Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fire Department topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City funds EMS oversight, schedules fire-department workshops; council accepts $5,000 badge donation and OKs engine auction
Summary
Council authorized a $10,000-per-year contract for an EMS medical director, discussed rising fire-department costs and a coming workshop on funding and home hardening, approved auctioning an older Type 1 engine, and accepted a $5,000 donation from Councilmember Greg to purchase firefighter badges.
La Habra Heights council on Oct. 13 approved several measures affecting the fire department: authorization for a medical-director agreement with EMS Physician Solutions at $10,000 per year to meet Los Angeles County EMS oversight requirements; direction to schedule follow-up workshops on fire-department funding and Wildland-Urban Interface implications; authorization to auction an older Type 1 engine; and acceptance of a $5,000 donation to purchase hard badges for firefighters.
Chief Martin and staff described the recruitment challenges for medical directors and the need for licensed medical oversight for paramedic services and controlled substances. Chief Martin said the prior medical-director contract had been about $6,000 a year, and the new arrangement is $10,000 annually. Council approved authorization for the city manager to execute the contract.
The council also reviewed the results of a recent strategic-planning workshop on fire costs. Staff said unusually high costs — including paramedic staffing requirements and new operational obligations — contributed to a roughly $600,000 year-end general-fund transfer to cover the department. Council asked staff to present options to address structural deficits and to prepare a public workshop to explain current requirements and options for residents.
On apparatus, Chief Martin recommended the city auction an older 2001 Type 1 engine (Engine 774) that is difficult to maneuver on local streets; council authorized putting the engine out to auction. Council members emphasized they will retain the Rosenbauer apparatus optimized for wildland response and the newer engine as primary front-line units.
Separately, Councilmember Greg announced a $5,000 donation to purchase metal badge shields for volunteer firefighters and urged creation of a uniform fund to support firefighters who cannot afford equipment. Council accepted the donation and authorized a budget amendment to deposit the funds into the fire department line-item for badges.
Council approved the medical-director authorization, the auction resolution for the engine, and acceptance of the donation by unanimous votes.
