HEMET’S MEASURE “U” AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT

Date:

Rusty Strait | Senior Reporter

HEMET FIRE DEPARTMENT PROPOSED BUDGET FY22/23

FUNDING SOURCES:

• General Fund $11,606,400

• Measure “U” $ 4,989,900

• Measure “U” Fund Balance $ 400,000

• CFD $ 329,100

• ARPA $ 2,000,000

• AMR Penalty Fees $ 70,000

TOTAL $19,395,400

Improve Fire’s 3 Bureaus and Administrative Support

• Fire Administration

• Operations/Emergency Medical Services

• Fire Prevention & All Hazards Services

• Support Services

• INNOVATIVE REVENUE

• STATE HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT (SHSGP)

• COUNTY HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS GROUP (CHOG) $67,000

• CERT $ 9,801

• PART-TIME ADMINISTRATIVE VOLUNTEER

• ASSISTS WITH COST RECOVERY AND FIRE PREVENTION

SWORN STAFF

Positions FY/19/20 FY/29.21 FY21/22 FY/22/23 (Proposed)

• Fire Chief: 1 – 1 – 1 – 1

• Deputy Chief: 0 – 0 – 0 – 1 Proposed

• Fire Battalion Chief: 3 – 3 – 3 – 3

• Fire Captain: 15/14 – 12 – 15 – 15

• Fire Engineer: 15 – 12 – 15 – 15

• Fire Fighter (PM): 21/18 – 17 – 15 – 18 Proposed

• Fire Prevention Officer: 0 – 1 – 1 – 2 (Proposed

TOTAL 55/51 46 50 55

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Positions FY19/20 FY 20/21 FY21/22 FY/22/23 Proposed

• Emergency Services Coordinator: 1 – 1 – 1 – 1

• EMS Coordinator: 0.5 – 0.5 – 0.5 – 0.5

• Administrative Assistant: 1 – 1 – 1 – 1

• Office Specialist: 0.5 – 0.5 – 0.5 – 1 Proposed

• Managerial Analyst: 0 – 0 – 0 – 1 Proposed

TOTAL: 3 – 3 – 3 – 4.5

SUMMARY OF FY 22/23 PERSONNEL REQUESTS

‘GENERAL FUND’

• (1) FIRE DEPUTY CHIEF $ 348,300

• (1) MANAGEMENT ANALYST $ 137,600

• (5) INCREASE PART TIME FULL OFFICE 45,500 SPECIALIST

• (3) FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS $ 492,600

• (1) FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER $ 141,000

• PEAK DEMAND OT $ 245,000

TOTAL $1,410,000

FY/22/23 CAPITAL EXPENDITURE REQUESTS

ARPA

• FIRE STATION UPGRADES

• ADDRESS CRITICAL ISSUES

• REPLACE ANTIQUATED STATION ALERTING SUBTOTAL $2,000,000 AMR Penalty Fees

• Tablet Command Incident Software $ 70,000 Internal Services Savings

• Mobile Radio Upgrade Program $ 247,000

TOTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURES $2,317,100

MEASURE U EXPENDITURE HISTORY

Personnel

• Captains (3)

• Firefighter Paramedics (8)

• Battalion Chiefs (3)

• Squad Staffing to support rising

• EMS responses (OT)

• Funded (2) Public Safety

• Dispatchers and (1) Call Taker

• Increased Support personnel hours

• Emergency Services Coordinator to Full-Time (1)

• Increased hours of Emergency Medical Services Nurse

• Coordinator (96/m0)

• Part-Time Office Specialist (0.5)

Capital Equipment

• Replace aging fire apparatus (3)

• Upgrade VHF radio system

• Establish back up system

• Utility Vehicles (3)

• Personal Protective Equipment

• Add 6th Dispatch Console

Live Fire Training Facility

MEASURE “U” ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Personnel

• Captains (3)

• Firefighter Paramedics (8)

• Accomplished: Reopening of Fire Station 5

• Staffing of Squad I

• 100% ALS Paramedic Service

• Battalion Chiefs (3)

• Accomplished:

Formal Command Staff increased operational capacity.

• Funded (2) Public Safety Dispatchers and (1) Call Takers.

• Handle rising requests for service over 18,000 in the past Fiscal Year.

Increased support personnel hours

• Emergency Services Coordinator to Full-time (1)

• Planning and preparation of city wide emergencies

• Training of local residents and establishing CERT

• Increased hours of Emergency Medical Services Nurse Coordinator (96/mo)

• Continuing Education to paramedics

• Liaison with local hospitals

• Improved quality of care

• Part-Time Office Specialist (0.5)

• Weed abatement Program

• Cost Recovery Program

Capital Equipment

• Replace aging fire apparatus (3)

• Over 2.4 million

• Upgrade VHF radio system

• Establish back up system

• Over 2 million (combined police & fire)

• Fire Training Center Construction $600,000+

• Provide a dedicated training ground for new hires and current employees

• Live Fire Training

• Utility vehicles (3)

• Off-road capable

• Training/out-of-county responses

• Squad response vehicle

• Personal Protective Equipment (over 100 sets of gear)

• Add 6th Dispatch Console

• Increased capacity to handle calls for service

Future Plans

• All Hazards Incident Response Vehicles Medic Patrol concept that allows for quick medical response and small fire suppression

• Ability to patrol neighborhoods during wildfires

• Off-road capable for access to technical rescues

Communication Upgrades

• Expand current communications capabilities

• PSEC capable mobile radios in all fire apparatus

• Emergency Medical Services Technology

• Leverage the latest technology to deliver optimum patient care

• Apparatus Replacement

• Truck Company (Approaching 15 years in age)

• Engine Companies (2016 apparatus)

• Hazardous Materials Response Trailer

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

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