DEPARTMENT: Fire
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Charles N. Hood
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT: Reclassification of Firefighter Position
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) to reclassify a vacant Firefighter position to Fire Captain for a total cost of $15,595.00. Funding for this reclassification action is available through the FY2018 Operating budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The SAFD Communications Division is responsible for processing all 911 and non-emergency calls to the department, dispatching units to emergencies, tracking all front line Fire Department assets, logistical support of Fire Department assets during large scale incidents, as well as management of the Fire Department Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).
The Communications Division currently operates with 49 uniformed positions working four operational shifts. This includes forty-four Fire Engineers (11 per shift) and five Lieutenants (one per shift and an Executive Officer on 40hr schedule). Previously, a Division Chief (District Chief) was assigned to Communications in order to provide onsite supervision of the Division. Due to the tremendous amount of square footage under the control of the SAFD, this Division Chief was re-aligned in 2017 to manage the Office of Facilities and Grounds within the Services Division.
The Communications Division is currently supervised by a Captain that has been detailed from the Firefighting Division.
ISSUE:
The SAFD is in need of an on-site position at the Captain rank that is responsible for the overall management Communications Division. The creation of the position will allow the SAFD to assign someone to the position permanently, thus relieving the department of the requirement to pay overtime and higher classification pay in the Firefighting Division, as well as to an individual on Special Assignment to the Communications Division.
Additionally, this reclassification action would allow the Fire Chief to address diversity by gender within the higher ranks of the SAFD. The Lieutenant next in line for promotion to Captain is female. The SAFD currently has 1731 filled uniformed positions, and 85 of those, or 5.1 percent, are female. This includes:
|
Rank |
Count |
|
Fire Cadet |
3 |
|
Firefighter (Probationary) |
4 |
|
Firefighter |
37 |
|
Fire Engineer |
31 |
|
Lire Lieutenant |
5 |
|
Fire Captain |
1 |
|
District Fire Chief |
2 |
|
Assistant Fire Chief |
1 |
|
Deputy Fire Chief |
1 |
|
Grand Total |
85 |
This reclassification action will ensure that female employees of the SAFD are well represented within the highest levels of the organization, and increase the number of qualified female employees that could be considered for appointment to the Fire Chief’s Command Staff.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this reclassification action not be approved, the San Antonio Fire Department would be required to continue the temporary assignment of a Fire Officer from the Firefighting Division to the Communications Division, thus continuing to incur overtime and higher classification costs in the Firefighting Division.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total cost for this reclassification action is $15,595.00, which will be funded through the FY2018 Fire Department Operating General Fund budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the reclassification of a vacant Firefighter position to Fire Captain. The total cost of this reclassification action is $15,595.00.