HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/18/2008 00 Agenda and Packet ∎∎ xxxxx ' FILE
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CITY OF YAKIMA
WASHINGTON
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SEPTEMBER 1 2000
ADJOURNED MEETING
STUDY SESSION
•
6 °'s �• Di stributed at - .� ` - i 3 -off
. _ Business Meeting
EMS LEVY OBJECTIVES
• Maximize our ability to respond to ALL
emergency 911 calls for help.
• Implement faster response times.
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• Deliver a paramedic to the patient faster.
• Establish a team of 2 paramedics on every call.
• Lower fire insurance premiums.
EMS LEVY OBJECTIVES
• Maximize our ability to respond to ALL
emergency 911 calls for help.
• Implement faster response times.
• Deliver a paramedic to the patient faster.
• Establish a team of 2 paramedics on every call.
• Lower fire insurance premiums.
` ),,y am
David Edler, Mayor
Micah Cawley,•Assistant Mayor
•
1,5) Yakima Kathy Coffey
-1111/ ouncil Rick Ensey
1 Norm Johnson
Agenda Bill Lover
129 N. 2nd Street,Yakima,WA. 98901 Neil McClure
Phone: (509) 575 -6000 • Fax (509) 576 -66 City Manager
Email: ccouncil @ci.yakima.wa.us • www.ci.yakima.wa.us _ Richard A. Zais, Jr.
Anyone wishing to address the Council, please fill out the form found on the tables and give it to the City Clerk
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
ADJOURNED MEETING - STUDY SESSION
SEPTEMBER 18, 2008 - 8:00 - 9:30. A.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS - YAKIMA CITY HALL
1. Roll Call
• 2. Emergency Medical Services Levy
3. Audience comments (9 :15 — 9:30 a.m.)
4. Adjournment to September 30, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. in Council Chambers
for a Study Session regarding the Yakima Police Athletic League
•
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Yakima
IIFAm.loan
City ofYakima Vision Statement: To create a culturally diverse, economically vibrant, safe, and strongYakima community.
Adopted March 2008 1994
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Administration �C � 1(14 Q
Suppression i I1 °'
nvestigation ° ,� }, '`+, t s '' 4 01 North Front Street, Yakima, WA 98901 (509) 575 -6060
r aining ' : Fax (509) 576 -6356
Communications '' WS': ' w
ww.yakimafire.com
September 10, 2008
Honorable Mayor & members of the City Council
Subject: EMS Levy
Thank you for placing the EMS levy on the February 3, 2009 ballot. Your decision empowers the
citizens to determine for themselves, the level of fire protection and pre - hospital emergency care
they desire.
While I continue to believe that the pre - hospital emergency care element of this proposal is critical
to the safety of our community, the controversy surrounding this element has eclipsed the primary
need for the EMS Levy, that being that right now there are times when 911 emergency calls are
made to the Yakima Fire Department to which we are unable to respond because insufficient
0 staffing. The City's inability to respond to emergency calls to render aid, and the continued
degradation in our response times can only be attributed to rising demands for service and a lack of
resources and people needed to perform this critical service.
Performance measurement has long been a hallmark of the fire service, turn -out times, response
times and the like are measured and improvement in these areas is a continuous effort. One
measure of a fire agency's performance is the rating it receives from the Washington State Ratings
Bureau (WSRB). The current rating for the City of Yakima is a 4, as such the YFD has the
distinction of being the largest professional City fire department in the State with a rating this low
from the Washington State Ratings Bureau. .
So there is no confusion, as Chief, my number one priority with respect to the EMS Levy is to hire
12 new firefighters and 1 dispatcher to address these critical response needs. Twenty -five cents
has been identified as the amount necessary to fund and sustain these positions and equipment. It
is anticipated that the increased staffing will improve our WSRB grade which will result in reduced
insurance rates across the City.
The Levy monies will also allow us to phase -in a "Paramedic Engine" program. Implementation of a
public - private partnership with the ambulance companies will dramatically improve the pre- hospital
emergency care for our citizens. With regard to the implementation of paramedic services, I
•
anticipate initially hiring a sufficient number of Firefighter /Paramedics to immediately staff three
engine companies. This will save the city nearly $1,000,000 vs. sending 10, Firefighters to
Paramedic school for a year. A "quality management" program will be instituted to monitor and track
established benchmarks. The Yakima County Department of EMS along with the City Council will
assist us in this endeavor to assure the best results are achieved. In addition, this time can be
utilized to work with the private ambulance companies to fine -tune pre- hospital emergency care to
L , City residents. In conjunction with the recommendations of the "Quality Management" program,
currently employed Firefighters will attend Paramedic school as student openings become
available. Our goal is to have all five YFD engine companies staffed with a Firefighter /Paramedic.
•
•
1111 On the issue of a permanent or limited term duration on the Levy, YFD calls for service have
increased 62% over the past 10 years. As t more people choose to live in our City, YFD •
responses will continue to increase the deman for emergency service is on -going and will not
sunset. An "on- going" levy. will assure funding of these much needed resources now and into
the future. In contrast to a limited term (6 or 10 years) EMS levy, a permanent levy removes the
confusion and perception of competing /dueling levy's in 2012. With both issues so close
together the resulting confusion could jeopardize the City's levy, the County's levy, or both. For
this proposal to be successful, the City needs the funds from both levies. The County EMS levy
currently funds 8 Firefighters and the proposed City EMS levy would fund an additional 12
positions.
•
With revenues from a successful City EMS levy being realized in April 2010, the time to recruit,
hire and train 12 Firefighters, and certify 18 Firefighters as paramedics pushes full
implementation of the program to 2011, at the earliest. Voters will be asked to renew the EMS
levy before they have realized the full benefit of their investment.
The short duration of guaranteed funding will also make recruitment efforts difficult and retention
even more so. A qualified Firefighter- Paramedic, realizing that the job they were hired for may
not be there for more than a few months after graduation will be very susceptible to recruitment
from an agency with a more stable financial picture. For these reasons, I strongly recommend
an on -going levy. '
In regard to the question concerning 'contracting out' paramedic services to the private
ambulance companies, there are two important issues: First, there has not been an in -depth
0 study of that option at this time. Secondly, in my opinion, this option would not meet the
• standards of improvement that a firefighter /paramedic engine program would. Having two
paramedics on every call, although important, is only one portion of the equation needed to
improve pre - hospital emergency care. More importantly, is getting a paramedic to the patient's
side quicker (YTD Yakima firefighters have arrived first on scene in 19 out of 24 cardiac
arrests). The only way to assure this outcome, is to place a firefighter /paramedic on every
engine company. In addition, this fails to address the tremendous turn -over rate with private
ambulance paramedics. ( "ALS" Ambulance Company has a 61% turn -over rate for paramedics
from 6/06 to 6/08.) The medical community has identified this turn -over rate as one of the weak
links in Yakima's emergency care system. A fire department firefighter /paramedic program
ensures long term stability a experience in the paramedic position. Having a
firefighter /paramedic program also ensures maintaining high - caliber professional standards for
public safety personnel. For these reasons, I DO NOT recommend contracting out paramedic
services.
The County's 2009 election calendar is already set. The sooner we finalize and package our EMS
levy, the more time we have to inform and engage the public on this important matter.
Respectfully,
t
ID Of • i .diva.)
Charlie Hines
Fire Chief .
CITY OF YAKIMA
LEGAL
• DEPARTMENT
200 South Third Street, Yakima, WA 98901 -2830 (Phone) 509- 575 -6033 (Fax) 509- 575 -6160
MEMORANDUM
September 8, 2008
TO: David Edler, Honorable Mayor
Yakima City Council Members
•
CC: Dick Zais, City Manager
FROM: Cynthia Martinez, Senior Assistant City Attorney
SUBJECT: Options for the Proposed EMS Levy Ballot Statement •
• At the August 19, 2008 business meeting, the Yakima City Council
approved a motion to, "...set that date," for a special City dedicated EMS
levy election on February 3, 2009. The Council then approved a motion
to, "...have a study session of the City Council to talk about the details of
the levy and prepare it for the February election." This memo is a follow -
up to my August 14, 2008 memo and other prior memos' describing the
EMS levy duration options. As I explained in the most recent memo, if the
Council chooses to act at this time, there are. only two duration options:
Option A. A permanent EMS Levy.
Option B. An EMS Levy which will sunset in three years. -
I have prepared a draft of each Official Ballot Title to further aid you
in your decision. The Ballot Title must identify the enacting legislative
• body and include a statement of the subject matter, a concise description
of the measure, and a question. The concise description is limited to 75
words. A short Explanatory Statement and the Statements For and
Against will follow the Ballot Title. The difference in language between the
two Ballot Titles. appears in italics.
1 Emergency Medical Care and Service Levies Memo, dated March 26, 2008, addressed to the
Public Safety Committee, distributed to the City Council in the June 24, 2008 Study Session
• ® EMS Levy Levy Challenges Memo, Dated July 17, 2008, addressed to the City Council.
•
cim /EMS levyballot.doc
Memo to Mayor and City Council
September 8, 2008 •
Page - 2
•
The formal ballot language for a February special election must be
delivered to the Auditor's Office by December 12, 2008. In the event the
Council makes a decision as to the final EMS levy ballot proposal, • the •
Legal Department will need direction on the duration option, so that the
formal ballot legislation may be prepared for Council approval no later
than the December 2, 2008 Council business meeting.
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CC. Dave Zabell
Helen Harvey
•
Charlie Hines •
2 There is a cost associated with a special election. The exact figure will be provided at the Study
Session. . •
cim /EMSlevyballot.doc
Memo to Mayor and City Council
September 8, 2008
Page - 3
II/
•
•
Option A. Permanent EMS Levy
EMS LEVY AUTHORIZATION
The Yakima City Council passed Resolution No.
2008- . concerning a City Dedicated EMS
Levy. This proposition would authorize the City
of Yakima to impose regular property tax levies
of twenty -five cents per thousand dollars of
assessed valuation (.25/1,000.00) or less,
beginning January 1, 2010. The proceeds
generated by the levy will be used to fund
additional firefighters, fire engines and
equipment, implement a nontransport
Firefighter /Paramedic program, and fund an.
additional emergency dispatcher, thereby
enhancing emergency medical care or
emergency medical services, pursuant to RCW
84.52.069.
Should this proposition be approved?
EMS Levy - YES
EMS LEVY - NO
• cim /EMSlevyballot.doc
Memo to Mayor and City Council
September 8, 2008
Page -
•
•
Option B. An EMS Levy which will sunset in three years.
•
EMS LEVY AUTHORIZATION
The Yakima City Council passed Resolution No.
• 2008- concerning a City Dedicated EMS Levy.
This proposition would authorize the City of Yakima to
impose regular property tax of twenty -five cents
per thousand dollars of assessed valuation
(.25/1,000.00) or less, for three consecutive years
beginning January 1, 2010. The proceeds generated
by the levy will be used to fund additional firefighters,
fire engines and equipment, implement a
nontransport Firefighter /Paramedic program, and
fund an additional emergency dispatcher, thereby
enhancing emergency medical care or emergency
medical services, pursuant to RCW 84.52.069.
Should this proposition be approved?
EMS Levy - YES
EMS Levy - NO
•
cim /EMSlevyballot.doc
CITY OF YAKIMA
•
LEGAL
III DEPARTMENT
200 South Third Street, Yakima, WA 98901 -2830 (Phone) 509 - 575 -6033 (Fax) 509- 575 -6160
MEMORANDUM
August 14, 2008
TO: David Edler, Honorable Mayor
Yakima City Council Members
CC: Dick Zais, City Manager
FROM: Cynthia Martinez, Senior Assistant City Attorney
SUBJECT: Options for EMS Levy Duration
On August 6, 2008, the Council Public Safety Committee of the Yakima City Council
voted unanimously to recommend that the Council take action to place a City EMS levy
0 on the February 3, 2009 election. However, the Council Public Safety Committee made
no recommendation regarding the duration of the proposed EMS levy. Below is my
legal opinion summarizing the applicable statutory rules pertaining to EMS levy duration.
Attached is also a memo prepared by Charlie Hines and myself exploring a series of
questions raised over the last several weeks. Our goal is to be as clear as possible
regarding the options available to the City Council. We want to apologize for the
confusion surrounding the sunset options, but as you will read, each choice has a
different set of options and concerns. '
In the event the Council elects to call for a future ballot proposition on a City EMS levy,
as proposed by the Council Public Safety Committee, the Legal Department will need
clear direction from the full Council with respect to the sunsetting of any EMS levy
proposal. .
With respect to whether a City EMS levy should be permanent, or should sunset
with the County EMS levy, there are only two legal options:
Option A. A permanent City EMS levy, which will not sunset with the County levy
in 2012.
Option B. A City EMS levy which will sunset with the County levy in 2012, and
which cannot be sunsetted for an earlier or a later date.'
• ' This opinion has been verified with Bob Meinig, staff attorney at MRSC in
' consultation with other MRSC staff attorneys.
Memo to Mayor and City Council
August 14, 2008
Page - 2
•
Legal Opinion Summarizing the Statutory Rules Governing EMS Levy Duration
and Election Options:
Pursuant to RCW 84.52.069, counties and /or cities, may ask the voters for
authority to levy a property tax of up to 50 cents per thousand dollars of assessed
valuation of property to support emergency medical services (EMS). There are three
duration options contained in the statute: six years, ten years, or permanent.
The Statute contains some challenging procedural rules governing an EMS levy
limited in duration (6 or 10 years) and the permanent EMS levy option. These rules are
summarized below:
Permanent EMS levy:
1. A permanent EMS levy is subject to a referendum at any time, as opposed to
the standard referendum procedure, which requires that a petition be filed within seven
days of the passage of the ordinance.
2. A City imposing a permanent levy under this . section shall provide for
separate accounting and expenditures of the revenues generated by the levy. The City
shall maintain a statement of the accounting which shall be updated at least every two
years and shall be available to the public upon request at no charge.
•
Sunsetting EMS Levy:
1. A City levy authorized subsequent to a county EMS levy that is limited in
duration (6 or 10 years) shall expire concurrently with the County levy.
2. The County must obtain the City's approval before placing the renewal of
the countywide EMS levy on the ballot.
3. The City and County can not request the renewal of their respective
levies on the same ballot.
•
cc. Chief Charlie Hines
Dave Zabell
Helen Harvey
Cim /EMSlevy3.doc
CITY OF YAKIMA
LEGAL
• DEPARTMENT
200 South Third Street, Yakima, WA 98901 -2830 (Phone) 509 - 575 -6033 (Fax) 509 - 575 -6160
•
MEMORANDUM •
August 14, 2008
TO: David Edler, Honorable Mayor
Yakima City Council Members
CC: Dick Zais, City Manager
•
FROM: Charlie Hines, Fire Chief
Cynthia Martinez, Senior Assistant City Attorney
SUBJECT: EMS Levy Duration and Election Questions
•
1. What are the controlling statutes with respect to EMS levies?
RCW 84.52.069 provides that counties and /or cities may ask the
voters for authority to levy a property tax of up to 50 cents per
thousand dollars of assessed valuation of property to support
emergency medical services (EMS).
2. What are the options for the amount of the levy?
The Statute authorizes an amount up to 50 cents. The amount of the
County EMS levy combined with the City EMS levy cannot exceed 50
cents.
The County currently has a 25 cent levy. Which means the City can
collect an additional 25 cent levy.
3. What options in terms of duration does the statute provide for an EMS
levy?
S
cim /EMS levy6.doc
•
Memo to Mayor and City Council
August 14, 2008
Page - 2
•
The statute provides that a levy may be presented to the voters to be
in effect for six years, ten years, or permanently.
4. Why cannot the voters of Yakima authorize a limited duration EMS
levy of six or ten years as provided for in the statute?
The existing limited duration County EMS levy imposes an
unavoidable obstruction to this approach. The statute provides that
when a city authorizes an EMS levy subsequent to a county EMS levy
that is limited in duration, the city levy shall expire at the same time as
the county levy.
In other words, should the City of Yakima voters approve anything
other than a permanent- EMS levy; the City EMS levy will expire with
the Yakima County EMS levy in 2012.
5. Can the proposed EMS levy be set to expire at a later date than the
County EMS Levy?
•
As discussed in #3 above, any term authorized other than a
permanent levy, must expire with the County EMS Levy in 2012 and
cannot be sunsetted at a later date.
6. Can a City levy be drafted to sunset for less than the 4 years
remaining for the County EMS levy?
No. Based on the answer in #5 there can only be one sunset, 2012.
7. If the voters were to approve a permanent City EMS levy, what option
is available to the people to put an end to the levy?
A permanent EMS levy is subject to a referendum at any tine, as .
opposed to the standard referendum procedure, which requires that a
petition be filed within seven days of the passage of the ordinance or
resolution.
cim /EMSlevy6.doc
Memo to Mayor and City Council
August 14, 2008
Page - 3
•
8. In the case where the City EMS levy were to expire concurrently with
the County EMS levy in 2012, what are the legal requirements with
respect to future elections to reenact both the City and County levies?
The Statute provides that the City must approve any county -wide EMS
levy proposal before it can be placed on the ballot. The Statute also
prohibits another taxing district within a county (the City) from placing
an EMS levy vote on the same ballot as a county -wide EMS levy vote.
9. When a limited duration City levy expires in 2012, what are the
election options?
The Statute prohibits the City and County from presenting their
renewals on the same ballot. There would have to be two elections in
succession presenting each jurisdiction's EMS levy renewal. The City
could ask for renewal during a Spring special election, and the County
could follow in the Fall general election, or vice versa. Such a scheme
would prevent each jurisdiction from experiencing a lapse in EMS
funding. The choice of election would be the City's because the
• County needs the City's approval before they can place their renewal
measure on the ballot.
In either scenario the voters would be deciding on an EMS levy in back
to back elections. There is some concern that voter fatigue and
confusion could jeopardize either or both of the renewals.
10. If there is no levy election until the county levy expires in 2012, may
the City and County hold a joint EMS levy election on a 50 cent levy
proposal countywide?
The City could approve a county -wide request for a 50 cent levy and
City of Yakima voters would vote on the county -wide levy proposal. If
passed, the City would receive a portion of the 50 cent levy.
This may also be an option if the City chooses an EMS levy of limited
duration. The City would have to convince the County and the other
Fire Districts to pursue a 50 cent renewal when both of the levies
expire in 2012 .
•
cim /EMSlevy6.doc
Memo to Mayor and City Council
August 14, 2008
Page -4
•
11. Has the 50 cent option been discussed with the other jurisdiction within
the County?
Yes, however, the other jurisdictions in the county are not interested in
pursuing a 50 cent levy. All of the other jurisdictions within the County
are primarily volunteer fire departments. The City of Yakima, like other
cities its size, has chosen to staff a professional Fire Department.
Volunteer Departments do not have the overhead expenses of a
professional Fire Department.
The City could choose to its approval for a County EMS levy
renewal and force the County to renew at 50 cents. However, such a
move may sour the County voters.
12. What options in terms of duration does the statute provide for a
countywide EMS levy?
• The duration options remain the same; 6years, 10years, or permanent.
•
13. Does the timing of the EMS levy have an effect on the impact of the
statute?
No, regardless of when a City EMS levy appears on the ballot, if it is
for a limited term, by statute it expires with the County EMS levy in
2012.
14. Why a permanent EMS Levy?
At present, the Yakima Fire Department is not able to meet the current
demand for service. The Department's failure to meet current demand
is the direct result of being understaffed. As the City of Yakima
continues to grow, calls of service will increase, not decrease. Call
volumes have increased 62% over the last ten years. The significant
increase in call volume over this period and a decline in the
Department's Firefighter per capita ratio have resulted in a marked and
continued decline in service for the citizens in need of emergency,
medical or fire response.
The rising call volume and the decline of Firefighter per capita have
• diminished the Departme'nt's ability to respond to emergencies over
cirri /EMSlevy6.doc
Memo to Mayor and City Council
August 14, 2008
Page - 5
the past ten years. Without additional resources., this problem will
continue to grow. The trajectory of this decline in service is beginning
to put our residents at risk. A permanent EMS levy will offer a
permanent solution.
In contrast to a limited term (6 or 10 years) EMS levy, a permanent
levy removes the confusion and perception of competing /dueling levy's
in 2012. With both issues so close together the resulting confusion
could jeopardize the City's levy, the County's levy, or both. For this
proposal to be successful, the City needs the funds from both levies.
The County EMS levy currently funds 8 Firefighters and the proposed.
City EMS levy would fund an additional 12 positions.
With revenues from a successful City EMS levy being realized in April
2010, the time to recruit, hire and train 12 Firefighters, and certify 18
Firefighters as paramedics pushes full implementation of the program
to mid -2011, at the earliest. Voters will be asked to renew the EMS
levy before they have realized the full benefit of their investment.
The short duration of guaranteed funding will also make recruitment
efforts difficult and retention even more so. A qualified Firefighter-
Paramedic, realizing that the job they were hired for may not be there
for more than a few months after graduation will be very susceptible to
recruitment from an agency with a more stable financial picture.
cc. Dave Zabell
Helen Harvey
cim /EMSlevy6.doc
•
EMS Levy
Ballot Timeline
Recruit firefighters
Begin graduate form
advertising/ academy and are
Levy Passes testing /hiring assigned to Fire
process for
Election/Voting firefighters Stations
Day
NZ
February 2009 February 2010 March 2010 April 2010 Dec. 2010 /Jan. 2011 2012
Collection Revenue Vote decides
Begins Flow
Begins fate of 12 newly
hired
firefighters
Note: Timelines are based on information received from the Yakima County Treasurers
Office and the Washington State Department of Revenue.
0 • 0
. re c Oc,
r 2008 / 2009 Election Calendar
loprro-
4
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Election Date Aug 19, 08 Nov 4, 08 Feb 3, 09 Mar 10, 09 Apr 28, 09 May 19, 09 Aug 18, 09 Nov 3, 09
Resolutions Due May 27 Aug 12 Dec 12 Jan 16 Mar 6 Mar 27 May 26 Aug 11
30 Day reg /Add chg Deadline Jul 19 Oct 4 Jan 3 Feb 7 Mar 28 Apr 18 Jul 18 Oct 3
15 Day NEW Registration Deadline Aug 4 Oct 20 Jan 19 Feb 23 Apr 13 May 4 Aug 3 Oct 19
Ballots Available Jul 30 Oct 15 Jan 14 Feb 18 Apr 8 Apr 29 Jul 29 Oct 14
Election Certified Sep 3 Nov 25 Feb 18 Mar 25 May 13 Jun 3 Sep 2 Nov 24
* *Please note that the 15 -Day In Person voter registration deadline in ONLY for persons who are not currently
registered anywhere in Washington State.
2 5 0
EMS Levy Tax
$1.3 Million
Generated Revenue J
$325,000 $975,
Equipment /Operating 12 New Firefighters
Reserves , & 1 New Dispatcher
•Transforms 2- person "Aid Car" (Rescue 91) into 3- person fire
Engine Company (we already own it).
•Creates new staffed 3- person Fire Engine Company
(we already own it)
•This plan meets current and anticipated future needs
20 0
EMS Levy Tax
$1.0 Million
Generated Revenue
1
$250,000 $750,000
Equipment /Operating 8 New FF's
Reserves ) & 1 New Dispatcher
•This model does not provide sufficient
staffing to meet current or future demands for
service.
Life Investment Saf e t y
Public
• Increase of 25¢
• $165,000 (median price of a home in Yakima)
• = $3.44 /month
• Places a Firefighter /Paramedic on every neighborhood fire engine
• Best bargain in health insurance anywhere
City Government
• A request for an estimate of Election Expenses has been made to the
Yakima Co. Auditor's office. Anticipated response from the Elections
Manager is 9/15/08.
"ILS -EMT" versus PARAMEDIC
Level of Care & Estimated Medical Control & Skills
Training Hours Capabilities
Intermediate Live Support/Airway: EMT MPD protocols, EMT skills and
prerequisite, approx. 100 hours plus knowledge, ET, multi -lumen airway, IV
clinical and field internship therapy skills, six meds; Naloxone,
Aspirin, Dextrose, Albuterol, Nitro, and
Epi for anaphylaxis.
�ara EMT prerequisite, 1200 — MPD protocols, EMT skills and
2000 hours plus clinical and field knowledge plus ACLS w /manual
internship defibrillation, ET, multi -lumen airway,
meds per MPD protocol(>) med •), IV
thera . skills, and . dvanced patien
• ssessment, trauma and medical per?
`ncluding "card o04er1" and "pacing
1 ,he *aft
:
As you can see, the "EMT/Intermediate" is very limited in their scope of
practice. For example, they are unable to utilize advanced procedures or
drugs needed to resuscitate a pt. in cardiac arrest.
411
-- ' --- --- j. --r--...__. .. , .,W., .. . .•.
To: Hines, Charlie
Subject: operations_positionsbudgeted
• Here is the spreadsheet regarding budgeted positions for the past few years...
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Battalion Chiefs 3 3 3 2 3 3
Shift Captains 5 6 6 6 6 6
Lieutenant 10 12 12 12 12 12
Firefighters 45 51 51 57 57 57
63 72 72 77 78 78
Note: Fall 2004 = 9 new positions (Addition of Station 92)
Fall 2006 = 6 new positions:
(Implementation of Safer Grant = 3 new positions)
(Overtime reduction effort = 3 new
III
9/4/2008
•
• % of 2008 Annual Budgets Used for Overtime Expenses
Entities with similar OT costs:
Yakima Fire Department 6%
Richland Fire Department 6%
Walla Walla Fire Department 6%
Entities with lower OT costs:
Kent Fire Department 4%
Federal Way Fire Department 4.5%
Spokane Valley Fire Department 2%
Bellingham Fire Department 4.75%
Entities with higher OT costs:
Pasco Fire Department 11.67%
Olympia Fire Department 7%
Hines, Charlie
III From: Mendoza, Connie
Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2008 1:43 PM
To: Hines, Charlie
Subject: IAFF CBA_Overtimelanguage
Here is the information that I found in our current IAFF contract regarding overtime....
21.1 Call Back.
(a) An employee who is called back to duty after his scheduled shift has terminated, but before the
scheduled start of his next shift, shall be paid not less than two (2) hours of overtime at the
applicable overtime rate.
(b) The call back bonus will not be available for a "hold over" defined as an extension of a regular
or reassigned shift due to manning requirements or an emergency circumstance.
28.1 Training Time.
For LEOFF employees, off duty training that is required by the Chief of the Department or his designee
shall be paid at overtime rate pursuant to Article 29.3 for each hour or portion thereof that is spent in
ID actual training.
ARTICLE 29 — OVERTIME FOR LEOFF EMPLOYEES
29.1 Only the hours that a LEOFF employee is physically present on his assigned shift or work period are
considered hours worked.
29.2 When LEOFF employees assigned to a 24 -hour shift work more than 182 hours on their assigned shifts
in a 24 day work period, or in the case of other LEOFF employees, 40 hours in a 7 day work period, such
employees shall be paid at the overtime rate required by the Fair Labor Standards Act for all hours
worked in excess of 182 hours or 40 hours, respectfully.
29.3 Premium Duty Pay. LEOFF personnel working outside of their normally scheduled shifts at a time they
are not assigned to work, except as noted in 29.4 below, shall be paid at the overtime rate required by the
Fair Labor Standards Act.
29.4 Emergency Duty Pay. When LEOFF personnel are called from off -duty by the Fire Chief or his/her
designee because of an emergency the employee shall receive Emergency Duty Pay. The Emergency
Duty Pay rate shall be calculated by dividing base monthly salary by 173.33 and multiplying the result by
1.5.
Fractions of an hour served on overtime duty shall be rounded to the next full hour for the purpose of computing
the amount of overtime
•
9/4/2008
• August 4, 2008
Bob Hall
Address
Subject: Response to EMS Levy Questions
Dear Mr. Hall
Thank you for your questions regarding the proposed EMS Levy under discussion by the City Council.
Your letter presents several questions, many of which you have enumerated, and several which were
contained in the within body of your letter. In responding I have replicated your questions as presented
and provided responses to each.
1. Where does EMS question prioritize within City of Yakima's needs?
As Fire Chief I will note that the addition of the 12 professional Firefighters proposed in the Levy
will provide for decreased response times to Fire/EMS events by the Department which is a life safety
issue. That the proposed EMS Levy would also fund and maintain certification of 18 professional
Firefighters as Para - medics (FF/PMs) only serves to enhance pre - hospital care for those citizens in
medical distress. As to the priority of this issue among the other issues affecting the residents of
Yakima, that is a policy decision of the City Council.
2. I would like to see a graph showing 20 years of YFD calls vs. Yakima population broken out as
medical (by type) vs others.
• Please see below:
Year Population # of Responses % of Medical
Emergencies
1987 49,600 3,189 52%
2007 85,000 9,000 76%
The reader will note the significant increase in calls, and calls per capita, as well as the nature of those
calls. In raw numbers the number of calls of an emergency medical nature over the 20 year period
increased by over 400 %.
3. Bring HR in with data on applications for volunteer firefighters received in the last 36 months by
Yakima and six (6) nearby departments (full time volunteers).
Yakima Fire Department has not utilized volunteer firefighters for firefighting or rendering
emergency medical aid for 15 years. CHARLIE, SUGGEST YOU INCLUDE SOME RATIONALE
FOR THIS?
4. Meet with Rating Bureau (see insurance carrier) to get twenty year history of Yakima's rating and
what impact the Bureau's rating has today on insurance premiums for City of Yakima, Yakima School
District, Sunfair Chevrolet, and an average single family home within the city limits.
0
In 1992, the Washington State Rating Bureau (WSRB) dropped Yakima's rating from a "3" to a "4 ".
1 This was due in large part to the Bureau's findings of inadequate staffing levels and substandard
apparatus.
According to area insurance agents, for every point change (in either direction), commercial,
industrial and businesses will experience approximately a 10% fluctuation in fire insurance premiums
(especially when improved from "4" to "3 "). Homeowners would realize a smaller fluctuation in
premiums (if rating is improved from a "4" to a "3 ").
While a reduction in insurance premiums would be welcome, the impetus behind this proposal is to
reduce response times to improve the chance for survival of those residents and visitors requiring
timely fire response and/or emergency medical aid. At present, response times are not at the level
they were 20 years ago.
S. What percent of calls are for YFD only in past 5 years vs. calls requiring both public and private
service?
Unable to calculate as this information has not been tracked, attempts at a percentage would be purely
speculative.
6. In past 5 years what percent of first responders in second part of question 5 is YFD vs. private
service?
See answer to #5 above.
0 7. Compare private service records on response time to YFD.
YFD average response time to medical emergencies in 2007 was 4:38. YFD units are first on -scene
at medical emergencies > 50% of the time, in spite of our response times having declined over the
past several years.
8. How many paramedics on YFD staff today? Without EMS Levy, what was the plan?
The Department has no paramedic program. While there are two Yakima firefighters currently
certified as paramedics, they are not allowed to utilize their advanced skills. 2
Without passing an EMS levy ASAP, pre - hospital care and fire protection will continue to decline as
a result the community vulnerability to these types of events will increase.
The goal of the proposed EMS Levy is to get a paramedic to the patient's side faster! Because YFD
units are on scene first more than 50% of the time, we are missing an opportunity to positively impact
patient care. In addition, a "team" of two paramedics on scene (1 private ambulance and 1 firefighter)
enhances care, particularly in complex cases, or events with multiple casualties. This concept is
nothing new, and in fact has been utilized throughout the state and nation for over 35 years. On a
critical patient, numerous procedures must be completed in a quick and efficient manner if the patient
is going to survive. A single paramedic cannot possibly perform these in a timely manner.
Equally critical to the safety of our community, the EMS Levy is also proposed to address a serious
declinethe Departments ability to even maintain let alone improve response times and cover the
0 increasing number of responses.
411 Short of an EMS Levy, the City Council will have to make a determination to either accept the
continued decline in response times and capabilities of the Department or reallocate resources from
other general government functions to the Fire Department.
We are not aware of any plan from the private carriers to enhance paramedic services to the
community.
9. Read job description offirefighter and paramedic.
A copy of the YFD Firefighter job description is attached. Cross trained, dual -role
firefighter /paramedics have proven to be successful in Washington State and throughout the Nation
for over 35 years.
-YFD's number 1 priority is... to provide better patient care.
- "ALS" ambulance co's. number 1 priority is...to make a profit.
10. What are pay scales of each?
YFD Firefighter pay scale is $4,071 - $5,521per month. According to a former employee of "ALS"
Ambulance Company, starting pay for a paramedic is $11.00 per hour and no benefits for the first 6
months.
11. Since the department says paramedics hired by YFD come from the private carriers, what was or is
wage scale and benefits for private carriers? Compare that data to YFD totals per position.
® To the extent the program is funded, and they are otherwise qualified, some future YFD paramedics
may come from the private carriers. However private PM's are "single function" employees. (EMS
only) and may not be capable to succeed as professional Firefighters. Professional firefighters are the
public's first line of defense in virtually any type of emergency, not everyone is up to the rigors this
type of duty requires.
In contrast, cross trained, dual -role professional FF/PM's are just that — "cross- trained" in
firefighting, technical rescue, hazardous materials, swift water rescue, ice rescue, public education,
fire prevention, auto extrication, etc., AND EMS. Several of the FF /PMs would come from the ranks
of the YFD. These Firefighters would attend paramedic school and become certified FF/PM's.
12. How many calls had only one paramedic responding, and how many negative events occurred in the
last 5 years?
See attached concerns and complaints from the medical community of private paramedic turnover and
patient care mistakes.
The American Heart Association (long recognized as a leader in pre - hospital care protocol)
recommends that a MINIMUM of 2 Paramedics respond to emergencies.
In addition, an AHA study showed that EMS systems with survival rates of greater than 20% (for
patients in ventricular fibrillation), response teams had a minimum of 2 Paramedics.
The City of Yakima does not need to go to the expense of commissioning an independent study to
determine whether getting a paramedic to the patient's side faster or having a team of two paramedics
is a good thing. When it comes to life- saving services, a cost/benefit analysis is difficult to While the
department doesn't keep statistics on what the improvement to pre - hospital care may have been had
an additional paramedic been on scene, this question has been answered in study after study and - Its
common sense! That's why it is utilized across the State and Nation. An event I personally recently
witnessed was that of a YPD motor officer critically injured, who lay in the street for 28 minutes
before finally being taken to the hospital in large part because there was only one inexperienced
paramedic on scene!
13. Back to HR research - what is tenure of the average paramedic employed in Yakima County? Follow
career paths - where does it lead and why?
Most private ambulance paramedics are here only to obtain experience and build their resume. Many
use it as a stepping stone until they are hired by a fire department.
In contrast, an FF/PM is in a professional career path. With it comes expertise, confidence,
continuous improvement in skills and technical knowledge, familiarity with the medical community,
and a person dedicated to our community that will stick around.
14. YFD reported 61% turnover in paramedics. What I heard is every 3 years, or 20% a year, while the
public attending who spoke to you at the Council said 61% annual turnover. What did you hear and
what is the fact (once again let HR ascertain the facts).
The facts are: From June 2006 to June 2008, "ALS" Ambulance Company had a 61% turnover rate
for their paramedics. That is the highest in Yakima County. The SAME PROBLEM was addressed
by the medical community 10 YEARS AGO!
In contrast, turnover rates of public sector FF/PMs are far less than 10% and largely due to retirement.
15. One speaker Tuesday stated that Yakima holds the highest percentage of paramedics per capita in the
nation. Is that a fact? Why?"
These Private Paramedics serve the ENTIRE county-not just the city of Yakima. They routinely are
out of the region on long inter - facility transports. Paramedic per capita may sound relevant and
indeed may look impressive on paper, but in and of itself is a useless statistic.
This statistic has nothing to do with patient care.
• It doesn't address logistics of getting a paramedic to the patient's side faster.
• It doesn't address the benefits to the critically injured or ill patient of a team of 2
paramedics.
In my attempt to gauge how many currently certified paramedics would need to be hired vs. how many
firefighters would be sent to paramedic school, I sent a survey out to the YFD employees. As you noted
in your letter, 25 YFD members have expressed interest in paramedic training. I honestly was stunned
that out of 57 firefighters, 44% are willing to invest I year of their lives to go to paramedic school to
better serve our community. This level of interest demonstrates the commitment of YFD personnel to
improve pre - hospital emergency care in their community.
In the event the program is funded, a competitive exam would be conducted and the top candidates would
be selected to go to paramedic school.
0 In closing, as Chief I strongly believe that the citizens of Yakima deserve the same level of Fire
Protection and Pre - Hospital Emergency Care as those living on the west side or the tri- cities!
Sincerely
to 4 , 11 dr ,
$ c
Charlie Hines
IIII
III