R-2015-149 2015-08-24 RESOLUTION NO. R2015-149
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Pearland, Texas,
adopting modifications to the City's Volunteer Fire Fighter Program
("Program") and authorizing the termination of the City's current
contract with the Pearland Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. to allow for
the transition of the volunteer fire fighters into the City's Program.
Whereas, due to Pearland's rapid growth, the Pearland Fire Department has
transitioned from an all-volunteer non-profit entity to a City Department with the majority of
its members being full-time employees; and
Whereas, the City acknowledges the important role and contributions of volunteer
fire fighters to the community, and therefore seeks to clarify the role of volunteers within
the Fire Department; and
Whereas, to allow for proper accounting, scheduling, tracking, evaluating, recruiting
and retention of volunteer fire fighters, the City seeks to make modifications to the City's
Program.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS:
Section 1. That certain Volunteer Fire Fighter Program Change, a copy of which
is attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and made a part hereof for all purposes, is hereby
authorized and approved.
Section 2. That the City Council hereby authorizes the termination of the City's
current contract with the Pearland Volunteer Fire Department in order to allow for the
transition of the volunteer fire fighters into the City's Program.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this the 24th day of August, A.D., 2015.
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TOM REID
MAYOR
Resolution No. R2015-149
ATTEST:
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APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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DARRIN M. COKER
CITY ATTORNEY
RESOLUTION NO. R2015-149
Exhibit"A"
RESPONSIVE RESULTS-ORIENTED TRUS
Memo
fpf
` 44. To: Clay Pearson, City Manager
c Cc: Jon Branson, Deputy City Manager; Katie
LABLANLI Leininger, Assistant City Attorney; Michelle Graham, Interim
Human Resources Director
It n
f s r. ‘6`) From: Vance Riley, Fire Chief d2/0--
Date: 10 August 2015
Re: Volunteer Fire Fighter Program Changes
As you know, there have been considerable changes in the structure and staffing of the
Pearland Fire Department (PFD) in recent years. PFD has moved from an all-volunteer non-
profit corporate entity with a contract with the City of Pearland in 2007 to a City Department with
a vast majority of Department members being full-time employees in 2015. To allow for better
accounting, scheduling, tracking, evaluating, recruiting, and retaining of volunteer fire fighters
we need to make changes in our volunteer fire fighter program. These changes will also
ensure that we stay in compliance with Department of Labor rules, FLSA rules, the Texas
Emergency Services Retirement System (TESRS), and the Texas Municipal Retirement System
(TMRS). These changes are as follows:
With Council approval, PVFD, Inc. will be notified that the city is ending the current agreement
between PVFD, Inc. and the City of Pearland (Resolution No. R2012-40) effective 30
September 2015.
On 1 October 2015, volunteer memoers will have these employment status options:
1. Part-Time Fire Fighter.
a. Certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) as a Basis
Structure Fire Fighter or higher and must be certified by the Texas Department of
State Health Services as an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B) or
higher.
b. Paid the same starting wage as current Part-Time Fire Fighters. This is
currently $16.3280/hour.
c. Subject to the same minimum shift requirements as current Part-Time Fire
Fighters. This is currently five (5)twelve-hour shifts per calendar month.
d. The city will no longer contribute to the TESRS on behalf of the volunteer as part-
time employees would exceed the maximum wages earned per year of$9,250
set by TESRS.
e. Become part-time fire fighters in the same part-time fire fighter program that has
existed since 2011.
Wage
RESPONSIVE RESULTS-ORIENTED TRUST-BUILDERS ACCOUNTABLE
2. Paid Volunteer Fire Fighter (PVFF).
a. Certified, at the minimum, by the State Firemen's and Fire Marshal's Association
as Fire Fighter I, or by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection as a Basic
Structural Firefighter, and must he certified by the Texas Department of State
Health Services and an Emergency Care Attendant or higher.
b. PVFFs will be paid minimum wage (currently $7.25 per hour) for each hour
worked. Minimum pay for an unscheduled emergency incident response shall be
two hours. however all responses within a two-hour period shall be aggregated
into a single period of time worked For example, if a PVFF responds tc three
unscheduled emergency calls within a one hour period. pay will be for two hours
worked. not two hours for each response. Incident response is indicated by
arrival at a fire station and staffing a unit.
c. PVFFs who meet the minimum training and qualifications for a position higher
than fire fighter and are actually working in that position will be paid according to
the City of Pearland Fire Pay Plan Salary Range (VF-1 to VF-5).
d. PVFFs will be assigned to a regular specific station and shift and required to
work. on average, at least three (3) twelve-hour shifts per month.
e. Remain enrolled in the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System then the
city will continue to contribute to that system on their behalf (S90 per mcnth per
fire fighter) if given service credits by the local TESRS board. However. shifts
shall be restricted such that earnings do not exceed $9,250 per calendar year or
work hours do not exceed 999 hours per calendar year, whichever comes first.
Future PVFFs will also be enrolled in the TESRS.
f. PVFFs will have until 1 October 2017 to achieve their TCFP Basic Structure Fire
Fighter Certification and their DSHS EMT-Basic or employment will be
terminated Training will be provided through the Pearland Fire Department.
g. PVFFs may promote to higher rank. The Fire Chief determines the number of
positions for PVFFs in each rank on an annual basis.
3. Support Services Volunteer. These are current members who do not perform fire
fighting or emergency medical duties but may perform other functions such as clerical,
administrative support, and incident scene personnel rehabilitation These persons will
be paid minimum wage for each hour worked. They are limited to 999 hours per
calendar year. No future or additional Support Services Volunteers will be
compensated.
Mandatory attendance at training on Monday night will no longer be required for volunteer
firefighters, to include part-time and PVFF Training opporturities both on and off shift will be
proved to PVFFs to continue their p-ofessional development.
PVFFs in initial training are doing so voluntarily and will not receive any compensation or be
enrolled in the TESRS until being certified by TCFP as a Basic Structural Fire Fighter and by
DSHS as an EMT-Basic.
PVFD, Inc. will be provided office space, as available, in the David L Smith Fire Administration
Building at 2703 Veterans Drive and may also use that address as their corporate business
address
The annuities purchase by the City and authorized by City Council Resolution No. R2007-99
shall remain in effect and the City shall continue maintaining such annuities until such time as
these annuities have been completely funded and are paid in full
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RESPONSIVE RESULTS-ORIENTED TRUST-BUILDERS ACCOUNTABLE
It is the intent of the City of Pearland to recruit and train PVFFs to create flexible emergency
apparatus staffing options.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your time and
consideration.
3IPage
0:ARLAND PEARLAND VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, INC.
8 -.,
/, y 2703 VETERANS DRIVE •• PEARLAND,TEXAS • 775841410 • 281-997.5851
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4 VOLUNTEERS SERVING YOU
August 20, 2015
Fire Chief Vance Riley
City of Pearland
2703 Veterans Drive
Pearland,TX 77584-1410
Dear Chief Riley,
I have reviewed PFC Memorandum 15-14,Volunteer Fire Fighter Program Changes.
On behalf of the Pearland Volunteer Fire Department, I would like to inform you that we concur with the
concepts in this memorandum. We are proud of the support that we give to the City of Pearland and
look forward to many good years ahead.
Sincerely yours,
i
Richard N. Bradley, FF, LP
1 President
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