AGENDA #3

 

Wednesday, February 28, 2001

Chapel Hill Fire Department

Initial Budget Presentation to the Mayor and Council

2001-2002

 

Mission Statement:

 

The mission of the Chapel Hill Fire Department is to protect life, property and the community environment from the destructive effects of fire, disasters or other life hazards by providing public education, incident prevention and emergency response services.  Our priorities are:  (1) Safety; (2) Service; and (3) Morale

 

Brief Services Description:

 

Fire Suppression

First Responder – Emergency Medical

Vehicle Extrication and Technical Rescue

Fire Code Enforcement through an Inspection Program

Disaster Management

Public Education through In-house or Out-Reach Programs

Fire Cause and Determination Investigations

Contact Department for Citizens’ Inquiries/safety and environmental

 

Departmental Revenue Estimates:

 

$850,000 –     State revenue generated for fire protection services to University and Hospital properties

 

$3,000 -         Revenue generated from special permits and inspection programs.

 

$4,500 -         Revenue generated from sales of Fire Department Souvenir Items

 

Departmental Base Budget Cost Estimates:

 

Administrative Division

 

Emergency Operations Division

 

Life Safety Division

 

Fire Department Totals

 

Key Cost Issues for Base Budget

 

Maintenance of health screening services for employees

 

Increase of 21% in Fleet Maintenance addition of “Insta-Chains” to Engine 32 and Tower 71, aging fleet and fire pump maintenance contract

 

Increase of 66% in Building Maintenance to continue station improvements, renovations, furniture replacement and continue annual maintenance funds for training facilities.

 

Increase in employee uniform expenditures

 

Continued regular replacement schedule of fire hose, radios and protective clothing

 

Purchase of scene lighting tower for use at emergency scenes

 

Key Programs and Services Going Well

 

The Chapel Hill Fire Department continues to provide First Responder services to the Town and University communities.  The First Responder program places fire department staff trained in pre-hospital first aid at the scene of medical emergencies prior to ambulance arrival.  Key to our program involves the use of automatic defibrillation in cardiac arrest situations, which have seen survival rates climb from 5% to over 20%.  There may be benefit in the future to expanding the program to the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician level enabling fire personnel to administer certain lifesaving medications and starting intravenous fluids.

 

Public Education programs offered by fire department staff continue to provide important services to the community in efforts to reduce fires, injury and death.  Programs currently offered include “Risk Watch” - an all encompassing injury reduction program, Child Safety Seat inspections/educational program and varied public education sessions focusing on fire prevention and injury reduction.  The Life Safety Division and Emergency Operations Division offer public education through station tours, group presentations and site visits.

 

Key Programs/Services That Could Be Improved

 

Due to increasing federal and state training requirements, increasing technical aspects of training and increases in Fire Department staffing, the strategy of using a having training coordinated part-time by a staff officer with other responsibilities continues to amplify the need for a dedicated Training Officer tasked with administering a consistent, objective-based program.  A supplemental request is included in this year’s budget attempting to address this short-coming.  Departmental training exceeds 400 staff hours per month but is often inconsistent or marginal in the application of the program and meeting the objectives.

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Proposed Additions or Reductions

 

Addition of six firefighter positions to staff the Southern Fire Station and Engine 35 due to open July 1^st of 2001.

Cost for six positions:                            $284,877

 

 

Request for funds to replace Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (air packs used to fight fire) to meet new NFPA and OSHA requirements, improve safety and replace discontinued model currently being used.

Cost for SCBA upgrade:                      $203,750

 

Request to amend Inspections User Fee Schedule to better account for Fire Department Inspectors’ time for repeated Fire Code Inspections and will begin charging for plans review and final inspections pursuant to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.

 

Request will generate revenue:      $2,000

 

Request for a full-time Fire Training Officer to oversee training, develop departmental safety programs and ensure training need compliance with State and Federal mandates.

 

Cost for training position:                      $57,367

 

Request for a full-time Assistant Fire Marshal to maintain current level of service, assist with oversight of the Fire Department’s inspection program and deliver public education needs.

 

Cost for third Fire Inspector:                 $77,867

 

Request for Inspector 2000 tracking program to computerize fire code enforcement record and inspection schedule.

 

Cost for Computer Software/Hardware:            $35,265

 

 

Add-on equipment list that identifies equipment that could not be purchased within the base budget

 

Cost for Equipment:                                          $64,450