08-05-2024 Council Work Session Packet

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT ITEM NO. 8 STAFF ORIGINATOR: Dan L'Allier, Deputy Director - Fire WORK SESSION DATE: August 5, 2024 TOPIC: Staff Part -Time Firefighters on City -Observed Holidays BACKGROUND The Lino Lakes Public Safety Fire Division has used a Duty Crew Firefighter Model since May 1, 2022. This staffing model has provided a three -firefighter part-time Duty Crew, Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 6 PM, excluding holidays. Shortly after the implementation of the Duty Crew Model, it became clear that fire protection coverage on City's observed holidays was lacking. The Fire Division operates two staffing models; the first is a Paid On -Call staffing model. Paid on -call firefighters do not staff at a fire station, they live within our community and respond to calls for service when needed. The second model we use is the part-time Duty Crew Firefighter. These firefighters staff a fire station and respond to calls for service. The issue with using our paid on -call firefighters to staff holidays during the day is many have full-time employment outside of the City or they may leave the City to celebrate the holiday. Additionally, many employers do not observe the same holidays that the City does, which makes utilizing paid on -call firefighters to staff holidays an unstable staffing model. A stable response model would be to staff the City Fire Stations with four part-time Duty Crew firefighters from 6 AM to 6 PM on holidays. Staff has contacted Cities near Lino Lakes that use part-time Duty Crew firefighters to cover holidays. Many of these Cities are compensating their Duty Crew Firefighters at time and one- half rate of the normal rate of pay for holiday shift coverage. The daily cost to staff a four -person Duty Crew of firefighters for a holiday is approximately $2,110.00. This rate includes time and a half compensation. The City observes 13 holidays per year. To provide Duty Crew Staffing for all holidays would be approximately $27,430.