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Upcoming Meeting |
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Ruggieri Senior Center
33997 Alvarado-Nilles Rd.
Union City, CA |
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Fire Protection Services in Union City
The Union City Fire Department conducted a strategic planning process in 2007 which was adopted by Council in late 2008. One of the Fire Department's strategic goals is to expand regional and local partnerships to include boundary drops to enhance fire protection. A comprehensive study into optional fire service delivery models involving the Newark Fire Department, Union City Fire Department, and Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) was conducted which identified significant potential regional opportunities. As a result of that study, staff was authorized by Council in April 2009 to request a formal amplified study from ACFD for contract fire protection equivalent to the current service delivery model. Significant staff time was dedicated to data collection and information exchange with the Alameda County and Newark Fire Departments. Staff provided input into the proposed service levels and carefully analyzed city-wide fiscal impacts during the process. A draft proposal was submitted by ACFD in September 2009 and updated in November 2009.
While exploring fire protection options with Alameda County, the City of Union City was in the midst of preparing an unprecedented two-year budget with a mandated 20% cut from all City departments. With the bulk of the Fire Department budget earmarked for personnel cost, the Fire Chief had no choice but to cut positions with the clear intent and vision to preserve emergency response and avoid Fire Station closures or “brown-outs”. With the layoff of management staff, a hazardous materials inspector, freezing current vacancies and reaching a cooperative agreement with IAFF Local 1946 and Fire Managers to receive compensatory time in lieu of overtime pay, the fire department was successful in meeting these significant cuts without affecting emergency response. Part of the plan required the Fire Chief and Assistant Chief to absorb additional duties. With the adoption of the current savings in the current two-year budget, the anticipated lucrative preliminary savings shrank considerably.
In December of 2009 (View Video of Council Work Session) staff was further directed to attempt to reduce start up costs associated with the Alameda County Fire Department contract for Fire Service in order to participate in the regionalized fire protection model. Staff is currently undertaking that task and anticipates reporting back to Council at a late February work session on the subject.
Below is pertinent background information and staff reports generated to date.
| Archived Staff Reports and Related Documents |
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