCK, AMBULANCES, AND COMMAND VEHICLES.THIS REMAINS TO BE ONE OF THE BEST EQUIPPED DEPARTMENTS I'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO THROUGHOUT MY CAREER. NEXT SLIDE.
I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT OUR FIRE STATION DEPLOYMENT IS NOT ONLY ADEQUATE, BUT IN MANY CASES BETTER THAN A LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES.
HOWEVER, IN OUR CURRENT STATE, WITHOUT A LADDER TRUCK ENTIRELY AND STATION 3 NOT BEING OPEN WITH A FIRE ENGINE, IT IS ALL BUT IMPOSSIBLE TO EQUITABLY MEET OUR CRITICAL FIRST ARRIVING COMPANY RESPONSE TIMES.
TO OUR RESIDENTS, THAT MEANS INCREASED PROPERTY AND ENVIRONMENTAL LOST, DECREASED SURVIVABILITY PROFILE FOR ANYONE TRAPPED IN A FIRE, AND IRREVERSIBLE BRAIN OR CELL DEATH AFTER SIX MINUTES OF A CRITICAL LIFE THREATENING MEDICAL EMERGENCY.
NEXT SLIDE. IN ATTEMPT TO KEEP UP WITH THE GEOGRAPHICAL INEQUITY, THE RESOURCES WE DO HAVE ON THE ROAD HAVE BEEN SPREAD THIN WITH INCREASED CALL VOLUMES AND BROADER AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY.
THOSE RAMIFICATIONS FORCE US TO BE MORE RELIANT ON LA COUNTY FIRE RESOURCES.
SINCE THE LOSS OF OUR THIRD STATION, OUR NEED FOR HELP INCREASE 62 PERCENT IN 2020, RESULTING IN AN UNFAVORABLE 66 PERCENT IMBALANCE, AND STILL REMAINS AT A 22 PERCENT UNFAVORABLE IMBALANCE FOR 2021.
AS SUCH, WE RISK LOSING THE SMALL AUTO AID WE RECEIVE NOW AND POTENTIALLY EVEN HAVING TO PAY FOR THEIR HELP IN THE FUTURE. NEXT SLIDE.
AS YOUR FIRE CHIEF AND YOUR FIRE AND EMS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT, I TAKE THESE DEFICIENCIES VERY SERIOUSLY AND HAVE MET THEM HEAD ON WITHOUT DELAY.
IT IS MY LEADERS INTENT TO CONTEXTUALLY PROVIDE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PROTECTION TO THIS COMMUNITY WHILE GIVING THE TOOLS TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS THEY NEED TO PROFESSIONALLY AND SAFELY PROVIDE THAT PROTECTION.
TONIGHT I INTRODUCE A PLAN I BELIEVE TO BE REASONABLY SUSTAINABLE AND CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE RESPONSE AND PERFORMANCE EQUITY NECESSARY TO REMEDY ALMOST ALL OF OUR CONCERNS.
EACH COMPONENT OF THE PLAN IS DEPENDENT ON THE OTHERS FOR BOTH OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL REASONS, ALL OF WHICH MUST BE IMPLEMENTED SIMULTANEOUSLY.
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL CALL LOAD THE FIRE SERVICE NOW ENCOUNTERS, AGENCIES ALL OVER THE STATE ARE IMPLEMENTING AMBULANCE PROGRAMS AND STAFFING SUCH INVARIABLE FASHIONS.
AMBULANCE OPERATOR, EMT STAFFING, IS NOT ONLY WIDELY USED, BUT IT'S ALSO THE LOWEST COST METHOD OF DOING SO.
EMTS WORK WITHIN A BASIC LIFE SUPPORT SCOPE OF PRACTICE, WHEREAS OUR PARAMEDICS WORK WITHIN A BASIC AND ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT SCOPE OF PRACTICE.
IN OUR CURRENT MODEL, TRANSPORT AND RETURN TIMES IN ONGOING INUNDATIONS OF THE EMERGENCY ROOMS OFTEN TIE UP OUR AMBULANCES, RENDERING OUR PARAMEDICS UNAVAILABLE FOR RESPONSE EVEN WHEN THE TRANSPORT DOESN'T NEED THEIR ADVANCED LEVEL OF CARE.
BY MOVING TO A BASIC LIFE SUPPORT TRANSPORT SYSTEM, WE CAN MOVE OUR PARAMEDICS TO THE HEAVY FIRE APPARATUS MAKING THEM MORE READILY AVAILABLE FOR CRITICAL RESPONSES IN THE CITY.
AS FIRE DEPARTMENTS ALSO CONTEND WITH EACH OTHER FOR FIRE ACADEMY GRADUATES AND PARAMEDICS, SINGLE FUNCTION EMT AMBULANCE OPERATOR CANDIDATE POOLS ARE OFTEN MUCH BROADER AND EASIER TO OBTAIN STAFFING FROM.
I EXPECT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MORE READILY PROVIDE THE STAFFING NEEDED TO REDEPLOY OUR SECOND AMBULANCE, WHICH REESTABLISHES THE TREMENDOUS LOSS REVENUE NEEDED TO HELP SUSTAIN OUR OPERATIONS AND OR REDUCED IMPACT TO THE GENERAL FUND.
ONCE WE HAVE DEDICATED ALL OF OUR MULTI FUNCTION FIRE SUPPRESSION STAFFING TO OUR HEAVY APPARATUS, WE'LL BE ABLE TO REOPEN STATION 3 WITH A PARAMEDIC FIRE ENGINE UTILIZING THE SAME NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTING PERSONNEL WE ARE CURRENTLY ALLOCATED FOR.
TWO OF THOSE ALLOCATED POSITIONS WILL NEED TO BE RECLASSIFIED TO FULFILL THE RANK STRUCTURE ON THAT ENGINE COMPANY PROVIDING IMMEDIATE SUCCESSION PLANNING AND CAREER GROWTH DEPTH WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION.
STATION 2 WILL REMAIN STAFFED FOR THE PARAMEDIC FIRE ENGINE, AND STATION 1 WILL THEN BE STAFFED WITH A PARAMEDIC QUINT LADDER TRUCK, WHERE THE MAJORITY OF OUR MULTI-STORY STRUCTURES ARE TO INCLUDE THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE.
AFTER THE REDEPLOYMENT, THE COMMUNITY WILL HAVE BETTER RESPONSE UNIFORMITY THROUGHOUT ALL DISTRICTS AFFORDING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO RENEGOTIATE OUR DEFUNCT AND OUTDATED AGREEMENTS, WHICH IN TURN PROVIDE US THE AUTOMATIC RESPONSES NEEDED TO MEET AN EFFECTIVE RESPONSE FORCE.
IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT ANY INCREASE IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE OR COMMUNITY CAN BE MEASURED IN THE HUMAN, ECONOMIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND FUNCTIONAL IMPACTS, WHICH I BRIEFLY TOUCHED ON EARLIER.
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IF FIRE DEPARTMENT RESOURCES, BOTH MOBILE AND PERSONAL, ARE DEPLOYED TO MATCH THE RISK LEVELS INHERENT TO THE HAZARDS IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT CONTINUES TO BE SCIENTIFICALLY DEMONSTRATED THAT OUR COMMUNITY WILL BE FAR LESS VULNERABLE TO FIRE FIGHTER INJURY AND DEATH, CIVILIAN INJURY AND DEATH AND PROPERTY LOSS.LA VERNE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AND CHANGE AS SHOULD THE MANNER IN WHICH WE DO BUSINESS AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP UP WITH THAT DEMAND AND LIKEWISE CONTINUE TO EVALUATE WHAT THE CITY'S ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF RISK IS.
I DISCUSSED SIGNIFICANT GROWTH RELATIVE TO SIMPLY THE PAST FIVE CONTENTIOUS YEARS.
ALTHOUGH STATION 3 WAS CONSTRUCTED AND OPENED IN 2007, IT WAS DONE SO INADEQUATELY AND WITHOUT TRUE CONTEXTS OF THE ACTUAL RISK PROFILE OF LA VERNE.
FURTHER, IT DOES NOT APPEAR THERE HAS BEEN ANY INTERNAL PERFORMANCE IN MEASUREMENT, ESTABLISHED TRIGGER POINTS, OR STRATEGIC PLANNING TARGETING THE NECESSARY FIRE AND CRITICAL INCIDENT RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR THAT DISTRICT.
MY PLAN ADDRESSES THIS 15-YEAR SHORTFALL, AND DOES SO AT THE LOWEST ADDITIONAL COSTS POSSIBLE.
I BELIEVE THIS NEW MODEL IS SUSTAINABLE IN PERPETUITY SIMPLY BY DEPLOYING THE REVENUE GENERATING RESOURCES WE ALREADY OWN.
WE CAN ADDRESS MORE OF OUR OWN CALLS BY NOT TYING UP PARAMEDICS UNNECESSARILY.
KEEPING OUR HEAVY APPARATUS AND FIREFIGHTERS IN THE CITY WHERE POSSIBLE, REDUCES OUR RELIANCE UPON OUT OF DISTRICT RESOURCES BY INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF OUR OWN PERSONNEL TO RESPOND TO THE HIGH RISK CRITICAL CALLS WHICH DEMAND MULTI-UNIT RESPONSES.
STATION 3 IS THE FIRST IN STATION FOR LA VERNE'S BIGGEST TARGET HAZARD, OUR WILD-LAND URBAN INTERFACE.
AS CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN SIZE, FREQUENCY, AND INTENSITY, IMMEDIATE RESPONSE, COMMAND CONTROL, AND ATTACK AFFORD US THE OPPORTUNITY TO REMAIN WITHIN THE CAL FIRE MISSION OF KEEPING 90 PERCENT OF ALL WILDFIRES UNDER 10 ACRES.
WE AID IN ACHIEVING THIS GOAL BY STAFFING OUR FIRE STATION CLOSEST TO THE LOCAL AND STATE RESPONSIBILITY AREAS WITH A RESOURCE CAPABLE OF FIRE SUPPRESSION AND THE COMMAND PERSONNEL CAPABLE OF EARLY INCIDENT MANAGEMENT.
ADMINISTRATIVELY, WE'LL BE AFFORDED THE DEPTH TO IMPLEMENT ONGOING SUCCESSION PLANNING AND OFFER OUR PERSONNEL CAREER GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES.
RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND MORALE IMPROVE, AS A RESULT.
COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION EFFORTS SUCH AS FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY INSPECTIONS, PUBLIC EDUCATION EVENTS, WILD AND WEED ABATEMENT, CPR AND FIRST AID TRAINING ALL BECOME ADDITIONAL BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY, AND HELP US ALL AVOID EMERGENCIES BEFORE THEY EVEN OCCUR.
FINALLY, AS THE STATE IS GRAPPLING WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FOR-PROFIT PRIVATE AMBULANCE INDUSTRY, WE ARE ABLE TO REDUCE OUR EXPOSURE TO THOSE LIABILITIES.
FOR MANY YEARS, PRIVATE AMBULANCE PROVIDERS HAVE STRUGGLED TO KEEP UP WITH THE RAPID GROWTH AND SERVICE INCREASES AND ABILITY TO RETAIN EMPLOYEES.
THROUGH BETTER PAY, BENEFITS, PUBLIC RETIREMENT, AND DIRECT FIRE DEPARTMENT EXPOSURE, WE CAN ATTRACT AND RETAIN THESE EMPLOYEES, THEREBY CONTROLLING OUR OWN EMS TRANSPORT DESTINY.
TO GO EVEN FURTHER, AS THE FURTHEST EAST FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH OUR OWN AMBULANCES IN LA COUNTY, WE ARE PROUD TO OFFER THE CITIES AROUND US TRANSPORT ASSISTANCE WHEN THEIR CONTRACT PROVIDER CAN'T MEET A CRITICAL NEED, POTENTIALLY PROVIDING US EVEN MORE REVENUE.
NEXT SLIDE. THIS SIDE-BY-SIDE ORGANIZATIONAL COMPARISON ILLUSTRATES THE SERVICE LEVEL THAT COMMUNITY NOW EXPERIENCES, AND THE SERVICE LEVEL MY REDEPLOYMENT RECOMMENDATION WILL PROVIDE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, IF YOU WILL, WITH ONE OF THEM NOT BEING IN SERVICE.
A FULLY FILLED OUT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE THERE ON THE RIGHT WOULD PROVIDE FIVE VEHICLES AND INCREASED STAFFING. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
[NOISE] SIMPLY STATED, THERE IS A NECESSARY INCREASE TO COINCIDE WITH MY RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE ANNUAL NET COST FOR MY SWEEPING RECOMMENDATIONS IS MERELY $298,241.
THE ANNUAL COST TO IMPLEMENT THE 12 EMT AMBULANCE OPERATORS AT THE JANUARY 2022 MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE AT $15 AN HOUR, PLUS BENEFITS AND RETIREMENT IS $791,036.
DUE TO THEIR 56 HOUR WORKWEEK SCHEDULE, THESE EMPLOYEES WILL BE NON FLSA EXEMPT EMPLOYEES AND WILL INCUR THE SAME OVERTIME COST IS OUR FIREFIGHTERS DO.
THAT COST IS ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL COST AS WELL.
RECLASSIFYING SIX FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS TO THREE ENGINEER POSITIONS AND THREE CAPTAIN POSITIONS, RESULTS IN SALARY INCREASES OF $148,020 ANNUALLY.
HIRING THREE NON-PARAMETRIC FIREFIGHTERS INSTEAD OF FILLING OUR THREE VACANT POSITIONS WITH FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS WILL RESULT IN $43,815 SAVINGS TO THE GENERAL FUND.
MOVING FORWARD, TODAY'S COST OF THE FULL REDEPLOYMENT IS EXPECTED TO BE APPROXIMATELY $895,241 ANNUALLY.
IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE HIRING OF 12 EMTS, THREE FIREFIGHTERS,
[00:25:02]
AND COMPLETE SIX INTERNAL PROMOTIONAL EXAMS AND SUCH RAPID SEQUENCE, I WOULD ALSO NEED TO MOVE A CAPTAIN TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE 40 HOURS SCHEDULE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FISCAL YEAR.THE COST TO DO SO FOR SIX MONTHS IS A ONE TIME COST OF $86,428. NEXT SLIDE.
TO ASSIST IN OFFSETTING THESE COSTS, THEREBY REDUCING THE DEMAND ON THE GENERAL FUND, IT WAS IMPERATIVE TO UNDERSTAND THE REVENUE LOSSES WE CONTINUE TO INCUR BY NOT ADEQUATELY STAFFING OUR AMBULANCES AND ENSURING WE HAVE OUR PERSONNEL ON EVERY CALL.
LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT COST RECOVERS FOR PARAMEDIC LEVEL ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT AND FOR AMBULANCE TRANSPORT.
BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN HEAVILY RELIANT ON A PRIVATE PROVIDER IN LA COUNTY FIRE OVER THE PRECEDING TWO YEARS, WE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT ON AVERAGE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS LOST $988,000 IN POTENTIAL REVENUE.
WHILE ALSO PAYING THE PRIVATE PROVIDER IN EXCESS OF $217,000 IN FEES.
BECAUSE THE CITY PROJECTS AN ANNUAL INCOME OF $700,000 FOR AMBULANCE TRANSPORT, AND WAS ONLY ACTUALLY ABLE TO COLLECT 309,000 LAST FISCAL YEAR, THE TRUE ADDITIONAL REVENUE PROJECTION EQUATES TO $597,000.
TO DATE, TRUE CALL VOLUME INDICATORS POINT TO A CONSISTENT TREND AND THE STATS RELEVANT TO THE SAME AMOUNT OF REVENUE THIS FISCAL YEAR AS WELL.
IN TURN, OUR DATA IS ABLE TO ARTICULATE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF LOST REVENUE TO SUPPORT THIS REDEPLOYMENT.
SHOULD COUNCIL INDICATES SUPPORT FROM MY RECOMMENDATIONS TONIGHT, IT IS MY INTENT TO RETURN TO YOU WITH FOUR SPECIFIC REQUESTS AT HALF OF THEIR ANNUAL COSTS AS WE ARE APPROACHING THE FISCAL YEAR MIDPOINT.
[NOISE] I WILL REQUEST TO CREATE AN AMBULANCE OPERATOR POSITION AND PROVIDE ALLOCATION OF $395,518 TO HIRE 12 AMBULANCE OPERATORS.
I WILL REQUEST AUTHORIZATION TO RECLASSIFY THREE FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS TO THREE CAPTAIN POSITIONS AND AN ALLOCATION OF $45,795 TO DO SO.
I WILL ALSO REQUEST AUTHORIZATION TO RECLASSIFY THREE FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS TO THREE ENGINEER POSITIONS AND AN ALLOCATION OF $28,215 TO DO SO.
FINALLY, I REQUEST A ONE TIME ALLOCATION OF $86,428 TO OVERSEE THE ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS OF THESE CHANGES.
TOTAL ALLOCATION REQUEST TO BE $534,049.
NET IMPACT TO THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FISCAL YEAR TO BE $235,549.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE AND AFTER THIS IMPLEMENTATION? ALTHOUGH I EXPECT 2-3 MONTH FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REDEPLOYMENT, THE LA VERNE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION HAS STEPPED UP AND COMMITTED TO IMMEDIATELY STAFFING THE SECOND AMBULANCE JANUARY 1, TO MITIGATE ANY FURTHER LOSS REVENUES.
A COMMITMENT I DO NOT TAKE LIGHTLY AS THAT BURDEN WILL BE A TOUGH PHYSICAL DEMAND CONSIDERING THE CURRENT OPENINGS IN THE DEPARTMENT.
AS I SUSPECTED THE CASE WITH OUR LOST AMBULANCE TRANSPORT REVENUES, I CIRCUMSTANTIALLY ALSO BELIEVE WE ARE EXPERIENCING A SIMILAR, IF NOT WORSE SCENARIO, WITH OUR ADMINISTRATIVE COST RECOVERY.
I INTEND TO ACCOUNT FOR THE SIGNIFICANT LOSS REVENUES BEING EXPERIENCED IN OUR PREVENTION AND CLERICAL OFFICES AS WELL.
WE WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO EAGERLY AWAIT THE RESULTS OF THE STANDARDS OF COVER REPORT, WHEREAS A STUDY OF THIS CALIBER WILL ANALYTICALLY HELP YOU AS POLICYMAKERS WHO ARE CHARGED WITH BALANCING COMMUNITY SERVICE EXPECTATIONS WITH FINITE BUDGETARY RESOURCES, DO SO WITH A SOLID TECHNICAL FOUNDATION FOR EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS DEPLOYMENT DECISIONS ON THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
IN THEORY, WE CAN THEN BETTER AIM TO BUDGET TO A PROPER PLAN RATHER THAN PLAN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT RESOURCES TO THE BUDGET.
WE WILL ALSO CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS WITH LA COUNTY FIRE FOR SERVICES PROPOSAL, UNTIL TOLD OTHERWISE.
IN ADDITION, WITH OUR NEW DEPLOYMENT, WE WILL NOW BE POSITIONED TO RENEGOTIATE OUR AUTOMATIC AID AGREEMENTS TO ENSURE EQUITY IS ACHIEVED WITH OUR COOPERATING AGENCIES, WHILE ALSO SEEKING ANY MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL.
FINALLY, IT IS ALSO MY INTENT TO RE-ENGAGE OUR UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE PARTNERS, WHO HAVE EXPRESSED DESIRE TO AGAIN UTILIZE OUR FIRE STATION 3 ONCE WE HAVE IT OPEN.
WITH THAT SAID, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION THIS EVENING.
I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, OR COMMENTS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> IT JUST SHOWS HOW IMPRESSED I AM WITH YOUR CALIBER,
[00:30:03]
[NOISE] AND ALSO JUST THE FACT THAT IT'S ABOUT TIME [APPLAUSE] THAT THIS COMMUNITY GETS WHAT THEY DESERVE, AND THAT'S A FULLY FUNCTIONING FIRE DEPARTMENT AND I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.THIS IS STUFF WE'VE ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR SOME TIME, AND YOU'LL FORGET ABOUT THE PAST.
I JUST LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT EMTS, WHICH FEED UPON IS FOR FIREFIGHTERS.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT RESOURCES FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY, THE STANDARDS OF COVERAGE, WHICH IS GOING TO GIVE US EVEN A MORE ROUNDED BUT YOUR EXPERIENCE LEVEL AND ALSO WORKING WITH YOUR STAFF.
IT JUST SHOWS THAT WE'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I'D LIKE OUR COUNSELOR TALK TO YOU BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT MAN, IT'S ABOUT TIME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE COUNCIL.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND I KNOW WHEN WE SPOKE PRIOR TO THIS MEETING, I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR YOUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE, FOR YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS.
KNOWING THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE TO BE SMART ABOUT HOW WE DEPLOY THOSE RESOURCES TO ENSURE SAFETY FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.
I AM JUST SO THRILLED TO HAVE YOU ONBOARD AND TO HAVE YOU THINK THESE THOUGHTS OUT AND WORK WITH ALL THE CONSTITUENTS, GATHERING THE INFORMATION AND THE DATA, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY BECAUSE IT CAN'T BE A BAND-AID FIX.
IT'S GOT TO TAKE US INTO PERPETUITY AND THERE'S GOT TO BE LONG-RANGE PLANNING AND STRATEGY BEHIND THAT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR BIG-PICTURE THINKING ON THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> IT'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK, 60 DAYS.
>> I APPRECIATE MY CONVERSATION WITH YOU AS WELL TO OUR SITTING DOWN AND YOU REALLY GOING THROUGH AND EXPLAINING THIS, AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
WHAT I HEARD FROM YOU THOUGH TOO IS NOT ALL YOUR IDEAS.
IT'S YOU GOING TO THE STAFF AND THE FIREFIGHTERS, AND GOING TO THEM OR WHAT'S NEEDED AS WELL.
I KNOW WE HAD A PLAN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO THAT WAS BROUGHT ABOUT, BUT THIS IS OUT OF THE BOX, THIS IS REIMAGINING EVERYTHING TO PUT SEATS THERE AND TO KEEP OUR CRITICAL PEOPLE WITH OUR PUBLIC.
YOU GOING THROUGH THAT AND EXPLAINING THAT, IT'S VERY COMMENDABLE, AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE SO FAR.
JUST MAKE SURE YOU'VE SET THE BAR VERY HIGH FOR YOUR NEXT 60 DAYS AND THE 60 DAYS AFTER THAT.
>> YEAH, BUT I'M GOING TO NEED MORE MONEY.
>> BUT I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DID, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING AND WORKING WITH ALL THE FIREFIGHTERS ON THIS AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THEM.
>> YES. I TOO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SITTING DOWN WITH EACH ONE OF US INDIVIDUALLY, I ENJOYED OUR LUNCH TOGETHER WHEN YOU'RE EXPLAINING YOUR PLAN AND THE DETAIL ABOUT IT, I LOVED THE DETAILED EXPLANATION FOR THE NOVICE OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S GOING ON WITH WHAT IS NEEDED.
BUT WHAT I LIKE TOO IS HOW YOU BROKE DOWN YOUR COST WITH THE REVENUES VERSUS EXPENSES, WITH COST SAVINGS.
ALL THAT REALLY HELPS TO SHOW, HOW ARE WE GOING TO AFFORD THIS AND HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD? I APPRECIATE THAT.
THE ONLY QUESTION I DO HAVE AND LIKE I SAID, MORE OF A NOVICE SITUATION, EXPLAIN TO ME 12 EMTS.
TELL ME WHAT AN EMT VERSUS PARAMEDIC WOULD BE?
>> TECHNICALLY SPEAKING, A PARAMEDIC IS ACTUALLY AN EMT.
I'LL JUST SAY IT'S AN ADVANCED LEVEL OF CARE AND A SCOPE OF PRACTICE LIKE I MENTIONED.
I GUESS AT THE STREET LEVEL, EMTS DEAL WITH A LOT OF BLOOD LOSS, IMMEDIATE CIRCULATION ISSUES, CPR, THAT STUFF, WHEREAS A PARAMEDIC IS ACTUALLY ADMINISTERING MEDICATIONS, PUTTING TUBES DOWN PEOPLE'S THROATS, AND DOING THINGS IN A MORE ADVANCED LEVEL.
WHEN I MENTIONED THAT SIX-MINUTE RESPONSE TIME, THAT MORE SPECIFICALLY REQUEST THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT NECESSARY THAT WE NEED A PARAMEDIC ON SCENE, BUT EVEN HAVING AN EMT ARRIVE WITH AN AD STILL MEANS THAT SIX-MINUTE RESPONSE TIME, WHICH THEY CAN DO.
PARAMEDICS ARE ALSO CAPABLE OF INTERPRETING HEART RHYTHMS AND DEALING WITH CARDIAC ISSUES IN A MORE IN-DEPTH LEVEL THAN EMTS AS WELL.
>> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING [INAUDIBLE] TO COME WORK HERE.
>> OF COURSE, ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU.
>> I CERTAINLY WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY AFTER WE HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO GET THE PUBLIC ENGAGED IN THIS PRESENTATION.
HOPEFULLY, THEY'RE AS IMPRESSED AS CLEARLY, WE ARE ON THE DAIS.
[00:35:01]
A COUPLE OF THE PIECES THAT I JUST WANTED TO LAYOUT RIGHT NOW IS I LIKE THE 90 PERCENT SOLUTION BECAUSE IT STILL LEAVES ROOM FOR WHAT WE MIGHT LEARN IN THE SOC STUDY.I LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE BRINGING THIS TO US NOW EVEN THOUGH WE WERE THINKING WE'RE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE SOC STUDY, BUT CLEARLY, THAT'S NOT HAPPENING QUICKLY ENOUGH.
BRINGING THIS TO US WITHIN 60 DAYS IS VERY IMPRESSIVE.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL AS THOUGH YOU'RE HERE LATER THAN WE WOULD HAVE.
WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE WHAT YOU'VE PRESENTED WITH US TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> SURE. IF I MAY AS IT RELATES TO THE SOC, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S STILL A CONCERN, A DESIRE OUT THERE TO BRING IN MORE FIRE SUPPRESSION STAFFING, MORE FIREFIGHTERS, OBVIOUSLY AT A HIGHER COST.
IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, AT ONE POINT YOU WERE PRESENTED WITH A PLAN UPWARDS OF 1.5 MILLION OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S OFF THE TABLE.
STANDARDS OF COVER IS A GREAT STUDY BECAUSE IT TRULY DOES ASSIGN A RISK OR HAZARD PROFILE TO YOUR CITY.
ULTIMATELY, THEY'LL RECOMMEND STANDARDS THAT COVER DEPLOYMENT, SUGGESTIONS TO YOU AS POLICYMAKERS TO ULTIMATELY DETERMINE WHAT YOUR LEVEL OF RISK IS THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO ACCEPT.
THAT IN-DEPTH OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS IS SOMETHING THAT I CERTAINLY CAN'T DO WITHOUT THE TOOLS THAT THEY HAVE AND ALL THE DATA REVIEW THAT THEY DO.
AT THAT POINT, IT MAY BE RECOMMENDED THAT WE HIRE MORE FIREFIGHTERS. IT MAY NOT BE.
THEY MAY SAY THAT THE PLAN THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW IS PERFECT.
THE GOOD NEWS IS LIKE I MENTIONED TO CITY MANAGER RUSSI IS WE DON'T HAVE TO HIRE MORE FIREFIGHTERS.
WE'LL HAVE A GREAT POOL OF THEM TO START WITH.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE MORE THING.
I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE'RE BUILDING THIS TO NFPA STANDARDS, BUT WE'RE ALSO PROTECTING OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT WE'RE ALSO PROTECTING OUR RESIDENTS.
AS WE BUILD ON TO OUR DEPARTMENT AND WE BUILD THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THAT COME INTO OUR SERVICES, EMTS, THAT WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE A MUCH BETTER POOL.
BUT I ALSO AGAIN WANT TO THANK YOURSELF.
I WANT TO THANK OUR CITY MANAGEMENT, MR. RUSSI, AND ALL THE OTHER DEPARTS YOU WORK WITH, OUR BCS, OUR CAPTAINS, ALL OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN COMING FOR SOME TIME.
THERE'S BEEN SOME BUMPS IN THE ROAD, I WILL SAY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'VE GOT A GREAT PLAN.
RIGHT NOW, YOU'VE GOT A GOOD PLAN THAT'S SUSTAINABLE AS FAR AS FINANCIAL-WISE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE IN THE FUTURE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO JUST MAKE THIS EVEN BETTER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS IN A LITTLE BIT, BUT THANK YOU.
>> WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT RIGHT NOW, BUT THEN WE'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM AT THE PODIUM.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
>> CAN YOU PLEASE KEEP IT ON. I'M SORRY.
>> COME ON. YOU HAD A BELT LOOP PROBLEM. [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER]
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.
I'M FRANK FERNANDEZ, I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT, LA VERNE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION.
I'M HERE TONIGHT IN SOLIDARITY WITH CHIEF NIGG, AND HIS PLAN TO SAVE THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE THINK IT'S AN ESSENTIAL FIRST STEP TO BECOMING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE COLLABORATION WITH CHIEF NIGG AS THE STANDARD OF COVERAGE REPORT COMES IN, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM POSITIVELY.
THANK YOU. SUPPORT HIS PLAN, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, FRANK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER AT THE PODIUM? JR, WE'LL GO TO THE PHONES.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO MEET YOU. NICE TO MEET YOU, CHIEF.
FIRST, WHEN I'M SITTING HERE LISTENING TO THE CHIEF, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
TIM SAID THAT THIS HAS COME DOWN TO THIS, AND THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT WAS I GOT TO THANK BOB RUSSI FOR HIRING SUCH A QUALIFIED CANDIDATE FOR OUR CITY.
THANK YOU, BOB. I APPRECIATE THAT TREMENDOUSLY.
MY FIRST IMPRESSION IS CHIEF SOUNDS WONDERFULLY COMMITTED AND VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT HE'S BRINGING HERE TO THE TABLE IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
IT TOOK A LOT OF WORK, AND I GUESS YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A [LAUGHTER] SOCIAL LIFE, BUT I GOT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THAT'S WOW IN 60 DAYS, THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
I SURE HOPE THOSE NUMBERS PAN OUT BECAUSE IT'S A PRETTY MINIMAL COST TO FIX WHAT SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY BIG PROBLEM THAT THE CITY HAS HAD FOR QUITE A WHILE.
WE ALL KNOW THAT OPENING STATION 3 FOR THIS MINIMAL OF
[00:40:03]
A COST WOULD BE A WONDERFUL THING AND KEEP A LOT OF PEOPLE VERY HAPPY, AND KEEP OUR FIREFIGHTERS SAFE, AND OUR CITIZENS SAFE.I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THIS, AND I HOPE YOU ALL DO TOO. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MR. FOUGHT. ANYONE ELSE AT THE PODIUM? JR.
HOPE YOU CAN HEAR ME. I'M IN A HOSPITAL.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY I LOVE THIS PLAN, I LOVE THIS TIP.
WHEN HE CAME ON HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE, TO THE STAFF, TO THE FIREFIGHTERS, THE COUNCIL.
I THINK HE'S DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB, AND WE JUST NEED TO MAKE NEW CHANGES FOR OUR SAFETY.
WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO KEEP OUR FIREFIGHTERS SAFE, TO KEEP OUR RESIDENTS SAFE, AND OUR HOMES, AND OUR HEALTH, AND I'M ALL FOR IT.
I THINK HE'S THOUGHT EVERYTHING THROUGH AS FAR AS THE COSTS AND SAVINGS.
WE NEED TO GET THE STATION OPENED, WE NEED TO GET THE TRUCKS, AND WE NEED TO GET THINGS GOING ON OUR [INAUDIBLE] SO I AM ALL FOR IT.
>> GOOD EVENING. CAN YOU HEAR ME? HI. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] BRANO, CITIZEN OF LA VERNE.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE NEW FIRE CHIEF.
IT'S REALLY AMAZING, IS A VERY EXCELLENT PLAN, VERY PROFESSIONAL, BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A LOW COST AND THEN THE FIX OF PROBLEM.
I WILL STILL WELCOME THE NEW CHIEF UNTIL COME TO LA VERNE.
ACTUALLY IT'S THE PRETTY MUCH USED TO BE A HABIT.
I'M ONE OF THE SUPPORTER, AND I WAY HAVE THE PSI ALL OVER THE CITY.
I HAVE THE PSI IN MY [SPANISH] FOR A LONG TIME.
IT'S HOW MANY MONTHS? MAYBE HALF YEARS.
PRETTY MUCH IS THE VOICE OF CITIZENS OF LA VERNE AS THE PART FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IN MY UNDERSTANDING, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS JUST NOT ONLY LIKE THE NAME CAR, BUSINESS CAR OF THE LA VERNE, IT'S BECAUSE IT'S LONG HISTORY, ESPECIALLY THE CHRISTMAS, SO MANY THINGS.
LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT IN OUR HEARTS.
WE DON'T WANT TO LOOSE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY SECTION 3 FOR THE AREA, IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE OUR CITIES ARE WELL COMING OUT WITH A LOT OF NEW RECIPE.
THINK ABOUT THE HOUSING. THEY ARE COMING.
DON'T BE DISCOURAGE, TONIGHT IT'S NOT MUCH PEOPLE COME HERE ACTUALLY I THOUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WATCHING ONLINE, AND NOT MUCH PEOPLE COME TO COMMEND.
I UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WE'RE SO DISCOURAGED, AND THAT THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING, SOMETHING HAPPENING IN OUR SAFETY, ESPECIALLY THE CITY COUNCIL SOMETIMES IT'S NOT REALLY LISTENING TO OUR CITIZEN.
PLEASE, IT'S A VERY GOOD BEGINNING, PLEASE JUST START TO LISTEN VOICE OF OUR CITIZEN.
WE WOULD BE VERY HAPPY, IF WE COULD HAVE SUPPORT FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HAVE SAFE [INAUDIBLE], AND THEN CHRISTMAS COMING, WE WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO, OUR CITY STILL WOULD HAVE THE SAME CULTURE, VERY GOOD SWAN CITY, BUT OUR CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR AND THEN CITIZEN, WE ALL LIKE BIG FAMILY, ACTUALLY IS VERY GREAT SAFETY.
FOR US, SOUNDS VERY NICE JUST FOR A NAME.
NO. ACTUALLY IN EMERGENCIES, SAFETY, ALWAYS SHOULD BE THE NUMBER 1 CONSIDERATION.
I'M JUST SO HAPPY THIS PLAN, I LISTENED VERY CAREFUL.
I'M NOT VERY GOOD AT NUMBER, BUT I SAW THE NUMBER IS NOT HUGE.
IT'S JUST LIKE 200, 30, 1,000 IT'S NOTHING.
[LAUGHTER] VERY CORRECT. I'M SO HAPPY.
WELCOME OUR FIRE CHIEF, YOU'VE PUT TO MUCH TO COME TO FIX OUR PROBLEMS, I'M SO HAPPY FOR THAT.
I THINK FOR SO MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT ABLE TO GO ONLINE, SO WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE THAT BEGINNING.
PLEASE, DON'T MAKE US DISCOURAGED BECAUSE PONTIFF AGAIN.
SO OUR CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER,
[00:45:03]
PLEASE DO SOMETHING FOR US. THANK YOU.>> IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE ONLINE, PLEASE USE THE RAISE YOUR HAND FEATURE.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M SUSAN CARSON FROM BENNETT AVENUE.
I WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK, BUT I JUST REMEMBERED SOMETHING ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I'VE LIVED IN LA VERNE ABOUT 23 YEARS NOW, AND AFTER I MOVED HERE, I HAD A BROTHER WHO WAS DISABLED AND LIVED WITH MY MOM IN PASADENA.
HE HAD BEEN FULLY FUNCTIONING, BUT HE HAD HAD SOME SEIZURES AND HAD MS AND WASN'T ABLE TO REALLY GET AROUND TO WELL.
MY MOM ENDED UP MOVING TO LA VERNE BEHIND WHAT IS NOW VAUGHAN'S.
HE LIVED WITH MY MOM AND HE STARTED FALLING.
I TOLD MY MOM I WAS WORKING AND SAID YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CALL 911.
IF YOU CAN'T, HE WAS A BIG GUY.
SHE JUST STARTED CALLING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AFTER ABOUT THE THIRD TIME THAT SHE CALLED LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT, OF COURSE, THEY HAVE CALLER ID BACK THEN AND SHE'D CALL BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T GET HIM UP OFF THE GROUND.
ABOUT THE THIRD TIME THEY SAID MRS. WARREN, DID BILL FALL AGAIN? THEY JUST WENT.
NO LIGHTS, NO SIRENS, NOTHING.
THEY JUST WENT AND THEY WOULD GET HIM BACK UP.
AFTER ABOUT THE FOURTH TIME, FIFTH TIME, I SAID THAT WE HAVE TO PLACE HIM.
ANYWAY, THE ONLY REASON I'M SAYING THAT IS, HE DID PASS AWAY IN 2013, BUT TODAY WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS 75TH BIRTHDAY AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I'M BRINGING IT UP.
HIS BEEN ON MY MIND ALL DAY TODAY.
EVERY TIME I GO TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO BRING YOU GUYS, TACOS AND COOKIES.
>> THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
>> I REALLY DO THAT FOR MY BROTHER, JUST TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING FOR GETTING HIM UP WHEN I COULDN'T.
[LAUGHTER] HE WAS JUST THE BEST PERSON IN THE WHOLE WORLD.
THE OTHER THING IS, EVERYTHING YOU SAID WAS JUST SO SPOT ON, AND WHAT REALLY STRUCK ME THE WHOLE TIME YOU WERE SPEAKING, I WAS PAYING ATTENTION TO EVERYTHING YOU WERE SAYING, BUT YOU REALLY SPOKE LIKE YOU LIVED HERE.
YOU REALLY SPOKE FROM YOUR HEART LIKE, DO YOU AGREE? YOU REALLY SPOKE LIKE YOU WERE ONE OF US.
I THINK IN OUR LITTLE GROUP BACK HERE, THEY PROBABLY AGREE WITH ME THAT YOU FEEL HOW WE FEEL, AND I HAVEN'T LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE.
I'VE ONLY LIVED HERE FOR JUST A BLIP IN TIME, IT'S ONLY 23 YEARS.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I ONLY LIVE A BLOCK FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, SO EVERY TIME YOU GO TO HILLCREST, I KNOW AND [LAUGHTER] IT WAS A LOT TONIGHT.
[LAUGHTER] I JUST REALLY FEEL THAT IT WAS A LOT OF WORK THAT YOU DID, BUT I JUST FELT THAT IT WAS REALLY FROM YOUR HEART AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR STORY.
>> IT'S REALLY GOOD THAT TONIGHT WE HEARD FROM A LEADER, A MANAGER, AND ADMINISTRATOR, SOMEONE WHO OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT BELIEVE IN DOING THE SAME THINGS THE SAME WAY AND EXPECTING A DIFFERENT RESULT.
WHEN I FIRST HEARD CHIEF NIGG SPEAK AT THE EDGE PINNING CEREMONY ON ZOOM, I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE CREDENTIALS, I READ THE BACKGROUND AND I THOUGHT, WELL, HE COMES INTO THIS WITH ALL THE ACADEMICS AND ALL THE EXPERIENCE.
BUT WHAT IMPRESSED ME TONIGHT WAS, YOU CAN'T REALLY DO A OPERATIONAL MODEL UNLESS YOU LOOK AT THE OPERATIONAL DATA AND THE RESOURCES, THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES, AND WE HEARD THAT TONIGHT.
WE HEARD OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT RE-IMAGINED.
IT'S LIKE YOU PUT THINGS WHERE WE WANT TO GO UP ON THE BOARD AND SAY,
[00:50:01]
HOW DO I GET THERE? TONIGHT, WE HEARD HOW WE GET THERE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. [OVERLAPPING]>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND SPEAK? WE HAVE NO ONE ON THE CALL, YOU WANT TO CHECK?
>> WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND BRING IT BACK UP TO THE DANCE HERE. COUNSEL?
>> YES, I DO. IF YOU COULD COME BACK UP TO THE PODIUM IN THERE.
WITH HIRING THE 12 EMTS, ARE WE EQUIPPED FOR HIRING WOMEN?
>> AWESOME. I BELIEVE SO, YES.
>> AT THE STATIONS, ARE THEY CAPABLE TO HANDLE, BECAUSE YOU DEPTH GIVE YOU OWN BATHROOMS, MEN, WOMEN, AND ARE WE CAPABLE OF HIRING? BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF EMTS OUT THERE THAT ARE WOMEN.
>> CERTAINLY I AGREE AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I HAD BROUGHT UP TO CITY MANAGER THAT TYPICALLY IN THE EMT CANDIDATE PULLS A LOT MORE WOMEN OUT THERE FOR HIRING AND IT'S A TERRIFIC WAY OF STEPPING STONE FOR THEM INTO THE FIRE SERVICE.
LET'S MAKE IT HIGHER. I'M GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I NEED TO GET BACK AND LOOK INTO THAT FURTHER.
I'VE BEEN SO DEEP INTO THIS, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FOCUS ON THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THAT WOULD BE CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE'D HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE EQUIPPED TO HAVE GENDER NEUTRAL RESTROOMS FOR ALL OF OUR PERSONNEL.
>> I JUST WAS THINKING TOO AS PEOPLE APPLY, YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT. WOMEN APPLY.
>> WHETHER YOU CAN HANDLE ADDING THEM TO OUR STATIONS.
>> SURE. I WANT TO SAY IT IN THIS DAY AND AGE THAT WE WOULD BE EQUIPPED TO MAKE IT WORK.
BUT I WOULD CERTAINLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING IT CORRECTLY AND LEGALLY AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
>> THANK YOU. YES, I JUST WANT TO JUMP ON THAT PIECE AGAIN AND JUST RESTATE IT FOR EVERYONE BECAUSE YOU SAID IT.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS ONE IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR PLAN IS ONE REASON WHY STATION 3 IS NOT OPEN RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE OF STAFFING AND BE ABLE TO GET STAFF.
BUT HAVING EMTS AND FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE NOT PARAMEDICS IS A GREAT TRAINING GROUND FOR OUR STAFF AND YOUR RECRUITING AND DEVELOPING AND BUILDING AND MAKING SURE THAT IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR TO STAFF IN OUR PROMOTIONAL PIECES.
THE PART OF YOUR PLAN, AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT PIECE OF YOUR PLAN.
THE OTHER PIECE WHERE YOU HAVE THE 40 HOUR TRAINING CAPTAIN FOR IMPLEMENTATION, ONETIME ONLY.
I KNOW YOU SAID ONE TIME ONLY, BUT DO YOU SEE BECAUSE OF OUR TRAINING AND STUFF THAT WE MIGHT NEED LATER ON COMING DOWN THE ROAD WITH SOC COMING OF NEEDING THAT A PERMANENT POSITION? BECAUSE YOU ALSO SAID WE'RE LOSING ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AS WELL, AND THAT THIS COULD HELP WITH ALL THOSE, RETAIN THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS SO THEN YOU CAN FUND THIS PIECE ON THE ONGOING BASIS AS WELL?
>> SURE. LET ME START BY SAYING IF WE WERE TO GO BACK TO THAT ORGANIZATIONAL CHART SIDE, YOU SAW THE RED DOWN THERE AT THE BOTTOM.
STEP 2 IS WORKING ON THE TOP HALF OF THAT CHART.
I CAN TELL YOU FUNDAMENTALLY THAT AS REALLY THE ONLY 40 OUR CHIEF OFFICER OR EVEN WITHOUT A TRAINING CABINETS, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AND IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME TO KEEP UP.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE SPOKE TO CITY MANAGER RESCUE AT LENGTH ABOUT IS FINDING A WAY TO BRING IN ANOTHER 40 HOUR, WHETHER IT'S A CHIEF OFFICER OR EVEN A TRAINING CAPTAIN.
HOWEVER, LIKE I MENTIONED YOU GUYS BEFORE WHEN I CAME IN, IT WAS NEVER MY INTENT TO COME TO YOU JUST HAVE AN OPEN HAND ASKING FOR MONEY.
IT IS TO HELP WITH THAT CONVERSATION AND FIND AREAS THAT WE CAN HELP BE A PART OF THAT SOLUTION.
LIKE I SAID, THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.
WE HAVE THE SUPPRESSION SIDE AND WE HAVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE OR THE PREVENTION SIDE AND RISK REDUCTION SIDE.
GOT BEEN SO DEEP IN THIS THAT NOW IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IN MOVING THIS FORWARD, THEN WE CAN TAKE A BREATH AND I CAN FOCUS MY EFFORTS ON THAT SIDE.
TO GO BACK TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION.
DO I ANTICIPATE A NEED FOR A 40 HOUR TRAINING CAPTAIN? ONE HUNDRED PERCENT, I THINK WE COULD USE ONE THAT MAY EVEN BE RECOMMENDED IN THE STANDARDS COVERAGE.
FOR ME AND DEFINITELY WHAT THAT WOULD BE IS THAT ONE CORE PERSON WHO HAS THAT CONSISTENT WORKFLOW KEEPING UP WITH THE PLANNING AND THE OPERATIONAL LEVEL COMMUNICATIONS, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PART OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THIS COUNTY.
WHERE IS RIGHT OUR WE'RE NOT WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE DEPTH FOR THAT.
>> THANK YOU. THE OTHER PIECE YOU AND I SPOKE TO WAS ABOUT THE FIRE MARSHAL PIECE AND HOW WE NEED THAT SUBSTANTIALLY BE IN OUR CITY FOR THAT PERSON SO THAT THEY CAN GO DO THOSE DUTIES.
[00:55:05]
CAN YOU SPEAK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT AS WELL?>> SURE. [NOISE] ONE OF THE THINGS I ALREADY DID IDENTIFY IS THAT WE'RE SPENDING AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF OVERTIME ON A SHIFT BATTALION CHIEF WHO SHARES THAT HAPPENED WITH HIS REGULAR DUTIES.
ALL THREE OF MY BATTALION CHIEFS ARE WEARING A MULTITUDE OF HATS.
IN FACT, THAT I'M REALLY HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THEM JUST FOCUSING ON BEING SHIPPED BATTALION CHIEFS AND MAKING SURE THAT THE DAY IN, DAY OUT, TRAINING OR POLICY, WHATEVER I NEED THEM TO DO.
THE ONE WHO WORKS AS THE FIRE MARSHAL BECAUSE THAT IS A 40 HOUR CONTINUITY OF WORK TYPE OF POSITION.
WHO ROUTINELY WORKS WITH OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY CONSTANTLY KEEPING UP WITH PLAN REVIEW, STATE FIRE MARSHAL MANDATED INSPECTIONS AND ETC.
WE CALCULATED TO THIS POINT AT LEAST THERE, BUT I THINK WE LOOKED BACK AT THE LAST THREE YEARS.
WE SPEND UPWARDS OF $16,000 AND OVER TIME JUST FOR HIM TO DO THAT POSITION.
IF I WERE TO TAKE THAT AND RECYCLE THAT INTO OUR CURRENT NON-SAFETY INSPECTOR, I COULD POTENTIALLY MOVE HER INTO THE FIRE MARSHAL POSITION HAMBURGER EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE WEEK, BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND THAT WE TRULY HAVE AND OFFER THAT REAL GOOD EXTERNAL CUSTOMER SERVICE, LIKE I MENTIONED TO YOU BEFORE.
BUT THAT IS JUST SOMETHING PRETTY QUICKLY I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A CONCLUSION ON WITHIN A COUPLE HOURS.
BUT ULTIMATELY THAT WHOLE DEPARTMENT NEEDS A RESETTING AS WELL.
BUT LIKE I SAID, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DIVE INTO THOSE REVENUES THAT I KNOW WE'RE MISSING OUT ON.
>> YOU GAVE US THE DATA ON HOW LA COUNTY IS RESPONDING RESPONSES GIVEN TO LA VERNE.
I KNOW PRIOR TO STATION 3 BECAUSE OF STAFFING AND BEING BROWNED OUT, WE WERE PROVIDING MORE THOSE YEARS BEFORE, IT'S WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME.
I'VE NEVER SEEN THE NUMBERS ON THAT.
COULD YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TONIGHT IF YOU DON'T HAVE EITHER.
WHAT WERE THE NUMBERS OF WHAT WE WERE GIVING LA COUNTY IN OUR SURROUNDING AREAS WHEN WE HAD THAT STATION 3 OPEN WITH THE EXTRA AMBULANCE, AND THEN WE WILL BE PROBABLY GIVING MORE BECAUSE OF OUR INVENTORY SERVICES, WHAT YOU SAID TO OUR SURROUNDING AREAS AND HAVING ANOTHER TRUCK UP THERE COULD HELP OUT THE LOCAL AREAS OUTSIDE OF OUR ZONE.
>> SURE. I DO HAVE THOSE NUMBERS AND I HAVE A FIVE-YEAR TOTAL THAT WAS PROVIDED TO ME BY ONE OF MY COUNTERPARTS OVER AT LA COUNTY FIRE AT A HIGH ALTITUDE LEVEL.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN REALLY BREAK DOWN THESE RESPONSES COUNSELS, WHAT TYPES OF CALLS THEY WORK CENTER.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OF THAT IN THAT DEPTH, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IN '17, '18, AND '19, ON AVERAGE, WE WERE PROVIDING ROUGHLY ABOUT 29-30 PERCENT MORE OF OUR PERSONNEL GOING INTO THEIR CITIES.
BUT THERE'S AN ASTERIX TO THAT BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THAT APPEARS TO BE AN IMBALANCE IN OUR FAVOR, IT'S A PLACE THAT WE WANT TO LIVE IN [NOISE] BECAUSE LA COUNTY FIRE HAS RESOURCES THAT WE WILL NEVER HAVE.
HELICOPTERS, DOZERS, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SEEMS THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE RELYING ON THEM FOR SOME OF THOSE VERY CRITICAL RESOURCES.
HOWEVER, WHEN WE END UP IN A PLACE WHERE WE'RE HEAVILY RELYING ON THEM ON JUST THE DAY-TO-DAY RESPONSES LIKE MEDICAL AIDS.
NOW WE'RE RELYING ON FOR THIS CRITICAL RESOURCES PLUS ALL OF THESE CALLS.
YES, THOSE PRECEDING THREE YEARS, ROUGHLY ABOUT A 30 PERCENT IN OUR FAVOR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BALL, LIKE I MENTIONED UP THERE, THAT JUMPED UP 66 PERCENT IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.
>> LIKE YOU SAID, THERE'S THE SMALL MEDICAL AIDS WE MIGHT HAVE PROVIDED THEM BEFORE, BUT THEY WOULD PROVIDE US WITH A LARGER STRUCTURE FIRE THAT HAS MORE PEOPLE ON A TIME AND ONE OF THOSE OCCASIONS MIGHT ACCOUNT FOR 20 OF THE SMALLER ONES TO BE.
BUT WITH OUR MODEL NOW, THEN IT BRINGS US A BETTER FOOTING TO GO BACK TO THE TABLE FOR AUTOMATIC AID AGREEMENTS WITH THEM.
>> I AGREE. I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WHAT I'M BRINGING TO YOU WERE THOSE GLARING ISSUES THAT I KNEW THAT WE COULD LATCH ONTO RIGHT NOW MEANING WE KNOW FOR FACT WE HAVE A GEOGRAPHICAL INEQUITY WHICH TRANSLATES INTO A RESPONSE TIME INEQUITY.
ALL OF THE CALL DATA, ALL OF DIVING INTO THE NUTS AND BOLTS AT THIS, OUR [INAUDIBLE] IS GOING TO DO.
THAT'S REALLY GOING TO COME BACK AND SUBSTANTIATE WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED TO SPEND TWO MILLION DOLLARS OR WHATEVER IT IS ON FIREFIGHTERS.
RIGHT NOW, THIS IS JUST TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE ON THE ROAD AND HOW QUICKLY THEY TAKE TO GET THERE.
>> MY LAST PIECE YOU GAVE, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, A GREAT PLAN.
I THINK WHAT YOU'VE GIVEN US TONIGHT, READING THE COUNTY'S PLAN TO US IS MORE
[01:00:05]
SUFFICIENT AND BETTER FOR OUR CITY THAN EVER TO GO COUNTY. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU. WELCOME TO OUR COUNCIL MEETING CHIEF [INAUDIBLE].
THIS IS WHERE THE GRUELING ONLY GETS MORE AND MORE.
HOWEVER, [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] EVERY MEETING WHEN WE'RE ALL HERE AS A COUNCIL MEETING, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S A STUDY SESSION OR AN ADJOURNED MEETING OR A REGULAR MEETING.
BUT THE PIECE THAT I WANT TO REMARK ON, AND I APPRECIATE THOSE ADDITIONAL STATISTICS BECAUSE I TOO AM ONE WHO BELIEVES IT'S BETTER TO GIVE THAN RECEIVE.
HAVING THAT IN A POSITIVE SENSE IS A NICE PLACE TO BE, I THINK, SO IF WE CAN RETURN THOSE RATIOS TO THAT POINT, I THINK ALL THE BETTER.
I WANT TO REMEMBER AND I WANT MY COUNSEL TO REMEMBER AS WELL THAT THIS IS A 90 PERCENT SOLUTION THAT ALL THE NUTS AND BOLTS AREN'T WORKED OUT IN EVERY LITTLE PIECE.
I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE AND A VERY COMPLEX PLAN, AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT.
THAT IS SIMPLY SUBSTANTIATES ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I WANTED TO WAIT TO HEAR YOUR PLAN BEFORE WE TOOK STEPS FORWARD.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS PLAN AND RECOGNIZE THAT WHILE IT'S COMPREHENSIVE AND COMPLEX, IT'S NOT THE COMPLETE PLAN, SO IT STILL HAS ROOM FOR ADJUSTMENT.
I THINK IT NEEDS TO HAVE ROOM FOR ADJUSTMENT EVEN IF WE GET AN SOC THAT COMES IN AND SAYS THESE ARE THE THINGS WE SHOULD CONSIDER.
WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THAT FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR IS THE DEPARTMENT WHICH SHINES AND FINDS ITS LIGHT AND HAS THAT NORTHSTAR VISION.
I LIKE ALL THE PIECES THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS AND I CAN READ IN BETWEEN SOME OF THE LINES FOR THE CONVERSATION WE HAD ABOUT SOME ADDITIONAL PIECES THAT YOU WANT TO LAYER IN OVER TIME, SO 60 DAYS.
>> I KNOW I HAD MY OPENING COMMENTS RIGHT AFTER YOU GAVE A PRESENTATION, BUT I REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY NOT BE READILY APPARENT IN THE PRESENTATION, AND I REALLY ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO TALK TO CHIEF MEG BECAUSE I THINK IT IS HIS ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE AND TO GATHER THE NECESSARY DATA AND INFORMATION TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION THAT IS ABOVE AND BEYOND, I THINK WHAT WE COULD HAVE EVER HOPED FOR IN A CHIEF, AND I'M INCREDIBLY GLAD FOR THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK THE OTHER THING RELATED TO THAT IS THAT I LOVE THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENTS WITH OTHER GROUPS OR ORGANIZATIONS IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ACCOMPLISHED FOR OUR CITY.
I THINK THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE BOX THINKING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THIS LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE DOES IT.
I WANT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT TO FEEL PROUD OF THAT AND TO FEEL THAT THEY'RE PART OF A NEW WAVE OF THE INDUSTRY WHERE PEOPLE CAN POINT TO THEM AND SAY, THIS IS WHERE IT'S AT AND THESE ARE THE FOLKS WHO LED THE CHARGE.
I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR THAT AND I REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, AND I THINK LEADERSHIP IS NOT JUST HAVING YEARS IN THE BUSINESS, BUT ACTUALLY SEEING HOW ALL THE PIECES COME TOGETHER.
[NOISE] I APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU'VE SPENT WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TO EDUCATE US WHERE WE NEEDED TO BE EDUCATED, BUT TO ALSO LOOK FOR OPINIONS AND PERSPECTIVES IN ORDER TO MOVE US FORWARD.
BECAUSE WE AREN'T SANDY MISS WE AREN'T WEST COVINA, WE'RE LA VERNE AND WHATEVER SOLUTIONS NEED TO BE FOUND NEED TO BE SPECIFIC TO US.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, AND I THINK, PART OF OUR CONVERSATION WHEN WE MET TOO, WAS THIS A LOT.
I DO NOT WANT YOU TO BURN OUT.
[LAUGHTER] WHEN YOU NEED HELP, WHEN YOU NEED RESOURCES, WHEN YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO TALK TO US TO TALK TO THE CITY MANAGER AND ASK FOR THOSE RESOURCES BECAUSE WE WANT YOU TO BE SUCCESSFUL, BECAUSE THAT MEANS OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS SUCCESSFUL, AND THAT MEANS OUR CITY IS SAFE.
>> PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE, AND AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED IN A VERY SHORT TIME THAT YOU'VE BEEN HERE.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT I HAVE A LOT OF REALLY GOOD IDEAS SO I'LL TAKE YOU UP ON THEM.
>> BASICALLY AGREEMENT WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED, I TOO WANT TO JUST ECHO THE TEAM PART.
YOU COULD HAVE COME IN HERE AND JUST RAISED HOLY HECK AND JUST BEEN SOMEONE THAT JUST CAME IN, SO WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, THIS AND THIS UNTIL WE SAT DOWN WITH ALL OF YOUR TEAM AND ALL OF THE TEAM AND THE CITY MANAGEMENT AND ALSO COUNSEL,
[01:05:03]
YOU SAT WITH US AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU'VE GOT SOME GREAT IDEAS.ALREADY, WE'RE SEEING THAT THIS PLAN IS VERY DOABLE, IT'S VERY AFFORDABLE, BUT AGAIN, AS MAYOR PRO TEM DAVIS SAID IT'S 90 PERCENT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ONCE THE SOC COMES, THERE WILL BE MORE PERSONNEL WE'RE NOT GOING TO RAMP THIS UP LIKE A ROCKET SHIP, LIKE TESLA'S ROCKET SHIPS TO THE MOON OUTSIDE THE ATMOSPHERE, BUT WE CAN RAMP IT UP ACCORDINGLY.
WITH YOUR SKILL SET, WITH YOUR TEAM, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO FIND THOSE FINANCES IN THOSE FUNDS BECAUSE YOUR IDEAS ARE JUST, I'M EXCITED.
I JUST LIKE IT, IT'S A NEW START, AND I'M REALLY APPRECIATED FOR THAT.
I ALSO, AS COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY STATED, I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE WITH THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT STUDY, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A NECESSITY FOR IT AT THIS POINT.
DO WE HAVE TO FINISH THAT WITH THEM? JUST MAKE IT AS THIS COMMENT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT OUR MUTUAL SITUATION, WHICH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, ESPECIALLY AS WE WERE BUILDING, IF WE CAN OFFER THEM LESS SERVICES, BUT ARE WE WASTING OUR TIME?
>> ACTUALLY TO YOU, BUT ALSO TO [LAUGHTER] THE CITY MANAGER.
>> I THINK THIS IS CERTAINLY A STEP IN A FURTHER INVESTMENT IN OUR OWN DEPARTMENT.
WHEN WE TOOK THAT TRACK, WE DIDN'T HAVE A FIRE CHIEF.
WHEN OUR FIRE CHIEF, WE ARE BASICALLY RIDING TWO HORSES RIGHT NOW, WE ARE GOING IN THE DIRECTION OF HOW TO HELP IMPROVE OUR DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO WHAT IS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE COUNTY.
>> WHAT HAVE WE SPENT TO THIS POINT?
>> WELL, WE'VE HAD TO COMMIT TO THE COST OF DOING THE COST ANALYSIS WHICH WAS ABOUT $24,000.
THERE'S BEEN SOME OTHER BASIC COST, BUT I WOULD SAY ANYTHING OVER 30,000 AT THIS POINT.
>> I PERSONALLY AS THE MAYOR OF THE CITY AND ALSO TALKING ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBERS, I DON'T KNOW THAT THE NECESSITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, WE ARE BUILDING OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING IN THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO, WHICH IS HAVING A FIRE DEPARTMENT, THAT IS OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND I JUST DON'T SEE THE NEED IF WE CAN STOP TO MAYBE DISCUSS THIS AS A WHOLE, BUT TO MAYBE STOPPED US DEAD IN ITS TRACKS AND MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> I'M LARGELY IN CONCURRENCE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, MAYOR, I'D WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT JUST THE CHIEF, BUT THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS THAT MANEUVER.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO MAKE A STEP WITHOUT THAT CONCURRENCE.
BUT IF THERE IS CONCURRENCE FROM LVFA AND THE REST OF YOUR STAFF, THAT IT IS WE DON'T WANT TO BE RIDING TWO HORSES.
WE CAN RIDE TWO HORSES FOR AWHILE.
BUT IF THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN BEING ON TWO HORSES, THEY'RE INTERESTED IN JOINING THIS, THEN I WOULD SAY THAT THE ONLY THING I WOULD ASK THAT WHEN YOU BRING THIS UP TO COUNCIL MEETING, THAT YOU WOULD INCLUDE A REQUEST TO CEASE NEGOTIATIONS WITH LA COUNTY FIRE.
OTHERWISE, I WOULDN'T WANT TO CHANGE ANYTHING IN YOUR PROPOSAL.
IT JUST BE THAT EDITION AS LONG AS WE HAVE YOUR STAFF SUPPORT BECAUSE I WOULDN'T WANT TO MAKE THAT DECISION WITHOUT THEIR INPUT INTO THAT.
>> AGREED, AND THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT IT UP.
>> THE ONLY THING I WOULD SUGGEST AND ONLY BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HOLD UP GETTING THIS PART MOVING FORWARD AND IF GETTING SOMEWHERE WITH THAT PIECE DELAYS THIS, I WOULD BRING THAT AS A SEPARATE ACTION.
THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY CAVEAT TO THAT THAT I WOULD OFFER.
>> I JUST DON'T WANT TO AFFECT THE MUTUAL AID SITUATION AND DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COUNTY.
>> I AGREE WITH THAT AND I APPRECIATE WHAT OUR CITY MANAGER IS SAYING AS WELL, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT IN THE WHEELS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS, WE'RE IN THE DISCUSSIONS AS TO WHETHER THIS IS AN EASY DECISION OR HARD DECISION.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU BRING THIS PACKAGE TO US AS SOON AS YOU CAN SO WE CAN ALLOCATE THE FUNDS, AT THE SAME TIME KNOW THAT BASED ON ALL THE MOVING PARTS BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS A COMPLEX PLAN.
YOU LIVE IN A COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT TO WHERE THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH MUTUAL AID OR MAYBE ARE AUTO AID MAY BE IMPACTED BY THE NEGOTIATIONS OF OUTSOURCING THE ENTIRE SERVICES, AND YOUR INPUT AS TO SAYING, WE THINK THAT WE SHOULD CARRY THESE TWO HORSES FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER, BUT AT SOME POINT, SHOULD THERE BE A DECISION THAT, I KNOW EVERYBODY IS ON THIS HORSE, MAKES SENSE TO MOVE QUICKER ON THIS HORSE AND LET US SHARE THE NEGOTIATIONS, SO FAR TIM AND I ARE THE ONES TALKING THAT I THINK YOU'D FIND COUNCIL AMENABLE TO THAT DECISION.
[01:10:03]
>> BASICALLY WHAT I'M HEARING FROM OUR COUNCIL IS THAT THIS PLAN WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, IS THAT CORRECT COUNCIL? WE'RE ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS?
>> THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE IN RED OR AT LEAST THE DIRECTIONS, WHAT YOU BASED ON WHAT I'M HEARING, OUR GOAL WILL BE AND I KNOW IN ADDITION TO PUTTING THIS PRESENTATION AND EVERYTHING, CHIEF MEG HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE STAFF REPORT, SO WE MAY BE ABLE TO GET THIS TO YOU AS QUICKLY AS YOUR NEXT MEETING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT THE SOONER THE BETTER. [OVERLAPPING]
>> ACCELERATE THAT PART OF IT IS THE BETTER.
I JUST WONDER WITH MORE 30 MORE DAYS WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO AND I'M JUST EXCITED, SO PLEASE BRING IT BACK.
>> I ALSO HEARD WE COULDN'T CHANGE THIS BECAUSE HE LIKED THE WHOLE THING THE WAY IT WAS BUILT SO [OVERLAPPING] I'M TEASING, BUT NO, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PACKAGE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE DO APPRECIATE IT.
I JUST LOVE THE SUPPORT FROM THE FIRE PERSONNEL, FROM THE STAFF AGAIN, AND YOU HAVE OUR SUPPORT AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND THAT OTHER 10 PERCENT THAT COMES WITH THE SOC AND EVERYTHING ELSE, WE'LL ADDRESS THAT AS A COUNCIL AND AS A CITY AND MOVE FORWARD.
BUT I THINK YOU'VE HEARD FROM EVERYBODY.
>> I APPRECIATE IT AND IF I CAN JUST EXPAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ON WHAT YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT.
[NOISE] I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE LVFA, I CAN'T DO WHAT I DO WITHOUT THEM.
THEY ARE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, AND IT HELPS ME FEEL A LOT MORE CONFIDENT ABOUT WHAT I BRING FORWARD TOWARDS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT LIKE IN [INAUDIBLE] THAT BEING SAID, LIKE I MENTIONED IN HERE, THERE IS A GREAT DESIRE TO MAINTAIN LA VERNE FIRE AND AND STATE OF LA VERNE FIRE.
BUT I WILL STAND BEFORE YOU AND SAY THAT I AGREE WITH THEM IN THE SENSE THAT AS LONG AS WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR DEPARTMENT AND TAKING CARE OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE HERE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THE URGENT CONCERNS.
I'LL NEVER BRING SOMETHING TO YOU THAT IS UNREALISTIC OR JUST ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS.
EVERYTHING I'M BRINGING TO YOU AS STRAIGHT FROM MY HEART AND I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT AS ARE THEY.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE LA COUNTY CONVERSATION, THEY'RE FANTASTIC FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I'LL NEVER TAKE THAT FROM THEM.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFIT OBVIOUSLY, TO MAINTAIN YOUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT TO WHICH I SUPPORT AND THEY SUPPORT AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE DOWN THIS PATH.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF? CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH CHIEF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TIME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
>> OUR NEXT SCHEDULE MEETING WILL BE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH, 2021, OF COURSE, THIS YEAR AT 06:30 PM.
THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 07:43.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. [NOISE] [APPLAUSE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.