TITLE:
title
COSTA MESA FIRE & RESCUE DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW
end
DEPARTMENT: COSTA MESA FIRE & RESCUE
PRESENTED BY: DANIEL A. STEFANO, FIRE CHIEF, JASON PYLE, ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF/OPERATIONS AND JON NEAL, ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF/FIRE MARSHAL
CONTACT INFORMATION: DANIEL A. STEFANO, FIRE CHIEF, (714) 754-5106
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Presentation to the City Council to provide a general overview of the Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue Department with respect to staffing, operating budget, programs, services and the status of special projects. Staff recommends that the City Council receive and file the report and presentation.
end
BACKGROUND:
The Fire and Rescue Department is a public safety function that protects life, property and the environment through its mitigation, prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery services. The Department is budgeted for 97 full-time staff members: 85 sworn positions and 12 non-sworn positions. Part-time staffing consists of 1.25 full-time equivalents to serve within the three divisions. The Fire Operations Division provides emergency response services and staffs six fire stations, 24/7/365. The Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Division provides life and fire safety planning, inspection, preparedness, and overall community risk reduction. Both divisions are supported by the Fire Administration Division.
ANALYSIS:
The Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue Department includes three divisions, consisting of:
• Fire Administration
• Operations (Fire/Rescue/Emergency Medical Services)
• Community Risk Reduction
The Department’s overall budget in FY 2023-24 is $35.8 million in the General Fund.
DEPARTMENT FUNCTIONS AND DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS
FIRE ADMINISTRATION:
Under the direction of the Fire Chief, the Administration Division is responsible for the delivery of all staff and support services, working towards the most effective and efficient operations of the department.
Among these services the division provides direction for strategic, operational and emergency planning; establishes department policies and procedures; coordinates internal functions of all divisions, programs and external functions with other City departments and community organizations; develops and manages the budget; coordinates ordering and purchasing; manages the department’s human resources; manages the department’s records and reports; and, performs additional functions and duties as needed by the City Manager.
Under the supervision of the Fire Chief and in collaboration with the Operations Division, the Training, Safety & Professional Standards Section is responsible for ensuring that the Fire & Rescue Department meets and/or exceeds training requirements established by local, regional, statewide and national standards, in alignment with California State Fire Training, National Fire Protection Association, Occupational Safety & Health Administration, Insurance Services Offices, and California Code of Regulations, among other standards, guidelines and regulations.
In addition to planning, coordinating and facilitating new firefighter recruitments, the Training, Safety & Professional Standards Section plans and organizes promotional training processes and testing with other City departments; manages training records; provides oversight in community engagement; represents the department on countywide fire/rescue/training committees and performs additional duties as directed by the Fire Chief.
Under the oversight of the Fire Chief and the supervision of the Operations Chief, the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Section is responsible for all EMS training, Orange County Emergency Medical Services Agency (OCEMSA) policy/procedure/standing order adherence, Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) review and review and constant monitoring of the electronic patient care reporting (ePCR) program and management. Additionally, this position reviews ePCR pre-billing, OCEMSA, and Orange County Fire Chiefs Association (OCFCA) committee participation and is the lead in communications with base hospitals and partner agencies related to pre-hospital emergency services, as well as providing key oversight to our emergency ambulance transportation program.
OPERATIONS DIVISION:
The Operations Division manages Fire, Rescue and Emergency Medical Services and maintains constant readiness to answer calls for assistance from the residents, businesses, and visitors of the community. The Operations Division is also tasked with rapid response to life, health, fire, rescue, and environmental emergencies, as well as the protection of property, fire cause and origin determination and life safety inspections and education. In addition, the fire companies are involved in comprehensive building and fire protection systems inspections throughout all areas of the City, including, but not limited to, the high-rise buildings in the South Coast Metro area and South Coast Plaza, all in close coordination and collaboration between the Operations and CRR Divisions.
COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION:
The Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Division develops and enforces local fire, life safety, property, and environmental protection standards; enforces State adopted fire and life safety codes; reviews building construction plans; conducts building construction and business inspections; investigates citizen complaints; serves on city-wide committees related to development review, group homes, homeless outreach and Measure X; provides training to department personnel in regard to fire and life safety codes; assists professional trades with technical fire code requirements and department community education efforts. Develops, provides and coordinates community preparedness activities including, volunteer, outreach, education, training and response programs including; Business Preparedness Academies and Community Emergency Response Team Academies and embracing an overall strategy of community risk reduction.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
• The goals and objectives of the Fire and Rescue Department were developed in alignment with the City Council’s strategic goals, objectives and priorities.
• Upgrade CMFR technological infrastructure by investing in equipment, systems, innovation and personnel to enhance and sustain high service levels.
• Evaluate, develop and execute comprehensive administrative and operational staffing levels to enhance and advance department’s ability to meet and exceed community expectations, governance and department objectives.
• Upgrade CMFR’s infrastructure by investing in facilities, equipment and systems.
• Complete the build process for the new Tiller Truck and Fire Engine.
• Initiate the construction design phase of Fire Station No. 2’s rebuild process.
• Complete the design and construction phases of CMFR’s Regional Fire and Rescue Training Facility.
• Continue the strong and unwavering commitment to Professional Development, Active Leadership and Succession Planning throughout all ranks and roles, with a focused emphasis on a “three-deep” succession plan mentality.
• Complete promotional testing processes for all ranks, inclusive of a Firefighter and Firefighter/Paramedic recruitment.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• Total number of emergency incidents responded to in 2022 is 14,454.
• CMFR responded to over 13 significant statewide mutual aid related emergency incidents, utilized 20 different fire apparatuses, equating to over 61 total cumulative days for those deployments.
• Deployed on the department’s first interstate deployment to the state of New Mexico for 17 days.
• Collaborated with NMUSD at all levels including community education outreach, site inspections and emergency preparedness planning, and actively being a part of NMUSD’s new school safety task force.
• Applied for and received the formal assignment of our third Cal OES Fire Engine (Type 6- Wildland Patrol unit.)
• Successfully replaced two out of six rescue ambulances, with the remaining four ambulances to be replaced via the City’s Master Lease Agreement.
• Successful completion of a comprehensive community driven CMFR Strategic Planning Process, which is currently being implemented in 2023.
• Continued with successful cost recovery programs; Ambulance Transportation Program brought in over $4.6 million in cost recovery to the General Fund.
• CMFR continued to demonstrate strong leadership, professional development and succession planning at the local, state and regional level.
• Continued growth in social media presence with the addition of the LinkedIn community platform.
• Compiled and published CMFR’s 2022 Annual Report.
DEPARTMENT CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Challenges
• The impacts of unfunded state mandates.
• Increased housing costs that are requiring the workforce to move much farther distances from work.
• Previous lack of timely and appropriate planning and funding for infrastructure upgrades and replacements to meet today’s needs including fire stations, technology infrastructure, mapping, GIS and CAD, resulting in aged facilities requiring greater improvements, and most of them simultaneously.
• Previous lack of funding and planning for real-time asset and resource management, specific to fleet management; however significant improvements have been made in this regard over the past four years, including full financing for the complete replacement of and funding for the Department’s fleet and apparatus.
• Historic lack of integrated citywide technology processes and systems, which will soon be largely remedied by the recently approved and fully funded 5-Year Information Technology Strategic Plan and the implementation of a new CAD RMS system in 2025-26.
• Changing social and political influences/movements/generational ideologies.
Opportunities:
• Professional development, active leadership and succession planning.
• Establish and institutionalize appropriate citywide infrastructure planning, inclusive of all city facilities, apparatus, equipment and technology.
• Creating platforms of opportunity to highlight the strengths and specialized skill sets of the different generational ideologies.
• Incorporating environmentally mindful and financially sound approaches to citywide services.
• Incorporating more community-based outreach programs and recruitment approaches to develop and implement that draw from the schools in the city.
• Establishing local affordable housing opportunities for city employees.
• Seeking new funding and grant opportunities to benefit the community.
ALTERNATIVES:
This agenda report and the corresponding presentation are informational only and therefore, there are no alternatives for this item.
FISCAL REVIEW:
There are no fiscal impacts for this Department overview. This information is being provided so that the City Council has a more in-depth knowledge base regarding the Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue Department and its role, mission, and responsibilities heading into the next budget cycle.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed this report and approved it as to form.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES:
This item supports the following City Council Goals:
• Strengthen the Public’s Safety and Improve the Quality of Life
• Recruit and Retain High Quality Staff
• Advanced Environmental Sustainability and Climate Resiliency
CONCLUSION:
Staff presented a broad overview of the staffing, operations, responsibilities, services, and accomplishments of the Fire & Rescue Department. Staff recommends that the City Council receive and file the report and presentation.