HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008/07/22 Item 12
James S. Geering
Interim Fire Chief
Michael Reeves
Admin Battalion
Chief
(619) 409-5854
Pablo Quilantan
Admin. Svcs. Mgr.
(619) 585.5693
Alicia Hernandez
Admin. Secretary
(619) 409.5837
Vanessa Giuliano
Sr. Office Specialist
(619) 691.5195
Administration
Date:
July 15, 2008
To:
The Honorable Mayor . _/ f' /
Do.id Gm"o. City MO"09~~
James S. Geering, Interim Fire Chi~~
Via:
From:
RE: Regional Fire Protection Committee
As requested by you after our meeting with the Regional Fire Protection Committee that
took place last Friday July 11, 2008, I have identified the Fire Department priorities that
can be funded with the new tax revenues from the proposed county ballot measure for
the Fire Protection Parcel Tax (FPPT).. Under this proposal, the City's share of revenue
enhancement would be approximately $1.5 million per year. This additional revenue
stream would allow the City to provide increased resources and services to our own
community and the region by expanding the following critical needs within the Fire
Department:
1. Additional Fire Engines, Trucks and Other Equipment - The Fire Department's
fleet frontline service fire engines, trucks and fleet reserve are showing signs of age.
A steady stream of significant investment is needed in order to begin replacing this
equipment on a timely basis. The timely replacement of this equipment will help
avoid a potential large capital outlay that may be otherwise needed if larger
quantities of such equipment require purchase at one time. The FPPT new revenue
stream could be used as follows:
. Purchase equipment for additional staff
. Add an additional brush engine (brush rig)
. Augment existing fleet replacement allocations in order to purchase new fire
engines and trucks thereby maintaining the existing fleet
. Augment existing equipment replacement allocations in order to purchase
major equipment items such as defibrillators
2. Offer Community Education and Readiness Programs - Due to budget
reductions, the Fire Department does not have the staffing resources to offer fire
safety/prevention education opportunities to the community. These education
opportunities are a necessary investment that pays dividends in the form of greater
safety when the community is empowered with knowledge. I would recommend the
hiring of additional fire prevention staff that would offer regular fire safety/prevention
classes to our schools, civic organizations, mobile home residents, seniors, and the
business community.
447 "F" Street
Chula Vis/a, CA 91910
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Administrative Services
July 16, 2008
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3. Vegetation Management - The City has an increased level of high severity hazard
zones that pose a hire fire danger risk to the community. These zones include the
various open spaces and canyons that are interspersed within the populated areas
of the city. These areas are in need of significant brush management in order to
reduce the current fire risk. It is recommended that the City begin to address
reducing the fire risks contained within these areas as soon as possible.
4. Restoration of Disaster Preparedness Capability - Due to budget reductions
taken in the FY 2008-09 budget process, the City eliminated the Disaster
Preparedness Manager position. The new FPPT revenue would possibly allow the
restoration of this position and allow for the City to have a dedicated person to
manage and coordinate the following vacant critical functions:
. Emergency Operations Center
. Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT)
. Citywide Emergency Preparedness Training
. Coordination of Emergency Preparedness Communications
. Maintenance of written plans and documents
As your Interim Fire Chief, I am very pleased and hopeful that this proposal will be
placed on the November 2008 ballot. If approved, this measure will provide a much
needed revenue enhancement to the County and the City of Chula Vista that will serve
all well. I am available to assist you in any way that I can to make sure that we are
successful in getting this measure approved. Thank you for your leadership in this
matter.
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