HomeMy WebLinkAbout05. Fire Personnel Changes
AGENDA MEMO
DATE:
February 8, 2011
TO:
Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Office of the City Manager
By: Irma Youssefieh, Human Resources Director
SUBJECT: ELIMINATE THE DEPUTY FIRE MARSHAL POSITION AND FILL AN
ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF POSITION
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council approve the elimination of the Deputy Fire Marshal position and fill
an Assistant Fire Chief position.
DISCUSSION
In December 2010, the incumbent Deputy Fire Marshal was promoted to Fire Chief.
Currently, the Fire command structure consists of a Fire Chief, three Battalion Chiefs,
and fifteen (15) Fire Captains one of which fulfills the duty of a Deputy Fire Marshal. A
priority of the new Fire Chief was to evaluate the existing command structure and
recommend improvements where needed. As a result of that evaluation, staff is
proposing to eliminate the Deputy Fire Marshal position and fill an Assistant Fire Chief
position which is currently frozen. This proposed change is designed to provide greater
oversight of the Fire Prevention Bureau and retain a level of experience and expertise
required by the department.
With the elimination of the Deputy Fire Marshal position, all budgeted funds would be
allocated to the Assistant Fire Chief position. Since the new Fire Chief was hired at a
lesser annual salary than the previous chief, significant salary and benefit savings are
accruing to the City. When combined, these changes would basically be cost neutral
City until such time as the current Fire Chief’s salary increases.
FISCAL IMPACT
The budgetary cost increase for the proposed staffing level change is $1,349. This
arrangement is basically cost neutral on an annual basis until the current Fire Chief’s
pay increases.
CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA