4.6. SR 05-15-2000-'ity of
River
MEMORANDUM
Item #
4.6°
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Pat Klaers, City Administrator
Mayor & City Council
Bruce A. West, Fire Chief
i!
May 15, 2000
Fire Inspector]Administrative Assistant Position
In the 2000 Fire Department Budget, under the personal services category, is
another full time employee position. This full time employee has been
discussed as either a fire inspector, assistant fire chief, or other position titles.
I would like to give a brief overview of our fire inspection program and then
give my recommendation on the full time employee position.
The fire inspector position has been discussed at the City Council level and at
this time we are using one part time inspector. Since my last council update,
part-time fire inspector Cliff Anderson has been hired as a full-time fire
inspector for the City of New Brighton. Prior to Cliffs leaving as a part-time
fire inspector, he and Steve Greene were conducting inspections throughout
our community for compliance with the 1997 Uniform Fire Code. Steve Greene
is very limited in the amount of time available to assist the fire inspection
bureau at this time. Steve's full-time employment limits his available hours for
conducting fire inspections on a part-time basis. Currently, Steve is assisting
with pre-fire planning on our computer aided fire zone software. At the same
time, the part time inspectors are completing a fire code inspection, the
inspectors are conducting pre-plans on all of our commercial and industrial
facilities to enhance our fire department's response. Our fire inspection bureau
has made tremendous strides in fire inspection visits within the community. I
realize that sometimes our fire inspection visits may be controversial in
nature, but our fire inspections are for the safety of the employees of the
business and the general public who visit them.
The use of part time fire inspectors to conduct site inspections has been a slow
process in visiting all of the commercial and industrial facilities within the city
of Elk River. Currently our fire inspection program has completed
approximately one-third of the facilities within our community. The initial and
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
follow-up inspections at facilities necessitate a good deal of inspector hours.
Even when the initial inspections are completed in all the facilities within our
community, inspection hours will not decrease due to the new building growth
within our community. It is my goal to have a fire inspection completed in all
facilities every two years. When initial inspections are completed at all
facilities in our community, this goal will become attainable. I have had other
fire inspector qualified firefighters attempt to conduct inspections in their
"spare time." This is a very difficult task for the part time inspectors with busy
schedules at home, fire department training commitments, and juggling work
schedules.
The idea of a fire inspector/administrative assistant position for the
department is very attractive and attainable at this time. Currently our fire
department has three assistant fire chiefs and three captain positions. These
positions are filled by the paid-on-call firefighters within our department. The
assistant chiefs are elected by the membership based on minimum training
requirements set forth by the fire chief. The addition of a full time fire
inspector/administrative assistant to our organizational structure would
require no organizational changes. The overall structure of the officers within
our fire department has been discussed by our organization and is a project for
the future that goes hand-in-hand with the addition of future fire stations.
The fire inspector/administrative assistant position would provide a daytime
point of contact within our department in the absence of the fire chief. The fire
inspector/administrative assistant position would assist the fire chief in areas
such as public fire safety education, fire and emergency scenes as needed,
development of annual firefighter training program, assessing concerns of the
citizens within our community, and serving as the city's deputy emergency
management director.
As the council is aware, as of January 1, 2000, I have assumed the position of
safety coordinator for the City of Elk River. Along with this position has come
a new full-time position within the fire department. I believe one of the major
factors in the hiring of a full time fire inspector/administrative assistant,
references my taking control of the safety program as safety coordinator. Our
City of Elk River safety program is extremely important (compliance with
federal, state, and OSHA regulations), and it is vital that all employees have
that understanding. The council is aware that I have been conducting 6-8
hours per week of inspections throughout our community, along with the part-
time fire inspectors. With the added role of safety coordinator, I will not have
the available time to continue fire inspections. When the full time fire
inspector/administrative assistant person is hired, our fire inspection bureau
will still require the use of part-time fire inspectors for our program.
Therefore, we will still be using part-time inspectors along with our full-time
fire inspector/administrative assistant. Our fire inspection bureau will rely on
and enlist the services of the part-time inspectors to assist in conducting fire
inspections throughout our commercial and industrial facilities.
Conclusion
I have given a great deal of thought to the pros and cons of both the fire
inspector position and the fire inspector/administrative assistant position
during the last several months. I have discussed the full time employee
position with my first assistant chief Mike Trunnell, as he is my second in
command. The position has also been discussed amongst the other officers of
the department and also the firefighters. At this time I am requesting council
approval to advertise for a full time fire inspector/administrative assistant
position for the Elk River Fire Department. I believe this position will enhance
our fire inspection bureau, provide assistance to the fire chief, and provide a
much needed point of contact within the fire department during regular city
business hours in the absence of the fire chief. The fire
inspector/administrative assistant wage would be set forth by the comp worth
committee. I would like to have a full-time fire inspector/administrative
assistant starting on approximately July 1, 2000.
The process for hiring the full time fire inspector/administrative assistant
would entail an application process of approximately two weeks in nature with
advertisement in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Elk River Star News. I
have set up a selection committee of First Assistant Chief Mike Trunnell,
Blaine/Spring Lake Park Fire Chief Nyle Zikmund, Anoka/Champlin Fire
Marshal Doug Freeby, and me. We will do the interviewing and selection of a
candidate and the selected candidate will be forwarded to City Administrator
Pat Klaers and Assistant City Administrator Lori Johnson with final approval
of the Mayor and City Council.
The fire department will also continue with the use of part-time fire inspectors
along with the full-time fire inspector/administrative assistant. The fire
department's 2000 budget has provisions for both the part-time inspectors and
a full-time inspector/administrative assistant position.
If you have any questions in reference to this issue, please feel free to call me
at 763-441-4919. I will be in attendance at the Monday, May 15, 2000, City
Council meeting.
s: \ council\ astchief, doc
Approved:
Revised:
City of Elk River Position Analysis
Position Title: Fire Inspector/Administrative Assistant
Department: Fire
Immediate Supervisor's Title: Fire Chief
FLSA Status: Exempt
Purpose: The Fire Inspector/Administrative Assistant interprets, applies, and enforces fire
and life safety codes. The position conducts inspections of new and existing buildings for
compliance with the fire code and local fire safety ordinances to minimize loss of life and
property; provides the public with fire safety education. This position assists in administration
of fire protection, fire prevention, planning, and organizing firefighting activities. The Fire
Inspector/Administrative Assistant acts as "city" liaison in the absence of the Fire Chief and
reports directly to the Fire Chief.
Essential Functions
1. Perform administrative activities
(This position assists the Fire Chief in activities necessary to ensure enforcement of the
Uniform Fire Code or other municipal fire codes.)
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
Assists the Incident Commander at fire or emergency scene as needed.
Assist in planning, organizing and directing of the overall operation of the Fire
Department.
Assist in the preparation of the Fire Department budget.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Fire Chief.
Assist in recommendations for policy or procedural changes.
Plan, prioritize, and schedule fire inspection activities.
Assist in evaluating the effectiveness of services and programs.
Assess concerns of citizens/community.
Perform inspection activities
(Inspections are conducted for multiple dwelling units, commercial and industrial buildings,
and places of assembly to enforce fire codes and other local laws referencing fire and life
safety).
B.
C.
D.
E.
Plan, prioritize, and schedule fire inspection activities
Review past inspection reports.
Contact owner/managers for approval to conduct inspections.
Conduct on-site inspections of structures and properties annually.
Determine code violations; review with owner/manager and issue correction orders on
inspection form or by letter; document all inspections.
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o
I.
J.
K.
L.
Research any questionable code violation(s) and issue correction orders.
Investigate complaints of fire safety, regulation violations and issue corrective orders for
such violations(s) where appropriate.
Conduct follow-up inspections for compliance.
Refer any fire code violation issues to the Fire Chief for possible citations.
Communicate other code violations found during inspections to proper agencies.
Maintain all records.
Identify any hazardous materials and determine proper safety precautions for handling
and use, including storage requirements.
Perform code enforcement activities
A. Work in cooperation with all other city departments and inspectors on code enforcement
activities.
B. Coordinate and work cooperatively with other public or private agencies.
C. Assists Fire Chief in plan reviews as they relate to fire protection.
Assist in public fire safety education efforts
(This position provides support to the Fire Chief in conducting public safety activities through
open houses, tours, demonstrations, and talks in schools and public places).
A. Assist in evaluation and development of safety materials and programs.
B. Assist in scheduling and promoting fire prevention/education programs.
C. Assist in preparing and distributing printed fire prevention/education information through
media, newspaper, city newsletter, or handouts.
Perform communication activities
A. Receive and respond to inquiries from property owners and contractors.
B. Provide assistance in responding to fire code inquiries and complaints.
Fire suppression
A. Assist in maintaining the department in a continual state of readiness in order to deal
with emergencies effectively.
Assist at scene of fires and emergencies as needed.
Bo
Assist in
methods
Assist in
training,
evaluation of fire prevention and control policies by keeping abreast of new
and incorporate appropriate new methods in department's operation.
maintaining appropriate records on fire occurrences, equipment, personnel,
and all items relating to the fire department.
Fire department
A. Assist in
B.
C.
training program
the development of an annual training program.
Assist in coordination of weekly training activities of the fire department.
Assist in scheduling instructor assignments and ensure availability of training and audio
visual materials.
Assist in maintaining training records.
Assist in coordination of applications of fire department members for outside training
activities.
Assistance with city's emergency preparedness plan
A. Serve as the city's Deputy Emergency Management Director.
B. Assist with the coordination of duties and responsibilities with the Fire Chief in order to
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effectively respond to an emergency.
Assist with the maintenance and monitoring of the emergency warning sirens to ensure
adequate coverage in case of an emergency.
Assist with the maintenance of the city's Emergency Operation Plan.
Assist with the maintenance of the city's Emergency Resource Manual.
Other Essential Job Duties
A. Regular and timely work attendance.
B. Follow all safety procedures.
C. Participate in safety training.
The duties and responsibilities enumerated above are not intended to be all-inclusive and may be
expanded to include duties or responsibilities that the city may deem necessary.
Ability to
Council,
Ability to
Council.
Ability to
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of fire fighting equipment practices, principles, methods, and techniques utilized in modern
fire suppression.
Knowledge of building and fire codes, fire prevention laws and regulations.
Ability to prepare and implement activity budgets.
effectively communicate with the public, departmental personnel, city staff, City
and other governmental agencies.
prepare technical reports and present reports to the Fire Chief, city staff and/or City
develop cooperative working relationships with the public, property owners, and contractors.
Ability to use a computer.
Field experience as a fire inspector.
Ability to work independently.
Minimum Qualifications
High school education or equivalent. Five years training and experience with a paid on-call fire
department. Post secondary training in the field of fire prevention and code enforcement. Completion of
Fire Inspector I (and certification) or equivalent course.
Desired Fire Qualifications
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE: Associate Degree in Fire Science, Fire Administration, or
related field, including management experience in supervision, administration, and training. Fire
operations above the rank of firefighter desired. A combination of education, management level
experience, and experience with a fire department may substitute for the two-year degree.
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