HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem C: Metro Fire Department Merger Update
ECC
UGENE ITY OUNCIL
AIS
GENDA TEM UMMARY
Work Session: Metro Fire Department Merger Update
Meeting Date: April 17, 2013 Agenda Item Number: C
Department: Eugene Fire & EMS Staff Contact: Randall B. Groves, Chief
www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-7115
ISSUE STATEMENT
In July of 2010, the City Manager and Fire Chief took steps toward a functional consolidation of the
Eugene and Springfield fire departments as a means of reducing costs and providing improved
metro-wide service effectiveness. This move was supported by a 2009 consulting report that
determined the proposed merger was both feasible and advisable for the two cities. At this point,
while the two departments are not yet fully merged, they have made steady incremental progress
towards the goal of becoming a fully-merged, single metro fire service agency.
BACKGROUND
In an era of financial challenge, new and creative solutions are necessary for sustaining core
community services such as fire prevention and suppression, rescue, and emergency medical
services. To achieve this goal, the initiation of steps that feature new and more efficient ways to
provide services includes the combining of strengths found in both the Eugene and Springfield fire
departments, as well as the geographical positioning of response facilities and assets. The
integrated system more efficiently utilizes multi-role, multi-skilled personnel and took advantage
of attrition to eliminate a number of high-level positions that became redundant as the two
departments evolve into one agency. The merger initiative has also taken advantage of the
combining of resources to maintain a quality training program and leverages economies of scale in
the purchasing of apparatus, equipment and supplies. To accomplish these purchasing efficiencies
a set of common or, in some cases compatible, specifications were developed.
In June 2007, the two cities effectively eliminated jurisdictional boundaries for the purposes of
emergency fire, rescue, first-response EMS, hazardous materials and ambulance transport. The
system is designed to dispatch the closest and most appropriate resource regardless of
jurisdiction. This approach, known as the 3-Battalion Integrated Response System, has resulted in
an improved initial response to emergencies as well as better backup coverage to ensure that a
safe level of resources are available throughout the metro area. The only tangible costs have been
a limited amount of staff time and the minimal one-time cost of renumbering fire stations and
vehicles into a single cohesive system.
To date, the departments have made significant progress toward a full merger of the two agencies.
A majority of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been normalized between the two
departments and provide a common set of operating standards. Employee development programs
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have been merged and strong and cooperative relationships have been formed between the two
cities and with both fire labor unions. In support of this effort, IAFF Locals 851 (Eugene) and 1395
(Springfield) have settled on a new three-year labor agreement that provides for a normalized
contract in the third year. This agreement also provides the cities with ability to assign personnel
in either city, as well as creating the possibility of negotiating a single successor agreement in
2015. The ability to assign personnel in either city will afford further efficiencies and allow the
organization to better utilize its human resources. Currently, some exempt shift supervisors
(battalion chiefs) have been assigned in the opposite city from which they are employed. These
assignments have proved successful and have helped further the merger initiative.
The contractual agreement and the Intergovernmental Agreement merging the two fire
departments are in addition to memorandums of understanding and other operating agreements
enacted to merge individual work units. A new records management system and automated
roster system are in the works. In addition, a task group has been working with Central Lane 911
during their regular computer-aided dispatch upgrade to ensure that response files reflect the 3-
Battalion closest unit order. Other groups that have been working on the merger are training, fire
prevention, policies and procedures (these are city groups), risk and benefits, recruitment and
selection, and EMS to name a few. Recently, the Logistics Section began providing service to the
Springfield side of the organization with Springfield paying for their share. This change is initially
being done on a trial basis to see if centralized supply order and distribution is a more efficient
and effective way to provide logistical support services that include supply, order, distribution and
maintenance. Representatives from both cities’ Human Resources Departments and the Chief of
Departments have met with representatives from SEIU and AFSCME to discuss progress with the
merger, and inform them of the intent to merge administration, ambulance billing and support
functions into a single fire department model in the near future. At this point, no decisions have
been made in regards to final outcomes including organizational structure under a fully-merged
organization, timing and work locations. An internal cross-departmental employee group is
currently collaborating on the development of a new name and logo for the new organization.
Although the work has been time consuming and challenging, the future of the fire service merger
initiative continues to be strong and look good. Staff’s hope is that a full and successful integration
and merger can be achieved over the next couple of years.
Cumulative merger/budget reduction savings have progressed each year from FY11 and projected
through FY14 are $3,958,877. This number does not include the potential closure of Eugene
Engine 2 which is assigned to the Whiteaker Fire Station.
RELATED CITY VALUES
City of Eugene Goal #1: Safe community
City of Eugene Goal #2: Sustainable development
City of Eugene Goal #5: Fair, stable, and adequate financial resources
ELECTED OFFICIAL OPTIONS
This is informational only to provide an update about the fire service merger initiative and the
ASA changes.
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CITY MANAGERS’ RECOMMENDATION
None. This is an informational work session only.
SUGGESTED MOTION
None. This is an informational work session only.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Eugene Fire & EMS Chief Randall B. Groves
Telephone: 541-682-7115
Staff E-Mail: randall.b.groves@ci.eugene.or.us
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