HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 4362
City of Palo Alto (ID # 4362)
Finance Committee Staff Report
Report Type: Action Items Meeting Date: 12/17/2013
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Follow-up discussion on Fire Department overtime
Title: Follow-up discussion on Fire Department overtime
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Fire
The Fire Department has used $718K or 50% of its annual overtime budget, compared to $571K
the same period in the prior year. The primary drivers of overtime were workers'
compensation (light duty/full disability), open positions, succession planning, sick leave,
vacation, other leaves (military, bereavement, jury duty), and a mutual aid fire resp onse to the
Rim Fire in the Yosemite area.
During this quarter, the Fire Department had eight (8) personnel on workers’ compensation
paid leave compared to 4 during the same period last year. In addition, there were four
additional frontline vacancies compared to two during the prior period. The department
invested in overtime to support succession planning and career development in anticipation of
several key leadership promotions in the current fiscal year. Specifically, the Department has
been training personnel to work out of class in the Apparatus Operator, Captain, and Battalion
Chief positions which has generated more than $40,000 in overtime in the first quarter and
moved a frontline employee to provide assistance in the Training Division which also created a
need for backfill overtime. In addition, the department has begun training Captains and Acting
Captains in a nationally recognized command and control system which has created a
temporary need for additional overtime.
The Fire Department has also been staffing the seasonal Fire Station #8 with overtime to
support the Foothills communities during wildland fire season and the Community Services’
youth summer programs held at Foothills Park. Overtime expenditures during this period were
similar to that of the same period last year. Station 8 staffing ended on October 31.
Overtime expenses are reimbursed through the Stanford Fire agreement at a rate of 30.3
percent and reported as department revenue. The mutual aid response to the Rim F ire, totaling
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approximately $20,000 in overtime costs, will also be reimbursed through the State of
California Office of Emergency Services.
The Fire Department is closely tracking and monitoring overtime. Plans are being developed
that include the reduction of overtime use in the 8:00 pm to 8:00 am period when calls for
service are lower. These will be implemented in January 2014.