California Fire News
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| Landmark Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights Signed by Governor Schwarzenegger Posted: 19 Oct 2007 10:29 PM CDT Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights signed  Story at: SBCPF.org - News Article courtesy of CPF.org: It's taken two decades and untold buckets of blood, sweat and tears. But come January 1, the Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights will be the law in California. With broad support from both political parties and a signature from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Assembly Bill 220 by Assemblywoman Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) extends to firefighters the same fundamental on-the-job employee protections that now exist for police officers. "In the public's mind, public safety professionals are on the same team," said California Professional Firefighters President Lou Paulson. "We face the same split-second decisions the same high-stress situations the same danger to life and limb. In signing this measure, Governor Schwarzenegger is recognizing that all first responders should be on an equal footing when it comes to protecting our due-process rights." AB 220 is the culmination of a 20-year crusade by California Professional Firefighters to secure a consistent procedural standard for all first responders - police, firefighters and public agency EMS personnel - when they are the targets of investigation or interrogation by their superiors. The landmark measure is designed to apply common-sense principles of fairness and professionalism to the process of investigating and disciplining first responders. As with the original Peace Officers Bill of Rights approved in the 1980s, AB 220 puts in place basic procedural safeguards that recognize the unique role of first responders: No more unreasonable interrogation. The law requires that interrogation be conducted at reasonable hours, with compensation and without verbal or physical threats or extortion; Protection of basic rights. Individuals must be advised of their rights and secures the right of representation in any and all interrogations; prohibits unwarranted search of personal property or forced submission to polygraph testing; Maintaining professionalism. Authorizes recording any interrogation by employer or employee, and gives each access to the other's recordings and transcripts; statements made under duress can't be used in judicial proceedings; Preserving appeal rights. Chief must provide written notice of removal or action and provide administrative appeal; appeals process must conform to state Administrative Procedures Act. During the two-decade struggle, CPF has introduced a half-dozen different measures to enact these basic protections. Almost all fell victim to legislative partisanship or simple misinformation from employers. This year, however, the measure enjoyed overwhelming support from both political parties, including near-unanimous support in the California Assembly. In addition to Schwarzenegger, the measure's champions included Assemblywoman Bass, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, Senate President Don Perata and Assembly GOP Leader Mike Villines. Also standing tall in this battle was GOP Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, who helped win converts from his own party during the legislative battle. "California's firefighters are, and should be, held to the highest standards of public service," said Paulson. "We welcome these high standards, but they must be applied fairly. This measure establishes that standard of basic fairness, and we are grateful to the governor and the Legislature for their support." | |||||||||||||||||||||
| UCFD - Firefighters top city salaries Posted: 19 Oct 2007 10:16 PM CDT Union City releases employee earnings for 2006 By Matthew Artz, STAFF WRITER Story at: Inside Bay Area Article Last Updated: 10/19/2007 07:07:37 AM PDT UNION CITY — Every full-time Union City firefighter earned more than $100,000 last year and the Fire Department accounted for nearly half of all city employees earning six figures, according to city data. Citywide, former police Chief Randy Ulibarri made the most money in 2006 with $220,256, followed by City Manager Larry Cheeves with $212,730. Rounding out the top five were Battalion Chief Ronald Oatis, $196,040; Battalion Chief Michael Brown, $191,721; and police Capt. Greg Stewart, $189,747. The Argus requested Union City's salary figures for calendar year 2006 last month after the California Supreme Court ruled that governments must reveal what they pay employees. Of about 305 full-time city employees, 98 earned more than $100,000 last year, said Rich Digre, who oversees the city's budget. The Fire Department accounted for 42 six-figure earners, compared with 35 for the Police Department. Eight of Union City's top 10 earners last year were public safety employees. The Fire Department, which is authorized to have 49 firefighters, amassed more than $1.3 million in overtime. That was nearly double the overtime expense of the police department, whose roughly 80 sworn officers tallied $775,438. Firefighters accounted for 28 of the city's top 30 overtime earners. Topping the list were Oatis with $64,806 in overtime and fire Capt. John Havenhill with $58,603. Michael Mahaney tallied the mostovertime among police officers. His Advertisement total of $32,778 placed him 23rd among city employees. Fire Department overtime was higher than usual last year, Digre said, because there were five vacancies, forcing additional overtime to staff stations and train recruits. For the fiscal year that ended in June, the department went $200,000 over its $9.5 million budget, Digre said. The firefighters union is still negotiating for a contract after its last deal expired July 1. It's the only city union without a contract. When Union City approved restoring its Fire Department in 1999, then-City Manager Mark Lewis estimated the department would cost only $5.2 million that fiscal year. "I think that was an under-projection," Cheeves said. Overall, he said, city salaries are roughly in the middle of the pack when compared to a benchmark list of eight Bay Area cities. "We're certainly not on the top of very many lists," he said. Compared to Fremont, which has roughly triple its population, Union City spent less per resident on public employee salaries. According to salary reports from both cities, Union City spent $25.9 million compared to Fremont's $86.9 million. Across the board, Union City's top brass made about $20,000 less than their Fremont counterparts, without taking into account the rates both cities pay to fund their retirement packages. The Police Department, which is about a third the size of Fremont's, spent about $9.5 million on salaries, compared with $27.7 million in Fremont. The Fire Department spent a little less than $6 million on salaries, compared with $17.3 million in Fremont. For sworn Union City police officers who made at least $70,000 in base salary last year, the average salary was $105,250 and the average overtime earnings was $8,204. Their counterparts in Fremont averaged $124,226 in total salary and $12,760 in overtime. For Union City firefighters who made at least $70,000 in base salary last year, the average salary was $138,550 and the average overtime earning was $31,120. In Fremont, average pay for firefighters was $137,404, and average overtime pay was $29,242. With the vacant Union City Fire Department positions now filled, Cheeves said he expected firefighters to log less overtime this year. Two of the more surprising names among Union City's top earners were Public Works Superintendents Phil Sachs and Mike Klinkner. Sachs received $184,227, of which more than $73,000 was in deferred compensation, and Klinkner received $162,144, of which $74,000 was in deferred compensation. Both men retired at the end of 2006, and were due accrued vacation time and other accruals, which in Sachs' case amounted to about 1,500 hours, Digre said. Former police Chief Ulibarri's 2006 earnings also were inflated by cashing out accrued time coinciding with his retirement last December. Unused vacation days do not contribute to their pension benefits, Digre said. To prevent similar retirement cash-outs, the city this year capped employee vacation accruals. Story at: Inside Bay Area Article Last Updated: 10/19/2007 07:07:37 AM PDT | |||||||||||||||||||||
| EDIS - RED FLAG WARNINGS - SOUTHERN CALIF Posted: 19 Oct 2007 03:51 PM CDT
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| Posted: 19 Oct 2007 12:39 PM CDT
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