HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 4.F 08/01/2016DATE: August 1, 2016
Agenda Item #4.F
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council through City Manager
FROM: Leonard Thompson, Fire Chief
Dianne Dinsmore, Director of Human Resources
SUBJECT: Resolution Establishing the Title and Salary Schedule for Emergency Medical
Technician.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a Resolution Establishing the Title and Salary
Schedule for Emergency Medical Technician.
BACKGROUND
As part of the 2016/2017 adopted budget, the Fire Department included a goal to mitigate the
increase in ambulance response by implementing a third, part-time ambulance team which will
be staffed by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and funded by its own revenue. The
program will add up to twelve (12) non -sworn EMT positions. These positions will not be full -
time employees and will not fill any allocated Fire Department positions.
DISCUSSION
Petaluma's population has increased over the past five years to just over 60,000 residents and
that has translated into an increase in emergency response requests by 13 -15 %. Fire members
who are assigned to the two in- service medic units are often less available for fire calls and
trainings because they are busy responding to medical calls and subsequent patient transports.
Adding a third ambulance would provide extra manpower on certain, pre - identified days and
times to handle the medical call volume that may otherwise need to be handled by a private
transporting agency due to lack of available Petaluma resources. The fact that fewer calls will
need to be outsourced to one of the local, private ambulance companies means more revenue
coming to the City of Petaluma.
The initial pilot phase of the additional Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance service will include
two EMTs working either an 8 or 12 -hour shift with no EMT working more than 18 hours per
week. The ambulance is anticipated to run three days per week. The specific days and times will
be determined based on the results of a study conducted by the Fire Department on run volume
statistics. The most fiscally sound approach would be to place the third ambulance in service
during the three days and times with the highest call volume to help relieve the workload of the
on -duty medics.
In addition to enhanced services and revenue generation, this program also provides the
opportunity to increase diversity within the Fire Department. The EMT is an entry level position
which is expected to attract a broader applicant pool and could serve as a natural introduction to
working for a professional Fire Department.
The recommended salary range for the Emergency Medical Technician classification is based on
competitive rates for recruiting EMTs in our area. The recommended compensation range is
$16.50 — $20.05 per hour and is not a regular, allocated position. The part-time employees are
not represented, will work less than 20 hours per week, and will not receive pro -rated benefits.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
This is a new program for the Fire Department. If fully staffed at the anticipated 36 hours per
week, overall personnel cost is expected to be approximately $85,000 per year. Expected revenue
will go back into the program as a funding source. The overall impact on the Fire Department
budget should be minimal and, the program is actually anticipated to operate in the black within
a short amount of time. As a new program, the costs and revenues will be closely monitored to
ensure these expectations are being met.
This is a new program for the Fire Department. If fully staffed at the anticipated 36 hours per
week, overall personnel cost is expected to be approximately $85,000 per year. Included in Fire's
FY 2016/17 budget is funding to cover the start-up costs of this program, via the
Intergovernmental Transfer (IGT) Program. Expected revenue will be returned to the program
and used as the primary funding source once the ambulance is operating on a normal schedule.
The Department is currently running approximately 137 BLS calls per month. At the resident
BLS bundled rate of $919 and the non - resident bundled rate of $1,076, plus mileage, the
program is anticipated to operate in the black within a short amount of time and help lessen the
run load of the current two ALS ambulances. As a new program, the costs and revenues will be
closely monitored to ensure these expectations are being met.
ATTACHMENTS
a. Resolution and Exhibit A - Salary Recommendation for Emergency Medical
Technician
2
ATTACHMENT 1
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE TITLE AND SALARY SCHEDULE FOR
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN
WHEREAS, the City Manager may, for the efficient operations of the City, from time to
time establish other extra help or temporary positions not in the competitive service; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager/Personnel Officer has determined that the position of
Emergency Medical Technician be compensated at the rates' attached hereto and marked as
Exhibit A.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of
Petaluma does hereby establish the title and salary schedule for the position of
Emergency Medical Technician, a position not in the competitive service.
EXHIBIT A
Emergency Medical Technician Salary Schedule
EMERGENCY
HOURLY
$16.500
$17.325
$18.191
$19.100
$20.055
MEDICAL
MONTHLY
$2,860.00
$3,003.00
$3,153.11
$3,310.67
$3,476.20
TECHNICIAN
ANNUAL
$34,320.00
$36,036.00
$37,837.28
$39,728.00
$41,714.40