Chapter 2.28
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Sections:
2.28.060 Volunteer firefighters association.
2.28.070 Reimbursement for expenses.
2.28.090 Purchase of supplies.
2.28.100 Department regulations.
2.28.010 Established.
A volunteer fire department shall be and the same established by the city, which shall consist of a force of volunteer firefighters. (Ord. 1587 § 1, 2016; Ord. 1548 § 1, 2014; Ord. 1403 § 1, 2007)
2.28.020 Fire chief.
(1) There shall be a fire chief appointed by the mayor in accordance with the city hiring policies. The fire chief shall be appointed upon the basis of qualifications and experience for such office and may be removed by the mayor.
(2) The fire chief’s position shall be a full-time paid position, which is specifically excluded from the classified civil service in accordance with RCW 41.08.050.
(3) The fire chief is directly responsible to the mayor or the mayor’s designee.
(4) The duties of the fire chief shall be outlined in the job description and city policies. (Ord. 1573, 2015; Ord. 1403 § 1, 2007)
2.28.030 Officers.
(1) The mayor shall also have the authority to appoint any additional paid positions, either full- or part-time, established by the city council.
(2) The fire chief shall have the authority to appoint a volunteer assistant chief, and volunteer officers as deemed necessary by the chief. (Ord. 1403 § 1, 2007)
2.28.040 Volunteers.
(1) The fire chief shall appoint volunteer firefighters as may be appropriate and necessary for the proper performance of duties of the fire department.
(2) Prior to appointing a volunteer firefighter, the fire chief shall require a complete application, conduct an interview to determine the individual’s personal fitness and qualifications, and require the completion of a physical exam to determine the individual’s fitness. No person shall be appointed to or perform any functions as a volunteer firefighter until these have been completed.
(3) The volunteer firefighters shall be under the direction, control and supervision of the fire chief and the volunteer officers acting as the chief’s designees. (Ord. 1403 § 1, 2007)
2.28.050 Discipline.
(1) The fire chief shall have the authority to discipline any volunteer firefighters, including officers.
(2) Discipline consists of all forms of discipline including simple oral warnings, written warnings, and may include temporary or permanent termination for cause of their appointment as a volunteer firefighter. Removal for cause of an officer either temporarily or permanently does not automatically remove their appointment as a volunteer firefighter.
(3) Any volunteer firefighter permanently terminated for cause by the fire chief may appeal the decision to the mayor. The appeal must be in writing and filed within 10 days of the date of the decision of the fire chief. The decision of the mayor shall be final. (Ord. 1403 § 1, 2007)
2.28.060 Volunteer firefighters association.
(1) The city recognizes and supports the formation of a volunteer firefighters association in accordance with applicable state laws.
(2) The fire chief shall not hold a position within the volunteer firefighters association. The chief will liaison with the association officers on matters that affect the department.
(3) The city shall reimburse the volunteer association for services conducted on behalf of the city, such as vehicle and station maintenance, and other duties requested by the fire chief. The amount of compensation and terms of service shall be set forth in an agreement that is approved by both the city council and the volunteer association. (Ord. 1403 § 1, 2007)
2.28.070 Reimbursement for expenses.
(1) Volunteer firefighters incur expenses in numerous areas while responding to emergency responses, attending drills, educational meetings, seminars, and conducting standby. These expenses include direct costs such as automobile expenses traveling to or from scenes or drills, clothing expenses including wear and tear and laundering of personal clothing, food and meals when not provided at the scene, and many indirect costs such as personal cleanup after responses and drills.
(2) The logistics of documenting these many out-of-pocket expenses is difficult; to require each firefighter to record these expenses and require the department to consolidate and compile the records would be impractical and unreasonable if not impossible. The intent and purpose of the reimbursement method is to create a practical method of reimbursing expenses without creating an impractical records system. In order to avoid the cumbersome recordkeeping requirements needed to reimburse volunteer firefighters for actual expenses incurred in the performance of duty to the department and to the community, the following system for making payments to volunteer firefighters is adopted:
(A) Commencing on January 1, 2016, the volunteer firefighters shall be reimbursed according to the following formula. Reimbursement will be calculated on a quarterly basis by using the point system. The dollar value of a point shall be determined by dividing the total dollar amount budgeted by the city council for quarterly reimbursement expense by the total number of points during that quarter, which result shall be the point dollar value; provided such point value shall not exceed $5.00 per credit. The points for each member or past member shall then be multiplied by the point dollar value to determine the reimbursement amount for that individual member or past member. A member shall only be able to earn points by participating with the department as follows:
(i) For each response to a fire or emergency scene, three points.
(ii) For attendance at drills, three points.
(iii) For attending extracurricular training, four points.
(iv) Civic duties, four points.
(v) Four-hour fire watch, five points.
(vi) Medical response without transport, three points.
(vii) Medical response with transport, five points.
(viii) Eight-hour station standby, four points.
(ix) Public education/fire prevention (one hour), four points.
(x) For other duties assigned by the chief, two points.
The fire chief, officer in charge, or the person designated by such officer, at a drill, emergency scene or other activity, shall prepare a roster of firefighters who attend or respond to such event. A compiled total of these units shall be submitted by the fire chief to the city clerk by the tenth of the month following the quarter. The city clerk will then calculate and deliver payment no later than the first pay period after the tenth. (Ord. 1587 § 1, 2016; Ord. 1548 § 1, 2014; Ord. 1403 § 1, 2007)
2.28.080 Compensation.
The volunteer association shall be paid by the city for services the association provides on behalf of the city, including station and equipment maintenance duties, public education, inspections, investigations, and providing other official tasks as assigned by the fire chief on behalf of the city. The actual amount to be paid the association shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the city council. The city clerk-treasurer shall issue a warrant to the volunteer association as an organization on a quarterly basis, which warrant shall include payment for the services of the association during the period covered. (Ord. 1403 § 1, 2007)
2.28.090 Purchase of supplies.
All fire equipment and supplies shall be purchased through normal city procedures and within the budget allocations of the fire department. (Ord. 1403 § 1, 2007)
2.28.100 Department regulations.
(1) The fire chief shall develop and maintain a set of department policies and standard operating procedures or standard operating guidelines.
(2) The fire chief shall ensure that all members of the department are aware of and follow the department policies and standard operating procedures by:
(A) Requiring all newly appointed volunteers to acknowledge in writing they have read, understand, and will follow the policies and procedures or standard operating guidelines.
(B) Conducting periodic training on the policies and procedures.
(C) Requiring all members of the department to read and acknowledge in writing any new or amended policies and procedures.
(D) Enforcing the requirements of the policies and procedures, including the imposition of discipline as necessary. (Ord. 1587 § 1, 2016; Ord. 1548 § 1, 2014; Ord. 1403 § 1, 2007)