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Fire Department reports on budgets, academies, Chase Center coordination, fleet and bond planning
Summary
Deputy Chief Janine Nicholson and staff updated the commission on ongoing budget advocacy with the mayor's office, academy graduations, equipment purchases (apparatus contract raised to $15 million), Station 35 MOU progress, and bond polling that may combine station and training funding to improve support.
Department leaders used the administrative report to detail near‑term operational priorities and capital planning.
Budget and capital requests: Chief Joanne Hayes White and Deputy Chief Janine Nicholson said the department is engaging the mayor's budget office ahead of the June 1 balanced budget submission. Nicholson said the Board of Supervisors approved increasing the department's apparatus contract authorization from $10,000,000 to $15,000,000 to continue purchasing engines and other apparatus.
"We got it approved for up to $15,000,000 so we can continue purchasing the fleet that we need," Nicholson said.
Bond planning: Nicholson described a proposed bond measure (referenced in the transcript as a 2020 bond) that initially allocated $125,000,000 for neighborhood fire stations and $150,000,000 for a training facility, plus separate funding for the Auxiliary Water Supply System (AWSS). Early polling reportedly favored the water supply and neighborhood stations but was weaker for the training facility; staff said they are considering combining the station and training allocations under a single heading to improve polling flexibility.
Training and staffing: The training division reported the current academy is in its thirteenth week with 44 members and a graduation scheduled for June 14 at the Scottish Rite Center at 9:00 a.m. The department has run hazardous‑materials recertifications, a public safety diver class (32 members), and wildland refresher training (133 members, with a second session planned for mid‑May). Nicholson also reported that about 30 retirements were expected by July 1 on top of current departures.
Station projects and Chase Center: Nicholson reported BCDC approval for Station 35, said staff were "this close" to an MOU with the Port that would allow permit issuance and anticipated work could begin by June. Department staff also described ongoing coordination with Chase Center organizers and other agencies to confirm medical plans and operational access for up to dozens of annual events at the venue.
The commission asked staff to provide additional details, including exact counts for wildland‑certified personnel and follow‑up on the bond language and timing; staff agreed to provide further information after the mayor's budget presentations.
