City Mgm't Says It Plans Lateral-Hire Fire Academy Class

(March 5, 2012) -- One day before a scheduled city management presentation on City Hall's fiscal outlook for 2013 and beyond, LB city management has issued a release indicating it plans to conduct a "lateral-hire" Fire Department academy class to replenish fire staffing and reduce reliance on long-term callback overtime.

A lateral-Academy relies on hiring previously trained firefighters from other agencies in a shorter and less costly process than a full new-recruit academy class.

City Hall's release makes no mention replenishment academies for LBPD (either full recruit or lateral hires) to prevent further police reductions. In the past three budget years, Council-majorities have eliminated roughly 150 budgeted sworn officer positions as part of what Mayor Bob Foster and city management called "proporitonal reductions" to balance City Hall's spending budgets.

City Hall's release comes one day before a Tuesday afternoon March 6 City Council session (one hour item scheduled at 3:30 p.m.) at which city management is supposed to provide a FY13 budget outlook along with management's recommendations regarding future police recruits and academy classes.

City Hall's release on the lateral-hire Fire Academy class includes this quote from Mayor Bob Foster: "A lateral academy is good for our community, good for our Fire Department, and would be a fiscally prudent solution of hiring needed firefighters while living within our means," The release continues:

The Fire Department currently has 24 firefighter vacancies, which are filled on a daily basis with existing firefighters through callback overtime. The recent pension reform agreement with the Long Beach Firefighters Association enables the City to once again hire firefighters and reduce the reliance on callback overtime. An analysis of the City’s current fire staffing needs, future attrition and potential future budget challenges shows that an academy can be held today without negative consequences in the future.

"Maintaining full staffing is important, and we are able to accomplish this within our existing budget." said Fire Chief Alan Patalano. "We will start the processes to hire new firefighters immediately, with the goal of completing the academy this summer."

Previously trained, experienced, and qualified firefighters from other agencies can complete a lateral academy in eight weeks, whereas a standard recruit academy lasts 16 weeks. A lateral academy could start in about four months and is already included in the Fire Department’s FY 2012 budget. New firefighters will come into the City under the new pension reform agreement, paying their full employee share of pension costs and at a reduced pension benefit formula that is more fiscally sustainable. [end release text]