Title
Add Sworn Positions in Fire Department for Staffing Relief (Ordinance S-49237)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to allow the Phoenix Fire Department to add positions to provide sworn staffing relief. The estimated annual cost of these additions is $7,800,000.
Report
Summary
As discussed at the October 12 and November 9 Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee meetings, the Phoenix Fire Department is working to address sworn staffing challenges, high call volume, and longer than desired response times. Due to these challenges, a comprehensive plan was developed to address current and ongoing needs.
As part of this comprehensive plan, the City Council previously approved the addition of 19 sworn positions for the current FY 2022-23 budget and the award acceptance of the 2021 SAFER Grant providing an additional 32 sworn positions.
To continue addressing the Fire Department's current and ongoing needs, staff requests City Council authorization of funding to add a total of 58 sworn positions to the Fire Department's FY 2023-24 budget. This recommended funding request includes adding 31 new sworn positions and ongoing funding for 27 existing positions that were previously grant funded.
This recommendation will add 58 positions by:
- Providing sworn staffing of Fire Station 62 with 24 new General Fund positions;
- Funding seven new positions for Aviation to support 24-hour operation of Rescue 19; and
- Authorizing General Fund funding to continue 27 positions currently being supported by the 2019 SAFER Grant.
If approved, the City Council will have authorized funding for an additional 109 sworn positions in total between FY 2022-23 and FY 2023-24.
Financial Impact
The additional annual cost of $7,800,000 will be added to the Fire Department's General Fund in development of the FY 2023-24 budget. This will be partially offset by $900,000 from the Aviation Fund.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee recommended approval for this item on Nov. 9, 2022, by a vote of 4-0.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Fire Department.