5.3. SR 05-04-2009REQUEST FOR ACTION
fiver
Ta Item Number
~i ~ Vunc~ ~ 1 ~„/ 4
~-en~a~ ect~an I~e~t~ng ~]a~t~ ~r~pared b~
~drni~istration ll~a 4, ~oa9 Lori ohnson, Ci ~drnir~istratar
Item De~criptian Reviewed by
consider Firing Temporary Part-Time inspector
Reviewed by
Action Regue~tied
~~~~
Direction on Miring a temporary part-Yitr~e fire inspector far a tnaxuzlu~i of ~4 hours per weep until the
fire chief position is filled,
Bach ra~nd~Discu~sian
Tbi is a fa~.ow-up to the discussion at the April ~0 meeting to address the ou~.ciz's ciuestians about the
need far ~ ternpora part-bane f~xe inspector. Fire Marshal f lnte~:i~ Fixe ~hi.ef tiff Anderson will be at
the meeting to provide more infor~natian on this xequest and to answer your questions.
.~s you know, Cliff ~.nderson is searing ~s interim. f~xe chief whiie still functioning as fie ~narsha~ until the
fire chief position is filled, .~mang other duties, the fie marshal is responsible far the business fire
inspection praraxn and far fire code review of plans submitted for a buildi~.g pex~nit. ~~ the attached
rnerno, NTr. Anderson explains that with the addi~.onal fire chief duties, he feels he w~ not have tine to
continue tQ perfosrri business f~:e inspections. Although business inspections ate ver~r ~xzportant and
should be completed an a xegula~r schedule, there i na ~n.andatary te~uirement to do so,
Finally, if ail goes as planned, e fire chief pasitia~. is expected to be filled in July ar early Auguust. What
timeline leaves faun rn~nths during which the business inspection program maybe co~n.prornised. At ~.
n~inin'Yal cast usi~.g current firefighters, the program can canti~.ue during that tune sa that the inspections
da not fall further behind.
~~na~ncia~l Impact
The actual cost far• the part time inspector will depend upon the hours needed a~ad the tune it
tales to fill the fire chief position. Based on the fast timeli~~e we are cur+ent~~ a~., the cost is
estimated to be a~.•ound 4,50. This is less ~~an the original est~nate of S,a4a and 9,a00
because the duration of the temporary position was reduced. Assuming the fire chef is in place
as proposed, there is rza savings during the vacancy due to tihe standard payment of unused leave
thne for the previous chief. ~o~vever, the new chief will most likely be hired at a lower rate of
pay than the previous chief. Wherefore, same savings should be realised ~ X009. That savings
could be used to fund this temporary position.
Att~chment~
~ enao from Cliff 1~ndersan, lnterun Fire Chief~Fire IVlarshal
.~Cour~cil~F,ori~2~09~'1'cm~ Fire Inspec~or,dac
I~IC~~OC~ Motion ~y second by , ~o~e
Farlow Up _ _ _ _
~Cauncil~Lari~2(}~9~'1'cmp ~~ixe inspecrar.doc
City of
Elk
River MEMORANDUM
~~: ~Orl ~lOhf~~~f~
~R~~III; cliff Ar~dr~or~, Interim Firs hif
~A~~: April ~, 2~~9
~1BJET: Part-time Fire lnspe~tor
~.~er my first meek of assulnil~g the positial~ of Interim Fire Chief I feel that theca is ~.
need to hire a part~trn~e Tire inspector i1a order to maintain the current level o~ service
1th1n Our Flre Department,
~.t this time I project that at least ~5°Io of my tine will he consumed by the Fire Chiefs
duties, v~hich includes an average of Sa hours per n~anth of scheduled meetings, I~~~~
hours of budgetary review and development far Emergency ll~anagelnent, Safety
Canan~ittee and Fire Department. I1~ addition to the day to day fun.etions and emergency
responses of the Elk Diver Fire Depa~tn~ent,
Presently ~1rds of the Fire Prevention Specialistl~ausing 7nspectar duties are focused an
the Housing inspection Progxaln and the other ll3r~ of his tinge is focused ~n the `ire
Prevention program. e anticipate that within the next arse to tv~o gears eve mill he on
track and ~1e mill be able to allow more tune towards fire inspections, but ~rrth his currel~t
responsibilities in addition to his emergency freighter duties it leaves little to no time to
assist with new construction inspections let alone existing fire inspections,
New eolastr~~ction zevies and inspections are increasing at this time and I presently have
six plans ~raitirag to he reviewed and have been unable to free up regulars ~varkin hours
to complete the review process in a timely manner to satisfy o1~r contractors. kith the
addit~Qnal help of a part-tinge fire inspector fluxing the interlrn ~e will be able tD 1nail~tain
~1,1r level of servrce~
If the City Council so chooses ~e can suspend the existing f ire inspection program
through the interim time ~rarne. once all full~tlle positions ~1tl7in the F1re Departl~nent
are staffed eve ~auld then resume the fire inspection program,
I v~ill be at the City COUncil meeting on ll~ay 4, 20~~ if there are any additional
questions.