HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 24-018 ORDINANCE NO. 24-018
ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 2.03.074 OF THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES BY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF GRADE I FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS
IN THE BEAUMONT FIRE DEPARTMENT FROM ONE HUNDRED NINE (109) TO ONE
HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE (121); PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING
FOR REPEAL.
Section 1.
That Chapter 21, Section 2. 03. 074, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Beaumont
be and the same is hereby amended to increase the number of Grade I Firefighter positions in the
Beaumont Fire Department from One Hundred Nine (109)to One Hundred Twenty-One (121).
Section 2.
That if any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance, or the
application of same to a particular set of persons or circumstances, should for any reason be held
to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining portions of this ordinance and, to such
end,the various portions and provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable.
Section 3.
All ordinance or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith, including conflicting portions of
the City Budget, are repealed to the extent of the conflict only.
The meeting at which this ordinance was approved was in all things conducted in strict
compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumon this the 2nd day of April,
2024. `
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- ayor Roy West -
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BEAUMONT
TEXAS
TO: City Council
FROM: Kyle Hayes, City Manager
MEETING DATE: March 9, 2021
REQUESTED ACTION: Council consider amending Section 2.03.074 of the Code of
Ordinances to add nine Grade I Firefighter positions.
BACKGROUND
The EMS Division, formerly a part of the Public Health Department,was moved into the Fire
Department in early January of this year. The Administration is proposing to staff one
ambulance, at this time,with firefighters,which will require hiring nine additional employees.
The Code of Ordinances would be amended to increase the number of Grade I Firefighter positions
from 100-109.
The Administration plans to staff City ambulances over time with firefighters who are also
Paramedics;EMT-Intermediates or EMT-Basics. As firefighters are hired and the City can staff
the desired number of ambulances each day,vacant civilian EMS positions will be eliminated. If
the staffing of one ambulance with firefighters is successful and additional firefighter positions are
added by the City Council in the future,the transition will likely take many years.
The purpose of this plan is to have a more secure staffing plan due to the high turnover of civilian
. employees in the EMS Division. A firefighter assigned to an ambulance will eventually be able
to bid out into another Fire Department function such as Suppression, Logistics or the Fire
Marshal's Office if he/she desires to. Second, this transition plan is already proving to be
beneficial as a result of having a streamlined chain of command under the Fire Chief. Fire trucks
are often the first responders to a medical call since there are 12 fire stations.
FUNDING SOURCE
The estimated cost to hire nine additional firefighters for the first year is approximately$750,000
for base wages and benefits. It takes nine firefighters to staff an ambulance 24/7,while it takes
seven civilians. The difference is because firefighters work a different schedule per their labor
agreement. The net cost to the City of hiring nine new firefighters,versus seven civilian
EMT-Intermediates, for the first five years,is an estimated 1,340,000 for base wages and benefits.
RECOMMENDATION
Approval of this item.
ORDINANCE NO. 21-009
ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 2.03.074 OF
THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY INCREASING THE NUMBER
OF GRADE I FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS IN THE BEAUMONT
FIRE DEPARTMENT FROM ONE HUNDRED (100) TO ONE
HUNDRED NINE (109); PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND
PROVIDING FOR REPEAL.
Section 1.
That Chapter 21, Section 2.03.074, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of
Beaumont be and the same is hereby amended to increase the number of Grade I
Firefighter positions in the Beaumont Fire Department from One Hundred (100) to One
Hundred Nine (109).
Section 2.
That if any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance, or
the application of same to a particular set of persons or circumstances, should for any
reason be held to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining portions of this
ordinance and, to such end, the various portions and provisions of this ordinance are
declared to be severable.
Section 3.
All ordinance or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith, including conflicting
portions of the City Budget, are repealed to the extent of the conflict only.
The meeting at which this ordinance was approved was in all things conducted in
strict compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter
551.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this the 9th day of
March, 2021.
sj
- M or Becky Ames -
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