25 - Fire Chief-EMS Chief Positions

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3. Creation of a new Assistant EMS Chief. We believe there is much opportunity for efficiency in operations including cross training and improved communication by having one department head over both departments. The two will remain separate departments — the logistics in creating a Fire -based EMS are beyond our ability at this time, though at some future point (particularly through attrition), could be considered. Although they will be separate, they will be linked together through one Chief. The creation of an Assistant EMS Chief is critical as the volume of day to day operational work warrants assistance, otherwise the Fire Chief role will become consumed nearly entirely with EMS matters. We would advertise internally for this role first prior to considering an external advertisement. I have every confidence that Thomas McMonigle will serve as an excellent leader for the EMS Department. His management style will compliment their structure and support them in continuing to operate as required under EMS regulations. All the while, Chief McMonigle will look for opportunities to improve communication, teamwork, cooperation, etc., between the two departments, thus providing our community a greatly improved product. It should be noted that the City could always go back to having two separate Chiefs at some future point. In fact, the creation of an Assistant EMS Chief might lend itself to this by preparing someone to eventually be able to take on a department head level position. That is however not the City Manager's intent at this time as the opportunities and benefits we believe to exist under one Chief seem to outweigh the continuation of two departments under two department heads. With this, we will need to amend City Code 7.02.001 which calls for the head to be known as the chief of emergency medical service and replace it with fire chief. BUDGET: An adjustment to Chief McMonigle's pay will be made within his current step range as a Fire Chief. As for the Assistant EMS Chief, the City now has available salary from the eliminated EMS Chief position available to cover this without added expense to the budget. Our plan is to mirror that of the Assistant Fire Chief pay range. OPTIONS: 1. Approve an ordinance to amend 7.02.001 to now assign the EMS Department to the Fire Chief. 2. Request additional information. 3. Disapprove of the elimination of the EMS Chief position and ask that the City Manager work to fill this position.