1A, Lake Johanna Fire Budget, Capital Facilities Need Study

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Comprehensive Management Study of the Saint Paul Department of Fire and Safety Services Final Report EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The City of Saint Paul requested the assistance of an outside firm to provide a comprehensive management study of the fire department. The study was to assess staffing and the deployment of Saint Paul Department of Fire and Safety Service (SPDFSS) resources, including an analysis of station locations and response times. Also evaluated were the efficiency and effectiveness of management as well as the organizational structure. TriData, a division of System Panning COIl'Oriuion located in Arlington, V A, was selected to conduct the study through a competitive bid process with input from the two unions (Local 21 and Local 3939) representing fire personnel. TriData has conducted technical research on fire and EMS related issues for over 25 years_ Saint Paul's 280,000 residents are served by 16 stations_ The SPDFSS provides EMS and fire suppression services, technical rescue, and hazmat response. Eleven of the fire stations are dual-staffed fire / paramedic companies where the engine and EMS units are staffed using the same personnel. In addition to 16 engines, there are 7 ladder companies, 3 rescue companies, and 3 district chiefs. A deputy chief commands each shift. KEY QUESTIONS AND FINDINGS The city posed six key questions that were the foundation for most of the study and analysis. They are presented below with a short summary of the response. The report contains full detail. I _ Is the fire department management function structured appropriately for optimal department peiformance? Are assignments and levels of responsibility appropriate? The SPDFSS structure is not working as well as it could. There is an extra layer of management that could be eliminated_ There are overlapping responsibilities in some key areas while other important functions such as safety/ health and planning are identified in the current organizational structure but not staffed. EMS is 80 percent of the fire department's business; however, it is secondary in terms of organizational importance and mission, which is common in many communities. To improve EMS quality and add higher skill levels for paramedics, EMS should become a division under operations, with three EMS shift officers instead of three deputy chiefs_ L How can fire personnel best be utilized given current and projected demand for services and available resources? The current approach is to provide fire suppression and EMS using the same staff. Referred to as cross-staffing, the fire department assigns four personnel to its engines, TriData, a division of System Planning Corporation 3 March 2007