SLT's stance of firefighter unrest

CITY OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

September 10, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
David Jinkens
City Manager and Director of Emergency Services
(530) 542-6045

CITY GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL AND THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY

The City Council and City management support and care about public safety providers and the safety of the community. City officials have worked long and hard to improve pay, benefits, training, equipment, and working conditions for public employees even during challenging fiscal times and to ensure that the properties within the South Tahoe area are made safe from catastrophic fire and other emergencies. But as we all know from our daily lives, there are always more needs than money.

We are working hard to improve and diversify the local economy, create more local jobs, attract more businesses and retail to town. Improving South Lake Tahoe’s economy will benefit both residents and employees. Only economic growth can provide the sustained means to further improve conditions for employees and the community. The job is not easy and there are budget and regulatory constraints that we face, but we will persevere, and we will be successful.

Recently, the South Lake Tahoe Fireman’s Association exercised its right to express opinions and concerns about working conditions and the status of the labor negotiation process. The City supports free speech. This is a very American thing to do. It is important that all information about the issues raised by the Association be brought into public view and evaluated.

I asked City staff closest to the issue and our labor negotiator to review the recent Fire Association written and published comments. The following is what they provided to me. Written statements made by the Association are italicized and additional information from the City follows.

The City looks forward to continuing our labor agreement negotiations in good faith with recognized representatives of the Fire Association. We will work diligently and in a professional manner to bring these discussions to a successful conclusion. We all want the best for them and for our community within our financial means.


“The South Lake Tahoe City Council decided their special interests are more important than you public safety.”

• From 2002 to 2007, the City increased public safety funding 23% while non-safety general fund expenditures had to be reduced.

”Your fire engines only have a driver and captain; no firefighters.”

• Drivers – also known as Firefighter-Engineers – and Captains are firefighters serving in higher ranks. Drivers and Captains participate in firefighting and the other public safety services provided by the Fire Department to the community.

• A two person engine crew is standard operating procedure for many Lake Tahoe fire departments including our neighbors at Lake Valley, the Tahoe-Douglas Fire Protection District, Meeks Bay Fire Protection District and the North Tahoe Fire Protections District.

“The City took our firefighters off the engines. We need them back.”

• Several years ago, the Firefighters Association did not object to move a firefighter from each engine to ambulances. These firefighters remain on the payroll and continue to provide service to the City. This gives the City the ability to provide both firefighting and paramedic / Advanced Life Support Ambulance services to the community.

• 68% of the Fire Department’s emergency responses are medical calls. Responding to these emergencies with ambulances enables the Fire Department to have an ambulance immediately on-scene to be able to transport a patient to the hospital.

“22 of the last 50 fire personnel hired have left your fire department due to working conditions, living requirements, and less than comparable wages.”

• The average South Lake Tahoe Firefighter earned $53,426.00 in 2006. The average South Lake Tahoe Fire Captain earned $73,446.00 in 2006. These amounts include overtime and various incentive pays.

• Fire Department employees receive City-paid PPO health insurance.

• Fire Department employees can retire at age 50 with a guaranteed, lifetime pension and a City-paid retiree health care benefit (amount City pays depends on length of service).

• Fire Department employees live within a defined zone around the City so that they can promptly respond to emergencies. This zone extends from Truckee to Carson City to Gardnerville providing employees a wide-range of living choices. California law permits cities to create these safety zones for public safety employees.

• Recent Fire Department turnover includes 8 retirements and 3 terminations by the Department.

“Your fire department is the training ground for firefighter-paramedics who leave for other departments. Is your family’s life worth constant trainee turnover?”

• 12 firefighters resigned City employment for other agencies primarily located in the San Francisco Bay Area or the Sacramento area. The majority of these firefighters were newer employees hired from these areas.

• In 2006, the Fire Department and Lake Tahoe Community College proudly opened a fire academy training program. The Academy currently has 31 eager participants. These home-grown firefighters will provide the back-bone for the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department and other local departments for the foreseeable future.

• The City currently has 17 candidates on a hiring list ready to be South Lake Tahoe Firefighters.

“Don’t wait for another Angora Fire. Two man engine companies are unsafe and ineffective.”

• The City’s engine companies – along with all of the other fine firefighters who protected our community – worked in groups of varying sizes during the Angora fire. These groups were both highly effective and safe. There were no serious Firefighter or citizen injuries during the Angora fire.

• Establishing 3 person engine crews is a long-term Fire Department goal. 3 person engine crews would provide even greater flexibility than the current 2 person crews.