Title
INFORMATIONAL ONLY - Annual Update on the Alameda Fire Department Fire Prevention Division Submitted by the Fire Chief. (Fire)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jill Keimach, City Manager
Re: INFORMATIONAL ONLY - Annual Update on the Alameda Fire Department Fire Prevention Division Submitted by the Fire Chief
BACKGROUND
At the start of Fiscal Year 2009-10, in response to declining revenue during the economic downturn and in order to achieve a balanced budget, the City made significant cuts in staffing throughout the organization. Included in this was a reduction in staffing at the Fire Department. These cuts included reducing the Fire Prevention Bureau from seven positions (four sworn and three non-sworn) to two non-sworn positons. This reduction left only one non-sworn Senior Fire Code Compliance Inspector and one Administrative Technician II. At this same time, the City also closed Fire Station 5 at the Alameda Naval Base.
Prior to this reduction the Fire Prevention Bureau was composed of
1 Division Chief (Fire Marshal)
1 Fire Captain (Asst. Fire Marshal/Plan Examiner)
2 Firefighters / Apparatus Operators (Inspectors)
2 Fire Code Compliance Officers (non-sworn)
1 Administrative Technician
DISCUSSION
On April 18, 2017, the City Council authorized the re-establishment of the Fire Department Fire Prevention Division with the authorization and funding for three new sworn positions (two Fire Inspectors at the Firefighter or Apparatus Operator rank and a Fire Captain/Assistant Fire Marshal), three vehicles, office remodel in City Hall West with necessary furnishing, phone, and IT equipment and annual training.
With the reestablishment of these positions, the Council directed staff to provide annual updates on the number and percentage of inspections completed annually. Due to the length of time that the program and processes had to be developed to create this new Division, the data provided does not yet represent a full year of inspections. Even with only eight months of inspections and a Division that is still working on its processes, about half of the 3,500 inspectable occupancies Citywide have been inspected. AFD anticipates a three year process to catch up on backlogged inspections and refine the Division’s process for high-hazard and State required annual inspections
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The annual budget for this new division is $865,000 with $188,684 in capital one-time expenses.
There is no financial impact from presentation and acceptance of this Report.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This presentation does not affect the municipal code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This presentation does not require environmental review because it is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”). CEQA Guidelines, section 15378(b).
RECOMMENDATION
Hear the annual update on the Fire Department Fire Prevention Division.
Respectfully submitted,
Edmond Rodriguez, Fire Chief
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Edwin Gato, Acting Finance Director