Title
Adoption of Resolution Approving Workforce Changes and Amendments to the Memorandums of Understanding between the City of Alameda and the Alameda Fire Chiefs Association and the City of Alameda and the International Association of Firefighters, Local 689 in Support of the Fire Department Reorganization. (Human Resources 10025060)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Alameda (City) is reorganizing its Fire Department to modernize its structure, enhance operations, and align with industry standards. Since September, the City has been negotiating with the Alameda Fire Chiefs Association (AFCA) and the International Association of Firefighters, Local 689 (IAFF), to finalize amendments to their Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) for implementing the reorganization. Agreements have now been reached, and both AFCA and IAFF members have ratified the amendments.
The reorganization introduces new leadership roles, including Deputy Chief and Battalion Chief, to improve career progression and succession planning. Key positions will shift to administrative functions, focusing on compliance, quality assurance, and training, while clarifying management structures to enhance accountability and oversight. These changes aim to boost the department’s efficiency and adaptability to meet evolving challenges, all within existing budget.
Staff recommends City Council approve the reorganization, the amended MOUs, and the updated salary schedules.
BACKGROUND
The City is reorganizing its Fire Department to modernize operations, improve efficiency, and align with industry standards, all within the existing budget. Key changes include adding the new classifications of Deputy Chief and Battalion Chief to establish a clear career ladder, enhance leadership, and support succession planning. These updates increase operational capacity and resilience by expanding Battalion-level responsibilities and transitioning some positions to focus on compliance, training, and quality assurance.
The Fire Department reorganization includes upgrading two Division Chiefs to the newly created classification of Deputy Chief and reallocating three Division Chiefs from fire suppression duties to office roles and eliminating one Division Chief position. Additionally, three Firefighters will be upgraded to the newly created classification of Battalion Chief, and two Firefighter positions will be eliminated. This new structure moves from peer-to-peer supervision to a model with defined oversight, improving accountability, communication, and decision-making. By reallocating resources efficiently, the reorganization achieves significant improvements without additional costs, ensuring the Fire Department is prepared for current and future challenges while fostering professionalism and excellence.
To implement the reorganization, the City has been working with the AFCA and IAFF since September to negotiate new job classifications, salaries, and employment terms related to the changes. The amended MOUs with both AFCA and IAFF are now submitted for approval, with the proposed changes taking effect on December 17, 2024, if approved by the City Council. A summary of the key amendments for each bargaining unit is provided below.
DISCUSSION
Changes to AFCA MOU
The Fire Department reorganization makes key changes to the AFCA bargaining unit, including:
• Eliminating one (1) Division Chief position;
• Upgrading two (2) Division Chief positions to Deputy Chief positions; and
• Reassigning three (3) Division Chief positions from suppression to administrative roles.
These updates enhance leadership capacity, improve operational efficiency, and keep the reorganization within the current budget by reducing one position. The amended MOU clarifies shift relief policies, outlining compensation for Deputy Chiefs and Division Chiefs temporarily serving as suppression Battalion Chiefs from January 12 to June 30, 2025, when IAFF members are unavailable, ensuring equitable and efficient staffing.
Additional updates include transitioning from a 38-hour to a 40-hour workweek, with revised salaries detailed in Table 1 (shown below), and adjustments to the Management Incentive Pay framework to reflect the new roles. Vacation and sick leave policies have also been refined, addressing accumulation limits and the transition of employees from 56-hour suppression to 40-hour administrative roles. Salary and special pay details for this transition are outlined in Appendix C (pages 45-57 of Exhibit 1). These changes support the reorganization while ensuring smooth implementation for employees.
Changes to IAFF MOU
The Fire Department reorganization introduces key changes to the IAFF bargaining unit, including:
- Eliminating two (2) firefighter positions; and
- Upgrading three (3) firefighter positions to Battalion Chief positions.
Salary details for the Battalion Chief can be found in Table 1. The elimination of the two firefighter positions keeps the reorganization within the current budget and will have no impact on services provided to the community.
The amended IAFF MOU incorporates new education requirements for promotions, requiring employees promoted to Battalion Chief to complete course work within three years of promotion and beginning January 1, 2028, to have course work completed prior to promotion. This ensures that candidates meet qualifications that support the Fire Department's professional standards. Additionally, the MOU establishes a requirement of four qualified actors to fill Battalion Chief vacancies, ensuring sufficient staffing coverage of these critical leadership roles.
These changes are designed to strengthen the Fire Department's structure, promote career development, and maintain operational readiness while supporting the goals of the reorganization.
Table 1
Annual Salaries Effective December 29, 2024
|
Classification |
Bargaining Unit |
HRs./ Week |
Step 1 |
Step 2 |
Step 3 |
Step 4 |
Step 5 |
Step 6 |
Step 7 |
|
Deputy Chief |
AFCA |
40 |
204,762 |
215,000 |
225,750 |
237,037 |
248,889 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Division Chief |
AFCA |
40 |
195,011 |
204,761 |
215,000 |
225,750 |
237,037 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Battalion Chief |
IAFF |
56 |
N/A |
N/A |
172,708 |
181,343 |
190,410 |
199,931 |
209,927 |
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The financial impact of the Fire Department reorganization, including salary and pay changes, is summarized in the table below:
|
Position Change |
Cost(+/-) |
|
Elimination of One Division Chief |
($411,000) |
|
Upgrade of Two Division Chiefs to Deputy Chiefs |
$97,300 |
|
Convert Three Suppression Division Chiefs to Administration |
$75,000 |
|
Upgrade of Three Firefighters to Battalion Chief |
$486,000 |
|
Eliminate two Firefighter Positions |
($455,000) |
|
Total |
($207,700) |
The reorganization and MOU changes result in net savings of $207,700, primarily due to the elimination of three positions. This cost reduction offsets the expenses associated with upgrading and reclassifying other roles. As a result, the Fire Department budget is expected to absorb the reorganization costs without requiring additional funding. The net savings are available as contingency funds to account for unforeseen expenses or issues during the City’s transition to a new organizational structure.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with Alameda Municipal Code. This action supports the City Strategic Plan Priorities to Enhance Community Safety and Services as well as to Practice Fiscally Responsible, Equitable and Inclusive Governance.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action does not constitute a “project” as defined in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 and therefore no further CEQA analysis is required.
CLIMATE IMPACT
There are no identifiable climate impacts or climate action opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution approving workforce changes and amendments to the MOUS between the City and AFCA and the City and IAFF in support of the Fire Department reorganization.
Respectfully submitted,
Jessica Romeo, Human Resources Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret O’Brien, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. AFCA MOU - Amended December 17, 2024 - Redline
2. AFCA MOU - Amended December 17, 2024 - Clean
3. AFCA Salary Schedule, Effective December 29, 2024
4. AFCA Salary Schedule, Effective January 12, 2025
5. IAFF MOU - Amended December 17, 2024 - Redline
6. IAFF MOU - Amended December 17, 2024 - Clean
7. IAFF Salary Schedule, Effective December 29, 2024
8. IAFF Salary Schedule Effective January 12, 2025