Agenda

Back to Calendar Return

Agenda Item 24.

City Council Meeting

Meeting Date:	05/15/2018
FROM:	Bill Gallardo

Subject:

Adoption of a new job description for the classification of Firefighter Trainee to establish salary and benefits and amending the existing classification plan

RECOMMENDATION

Approve the Resolution: 1) adopting a new job description and salary table for the classification of Firefighter Trainee; 2) establishing that this classification will have its salary and benefits contained within the Part-Time Resolution due to the short-term nature accompanying incumbency in this position and that no employee association has expressed an interest in providing representation; and 3) amending the existing classification plan for city employees to include the classification specifications and salary range for the position of Firefighter Trainee.

BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION

The City of Brea Fire Department has moved towards placing newly hired sworn Firefighters into an in-house five-week Brea Fire Academy program prior to allowing them to take a designated spot on a fire apparatus. There are a variety of reasons for doing this including acclimating the new hires to Brea specific procedures and making sure the new employee is ready to assume all the safety related duties. Placement in the Brea Fire Academy also allows the department to watch firsthand the development of the employee while the person is still on probation. It is proposed that the City modify this practice by hiring new employees as non-sworn Firefighter Trainees for the period of time it takes them to successfully complete the in-house academy, allowing them to move into the sworn position of Firefighter thereafter.

Currently new hires into the Brea Fire Department are sworn employees and they receive all the benefits associated with that designation during the five-week training academy. In California there are workers compensation laws which treat sworn and non-sworn employees very differently if the employee is injured while on duty. Specifically, by law, sworn employees receive one year of full-time salary and benefits if injured on duty while Brea non-sworn employees are provided with approximately 66% of that level of protection. Additionally, should a candidate not be performing at a level expected by the Department it is better to know this while they are training at the in-house academy before placing the employee in the field and potentially dangerous situations. In order to keep the City of Brea competitive in recruiting potential firefighters, this position would receive benefits similar to non-sworn full-time employees during their time in the academy. Specifically, they would receive medical benefits under the same conditions as employees represented by the Brea City Employees’ Association. Therefore, it is proposed that the City Council authorize the temporary under fill of Firefighter positions with Firefighter Trainees during their training period at the Brea Fire Academy, after which they would be appointed as full-time sworn Firefighters, assuming they meet Department standards.

By recruiting and placing Firefighters initially as Firefighter Trainees, the City has the advantage to better assess potential firefighters during their training period in a less hazardous environment while reducing our exposure to potential long-term expenses in the area of workers compensation. This practice is consistent with what other surrounding cities ae now doing as they evluate employees entering the fire service. Lastly, In the City engaged in discussions with the Brea Firefighters' Association about representation for this position and after numerous discussions they decided they did not want to represent the Firefighter Trainee position for such a short term.

FISCAL IMPACT/SUMMARY

There are no financial impacts associated with the proposed action. The changes recommended would result in the City being able to initially hire Fire Department employees at a lower level salary while they complete their five-week in-house training and provide potential longer-term savings to the City should an injury occur.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

William Gallardo, City Manager
Prepared by: Doug Stevenson, Senior Human Resources Analyst
Concurrence: Mario E. Maldonado, Human Resources Manager

Attachments
Resolution
Job Description
Firefighter Trainee Salary