Dear Encinitas resident,We've heard that Encinitas has among the highest per capita fire service costs on the planet. We've also heard that Encinitas has way more fire stations (and expensive ones at that!) per square mile than comparable cities. But we'd like to see the data.
The Encinitas Firefighters need your help!
Your City Council is considering a dangerous plan to change the way fire and EMS protection is delivered in the City of Encinitas. One aspect of the plan is to permanently close Fire Station #1 in downtown Encinitas and Fire Station #4 in the Village Park area. Another component of the plan is to cross staff ambulances and fire engines. Cross staffing means the crew from the fire station will take either an ambulance to medical aids or a fire engine to fire/rescue calls. While this may sound appropriate, IT IS NOT and will have a substantial impact on public safety. Cross staffing of fire engines and ambulances will not get a proper number of personnel to acute medical emergencies. It will take stations out of service for longer periods of time due to longer call duration while transporting patients to the hospital. Additionally, cross staffing takes away the ability to handle a wide array of emergencies while returning from calls due to not having the appropriate tools available on an ambulance to handle fires, vehicle accidents, rescues, etc. If a fire, rescue, hazardous material incident, etc. comes in while returning from a call, we will either have to go back to the fire station and pick up the fire engine or respond to the incident in an ambulance with no ability to handle the emergency. Does this sound prudent to you?
The Encinitas Fire Department is always looking for ways to better provide and more efficiently provide the very important service that you entrust us with. This is not the way to do this! No other fire department in California provides fire/medical protection in this way.
The Encinitas Firefighters Association is asking for your help. Your presence would be appreciated at a joint meeting of The Encinitas City Council and The Traffic and Safety Commission. The meeting will be held on Monday January 12, 2015 at 6:00 PM in the Encinitas Community Center at 1140 Oakcrest Dr. Encinitas California 92024. Even better would be speakers who express their concern about this plan.
Thank you for your time and consideration with this matter.
Jim Mickelson
President
Encinitas Firefighter's Association Local - 3787
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Fire station realignment under consideration
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Simply a ruse to get more money for the fire fighters....Bring back the all volunteer service. Enc firefighters don't put our fires anyway they let them burn out.
ReplyDeleteThis is, again, the same Bonde Plan from 19 years ago that grew out of a political feud between Bonde and the Fire Fighter's Association over allowing Home Depot being allowed to locate in Encinitas. Remember having to drive to Solana Beach for nails, or a ladder? Bonde lost, but before he did he wrote a letter promising the Fire Fighters that he would make them pay.
ReplyDeleteYes, Bonde's suggested cross-staffing is bonkers in the Report-entitled by Bonde COMMON SENSE, which ironically, doesn't include any common sense: if fact, the nutbag grab bag collected here is laughable: except the council majority itself has already repeatedly acted without common-sense.
The IMPORTANT part of Bonde's World here that should get your attention: it calls for closing Station 1 (At the north end of Second Street) closing Station 4 (On the corner of Mountain Vista and Village Center Road: across from the Village Park 7/11) and the 'New' Station 6 in Olivenhain on RSF Road.
Don't let 'Pension Envy' send you Lemming-off of Neptune Avenue onto your envious little pointed heads: throwing away tax-payer dollars is one thing, Council. Risking lives and people's well-being is another. Grow up Council.
Bonde once also lobbied against modern fire trucks and the council balked at protecting the city: but finally after several fires capitulated and did the right thing: now, after major fires in 2003, 2007 and last year (8 fires in 1 day) Bonde still has the un-enlighted/lazy on the city council believing that nobody but Bonde knows anything about fire-fighting or public safety.
Why? Should the city council be drug-tested?
Read Bonde's report and call your insurance broker: he or she will tell you that if Bonde was successful in fooling the council into accepting his ideas, which are well documented as being based in vindictiveness, literal threats and not safety: all the residences and businesses in the city will be categorized as 'Nine's, meaning un-insurable.
Disabling the fire stations, breaking a 7 year contract with AMR, pulling out of CSA-17 that funds ambulance service for 4 cities: and bucking the most current modern fire-fighting strategies and technologies will not only result in likely recalls, but also at a minimum, lawsuits by Lafco, CSA-17 members, vendors and anyone who loses their fire insurance.
Total bs firefighter Jim Mickelson.You are on the wrong side and I hope Bob Bonde's advice will be taken about revamping OUR [not yours] fire service. Come monday, you are going to hear some long overdue information that you need to to have already heard or chose to ignore and I hope you come away with a clearer vision of what this community expects from you. You have had it way too easy for too long and now sound like a spoiled child. Time to grow up.
ReplyDeleteI am reminded of a documentary by Morgan Spurlock about the bankruptcy and demise of Stockton and how their fire dept kept on demanding higher and higher compensation in spite of their cities failing economy. They were deaf to what was going on and when they answered some calls in some neighborhoods their trucks got pelted with rocks because of their insensitivity to the economics that everyone else in town was having to live with.
Reduced police enforcement did not help either.
No one can imagine this happening here but who knows. You would not want a vote of the people to have a say. I hope our council will be listening to more than you Jim.
Pension-Envy, period!
DeleteSo let me get this straight. The people who bitch about the Leucadia street scape, claiming it would reduce emergency response times, now think 40% fewer fire stations here in town will improve emergency response times? Who needs to be rational when they can be powerful?
DeletePension-poison, period-- you mean.
DeleteFire-princess's pensions are poison to all Encinitas tax payers.
This isn't about pensions. Do some research about the topic before you spew your vitriol, troll.
Delete5:43- so you are saying ff don't need 90% pensions at 50 years old ?? You are correct, they don't. How about ...50% pension at 65.
DeleteEncinitas firefighters don't get 90% pensions at 50 years old.
DeleteAnon 5:08 PM,
DeleteQuoting you:
"You are on the wrong side and I hope Bob Bonde's advice will be taken about revamping OUR [not yours] fire service. Come monday, you are going to hear some long overdue information that you need to to have already heard or chose to ignore and I hope you come away with a clearer vision of what this community expects from you. You have had it way too easy for too long and now sound like a spoiled child. Time to grow up."
-------
Waiting...
I heard That years ago, Enc Firefighters chose to endorse another candidate than the one Bob was backing. Bob lost it and has been working for revenge ever since. The funny thing is that the firefighters endorsed Bob's candidate in a subsequent election, but the damage was done.
ReplyDeleteIf true, it's petty.
The situation needs independent analysis — truly independent, not by people with an ax to grind or an agenda to push. It needs comparison to fire/EMS services in other states, not just California.
ReplyDeleteThe fire service has been doing great self-PR for decades to promote their heroic image. They pull down huge salaries, benefits and pensions for sitting around with nothing to do most of the time. Because they have little to do, when something does happen, they overreact.
Compare their pay to that of soldiers, sailors and Marines who really are in harm's way. Nobody is forcing anybody to be a firefighter. They chose the profession. Occasional danger goes with the territory.
Firefighters hide behind the badge of public safety and spread fear to defend their privileged status. They need a reality check. Independent analysis could provide that.
Hopefully 5:50 PM there is a trained professional responding if you ever need one to speed to your aid.
DeleteAs to truly independent analysis, the county, the state and the city have all done exhausting studies over the last 15 years as to local response, training and technology: Bonde just continues to ignore them. He is not an engineer, nor a fire fighter, nor anything but a shop teacher with an axe to grind against a fire fighting political action committee that was powerful once before the city incorporated and in his singular pursuit of personal vengeance he is willing to put the rest of us in harm's way, to get his way: 20 years and a hundred thousand dollars in city dollars spent on committees and studies and still none of Bonde's ideas can hold water, nor have any of them been adopted by the many professionals that have given them true and hard scrutiny.
The idea that a shop teacher, an admirable vocation, nonetheless has pursued these actions through altruism, and that Bob miraculously has discovered/designed a better way to protect public safety and that there is some massive conspiracy to silence him is nonsense; and after two decades, a little tiresome.
You want to hire Bonde to design a better back-yard patio over-hang? Great. Box-car Derby entrant? Super.
But if you want to turn over the safety and lives of 60,000 residents and millions of dollars in property both homes and businesses based on Bob's untried and untrue speculation? Then you are not fit to lead: period. Its the same as allowing Lynn and Sheila tell a Vet how to help heal animals in Leucadia: leave it to people who are trained, professional and without hard feelings towards fire fighters.
A month ago Sheila tried to tell animal doctors how to do their jobs: and now she is backing Bonde in his blood feud against the fire fighter's association. Unfortunately, it is we citizens that are in between the two entities.
Bob tries to pretend he is Wilford Brimley, by way of Jimmy Stewart: but on this subject, he is continually trying to convince the council to take bites from a poisoned apple. An apple he grew and not one to address hunger.
You will notice that 5:50 did not even mention Bonde. 5:50 called for a truly independent analysis, not one predetermined to get the results firefighters want.
Delete6:28 is putting up the same smokescreen and using the same fear tactics that firefighters have used for decades to get their way. That way is absurdly expensive for what's provided.
6:28 should not be afraid of an independent analysis if he/she honestly believes the costs of fire/EMS are real and justified.
Stop attacking Bonde. You've been busted and your scam has been exposed. Stop with the diversions and sanctimonious crap.
4:54, You're right about a feud between Bob and the firefighters. But you're way off about Bob not wanting Home Depot here in Encintas. He's the one who forked out the most money to make sure it WAS built here in Encinitas. And he definitely won. But I would like to know what began his desire to control every movement of our local fire dept. Never bothered to ask him.
ReplyDeleteFire princesses have a cake job. Return them to 8 hour days, 40 hours a week or make it a voluntary position. All they really do is sleep, watch movies and cook for each other. Geeze a pension to these cake eaters is ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteOur City should do whatever it can to cut the outrageous fire/EMT service costs in half.
Another ignoramus pretending to know what s/he is talking about. How would 8-hour days reduce costs? If anything, it would increase costs: more training costs, more shift changes,no FLSA exemption for overtime, to name just a few things.
DeleteDo you always like to broadcast your ignorance like this?
Muir $179,000/yr for life. Tip of the iceberg....
ReplyDeleteThey spend most of their time in the Vons parking lot or cruising the beach.
He needs that much to keep his weight above 300 pounds.
DeleteYes let's enact this. Better than going bankrupt supporting a BLOATED fire bureaucracy! It's all about rip off pensions, not public safety.
ReplyDeleteHave you even read the proposal? It has nothing to do with pensions.
DeleteAn independent analysis is a good thing. Truly independent and objective. Frankly, I think it's a long shot. We can all point to the lowly patent clerk who turned the entire college of professional physicists on their heads (Albert Enstein). But such disruptions are rare. It is usually the professionals who pioneer new and innovative advances in any field.
ReplyDeleteEven if Bob's motives are bad, and is ideas faulty, I thank and encourage him for challenging the status quo as a citizen. If his ideas don't work, I would at least like to look at what we are getting from the firefighter downtime we are paying for. Are we also paying seperateky for landscape maintenance at the firehouses? What about housekeeping--who cleans the bathrooms, the kitchens, and windows? Who does basic painting, plumbing, and building maintenance? If they aren't qualified for some of this, why aren't they doing online training during down time?
I offer these ideas not because I want to punish firefighters by making them clean toilets. Rather, I question why we would be paying them to watch movies while we also pay someone else to do that work. It the big picture, the savings might be small, but every penny counts, and the optics of waste in government--especially one with spiraling pension obligations--matters.
Just one man's opinion.
Forgot another suggestion: if we are paying people to watch movies, I would also suggest that we should have very high physical fitness standards. Lounging does not create the kind of body that can haul gear up a ladder faster. If we are going to pay for downtime, I want our firefighters to be the baddest, most ripped animals you have ever seen. When moment comes to carry a victim or a brother out of a burning building, I'd like to know that downtime was used effectively to assure that job gets done. We should have detailed and very tough physical standards.
DeleteIf you are on the clock, your time should be used to either lower costs for the city, or to condition and prepare yourself for the rare and dangerous events your job is all about. If you have time to lounge, I question whether those goals are really being achieved.
Anon 5:24,
DeleteIf you don't know what firefighters, why are you publicly commenting about something you know so little about? Please do some research before you spew your vitriol.
Questions:
Delete1.) Vitriol? really? Where exactly?
2.) Are you suggesting that firefighters do not sit around watching movies while getting paid? Are you suggesting that it's unfair and cruel to find more productive uses for that time we are paying for?
Answer completely.
Please show your work.
In a 24 hour shift, firefighters are busy training (this includes EMS, fire fighting, hazardous materials, confined space rescue, swift water rescue, terrorism training, management training, etc.) maintaining equipment, conducting project work, cleaning stations (yes they clean the toilets, too!), public education -- including CPR training, school talks, station tours, etc. They maintain hydrants, maintain fire engines and all the equipment on them, test hose, do business inspections, and they are mandated to work out every day to maintain physical fitness (and have to pass a physical every year).
DeleteVitriol, yes! Why are you attacking firefighters and what they do?
Ok. What you describe take 8 hrs of their shift.
DeleteThe other 16 hrs. Free time for sleeping, shopping, movies, sports, reading, BBq, meditating.
The rest of society does not get paid for that 16 hours.
Plus the rest of society does not get a ridiculously huge pension that is sinking the taxpayers and the city finances.
$30,000,000 in unfunded pension liability for 60,000 residents and about 20,000 actual tax payers who own the liability. That equates to about $15,000 each tax payer owes for the City Hall pension liabilities.
DeleteOK taxpayers- Lets all pay up this year, so we can have a fresh start at City Hall.
Jerome $tock$ 35% increase in pension that one famous night in 2005 increased each of your debt about $5,000. Please thank Jerry for putting your kids and future tax payers future in DEBT.
Anon 5:39 AM: You haven't a clue about any of this. Why are you commenting?
DeleteDo you have ANY knowledge about Bonde's proposal, or do you just like to ignorantly spout off on public forums about public sector workers and the work they do?
Anon 5:55 AM, "Unfunded" pension liabilities change all the time. They can go up or down. The city has been making changes to close the gap.
DeleteBut pensions aren't even the issue here. Do you know what Bonde's proposal is about?
6:06,
DeleteSeems like more "up" than "down."
Why don't we have pension surpluses now with stock markets at record highs?
Multiple reasons, and I agree that we should not have these unfunded liabilities. But did you know that most public employers were paying little to nothing toward pension contributions during the years when the dot.com/stock market was peaking? That has to be made up, and that is part of the problem with the unfunded liabilities.
DeleteBut, to get back to the topic at hand, do you know what Bob Bonde has been proposing?
Muir can be featured in the Firemans' calendar photospread - snoozing a career away to the big payoff. Encinitas has a population of 60,000 and is already near $30 million in underfunded pension obligations. Considering the city is only 25 years old, looks like the tax base will be for the luxury pensions of overpaid, bloated city staff. Reform will not be instigated from within - guaranteed.
ReplyDeleteLong over due. The EFD's current deployment is inefficient and needs realignment. Look at other like cities their budgets and staffing levels. Now is the time for change.
ReplyDeletePlease cite statistics. Links, please!
DeleteIt's cute how people like to pretend that they know what they're talking about, but they will never be taken seriously if they can't back up their allegations.
All the more reason for an independent study by people outside government and outside fire/EMS who are not beholden to either. Anything else will waste time and money, and produce only the findings that fire/EMS and local government want.
ReplyDeleteI think the fire workers could be a lot more productive. I think the same of city staff. However, I see a problem. If every other city in the state is giving fire fighters (and city staff) a cushy existence, how can Encinitas provide less and still expect to get quality fire fighters (or staff)?? In the private sector labor is much more fungible, but this is not the case in the public sector where specialized labor is needed locally.
ReplyDeleteQuality staff??? What planet do you live on?? Quality staff?? I guess that's why we are constantly hiring consultants and out of city contractors. Yeah, that's the reason.
DeleteAs for quality fire fighters, several years ago I had what I thought was smoke in my house, at the ceiling. I drove over to the fire station on Birmingham around 1 pm.... No one was there so I went to the station on 2 nd street. They asked why I didn't go to the closest station, Birmingham. I told them I did but no one was there.... So much for your quality.
I'm sure there are plenty of qualified staff and ff in Barstow or Needles just itching to get out of those rat holes. At say ... Oh a 50% pay cut.
Huh?
DeleteWhy would you drive to a fire station if you smell smoke in your house? You're supposed to call 911, not drive around to different fire stations.
Delete9:02 PM - My point is that if you want quality employees you have to pay the going rate, not that we have quality employees. You seem to have missed that point.
DeleteAnd the larger point is the public agencies have conspired and manipulated to raise they pay, benefits and pensions far above compensation for comparable work in the private sector.
DeletePublic employees' compensation should be pegged to private sector compensation for comparable work. Keeping the comparisons within the public sector maintains a skewed self-reinforcing loop.
Ahhhh haaa haaaa haaa.
ReplyDeleteSpecialized labor. Good one you mean lazy ass. Any smart city would hire private sector over government deadwood any day and they do!!
Have you actually looked at any of the studies that look into the privatization of public services?
DeleteTry some facts next time.
Federal govt privatization:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/01/07/everything-chuck-hagel-needs-to-know-about-the-defense-budget-in-charts/
http://www.facethefactsusa.org/facts/fed-contractors-profit-war-terror#sthash.0Z3fXswZ.dpuf
Privatization of healthcare:
http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/27/4/w318.full
Privatization of prisons (one of the biggest influences behind our burgeoning prison populations...and the expansion of the prison system) :
https://www.aclu.org/prisoners-rights/private-prisons
Chcago's parking meter debacle:
http://www.inthepublicinterest.org/case/chicagos-parking-meters
And an article explaining the facts (not right-wing propaganda) about privatization:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/post/study-privatizing-government-doesnt-actually-save-money/2011/09/15/gIQA2rpZUK_blog.html
You should learn free enterprise and read the constitution to understand what America is really about. You sound like a government tick who will gladly give up their freedoms for a healthy force feeding from big brother.
DeleteShould we list all the stories about the corrupt public sector and lazy deadwood we all read about in the news everyday. Naw…. thats a waste of time. We all know who the deadwood is at City Hall.
DeleteA new real City Manager would get rid of about 30% of the crappy employees at City Hall.
You like to spout propaganda, but do you have any evidence that privatization saves money and/or provides better service for the same, or less money?
DeleteIt's always better to have a grasp of the facts before conjecturing about important issues in a public forum.
To change the topic for just a moment.
ReplyDeleteAre you aware there is an CLOSED SESSION Council meeting at 8:30 A.M. tomorrow?
1. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT/EMPLOYMENT AUTHORITY: Government Code 54957
TITLE :Interim/Permanent City Manager
The notice came out yesterday, So much for transparency on the part of the Council! Same old stuff!
The Council needs to hear our views. Hopefully, Council will be smart enough to eliminate from consideration all of Vina's favorite, hand chosen department heads
Can't wait to hear who our "extremely smart" council picks to run city business. My hopes are not high.
DeleteI'm all for an independent study on how our firefighters can be more productive in the down time hours. I agree with the commenter that being in the best physical shape should be a top priority. That can not be achieved by eating donuts and watching movies. When or if I need assistance, I want personnel who are equipped and able to handle the situation. Muir is a poor example of a fit person even though he is now retired. However, I would have to believe he could not carry out any duties that required any effort.
ReplyDeleteThe pension issue is a separate topic that should also be addressed. I believe it has become quite a burden on this city. Not an expert on any of this. Just my opinion for whatever it's worth.
Surprise closed session Council Meeting tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. Gus Vina, apparently, took a two week leave of absence and hasn't been back, from his already initiated relocation, to Brentwood. Employment of a new (interim?) city manager is on the special meeting agenda, with only 24 hour notice, this time.
ReplyDeleteWow. Vina was a great choice for City Manager. Thanks for the excellent choice, excellent reviews, and those two years of endless drowning from staff about strategic time wasting as nothing got done. Well done Teresa and all City Council from prior years.
DeletePlease City Council of today, do better and demand a Long Term Financial Plan looking at the City's Financial Health over the next 10 to 20 years. Can you say outrageous pension liability and maintenance and operational costs?
The tail is still wagging the dog!
ReplyDeleteSo the firefighters have taken to begging for resident attendance to hear the "dangerous" cross-staffing plan presented on Monday.
ReplyDeleteIs their claim true that: "No other fire department in California provides fire/medical protection in this way.
Perhaps they will address this at the meeting.
DeleteOnly if asked. City staff have an annoying habit of throwing out "facts," then refusing to answer anyone who questions their claims - and that includes Council member inquiries. Murphy is the hands-down winner of nonsensical meanderings in lieu of real answers.
DeleteThe Benny Hill theme song should be playing for the secret City Council session. (symptomatic of comedic chaos).
ReplyDeleteIn a dream world we should all be firefighters, lifeguards, or border patrol.
ReplyDeletePaid for doing nothing with no real value, or win the lottery. Either way, I wish you all pure windfalls in 2015. Maybe our current City Council will raise pensions another 35% this year. Come on City Council you can do it.
And lets buy more property and build a bunch of things on them like nature centers, teen centers, meditation centers, aquatic centers, yoga centers, free internet for the homeless centers ( on wait we already built a $20,000,000 one) of those behind City Hall). Anything else that I missed. How about feeding centers and City free clothing, sports gear, and hair products centers.
What do you do that is more valuable than saving lives, protecting property, and protecting our borders?
Deletetypical fire princess mantra… go back to you movie, princess.
Delete… go back to your movie, Princess.
DeleteSorry for the typo - I don't have all the time in the world while being paid by the taxpayers like fire princesses.
No, I don't work for the fire department. Just bringing some common sense to the discussion.
DeleteSo, what do you do that's more important than saving lives, protecting property, and protecting our borders? I'm honestly curious about why you think you're superior to public sector workers.
Pffff- go back to your movie Princess
DeleteSeagull and Louie rehabilitation centers!
DeleteThere is nothing more valuable than your health and protecting your freedoms, and saving lives, protecting property are inherent individual goals.
ReplyDeleteHowever, grossly overpaid unnecessary City Positions are not needed to address these issues.
Individual lifestyles and choices save my lives and property, and border patrol doesn't do squat. The border is porous. Always has been, always will be… just ask if there are there any illegal drugs or immigrants in the USA? Border patrol get paid to sit in cars and stop people senselessly at checkpoints. If the Governments really wanted to stop border crossings they would go after the people/businesses employing illegals.
As for Lifeguards being valuable - Carlsbad doesn't have any lifeguards, no $3,000,000 lifeguard tower, no lifeguard huge pension liabilities, and no more fatalities or injuries on their beaches than Encinitas.
As far as Firefighters go, Sprinklers and other protective practices means very few fires in Encinitas…. what few we have could be addressed by a voluntary fire department with the same results or better than our departments record.
what we really have is EMT services which could be contracted out saving millions and without those huge pension and pension liability.
Grossly overpaid because you say so?
DeleteAnd you must have forgotten the huge fires we've had just this year. Apparently, you haven't a clue what firefighters (or border patrol agents) do, but you certainly like to opine about it!
I'd like to see your statistics regarding lifeguards and incidents, particularly the data that includes the number of beachgoers at these beaches. Any links for that data?
As for volunteer fire departments, I'll let the facts (not propaganda) do the talking. Realize, too, that most volunteers, especially near urban/suburban areas are only volunteering to get experience so that they can get a position with a paid department. Take away that incentive, and watch the pool of volunteers dry up.
BTW, most departments won't hire EMTs these days, they want fully trained and certified paramedics.
-------
"Fire Departments Face Volunteer Shortages Throughout the U.S.
Volunteer fire departments across the country, in cities and rural communities, echo the same story.
Nearly three out of four firefighters are volunteers. Many of them have other jobs and can't respond to every call that comes into the fire department."
http://abcnews.go.com/US/busy-fire-departments-cope-fewer-volunteers/story?id=10371047&singlePage=true#.UMlePKyaBXs
------------
"Of the stations that could be cut during Thursday's meeting, Midway City boasts the best volunteer performance in the first six months of 2010. The 13 volunteers there responded to 51 percent of 156 calls the station received. Station 24 in Mission Viejo -- with 16 volunteers -- responded to less than half of its 283 calls.
Other stations fared far worse: Station 23 volunteers in Villa Park managed to respond to one of the 59 calls they were dispatched to.
"There's no question, the numbers stink," said Brad Reese, a Villa Park councilmember and member of the OCFA board who supports the reserve program."
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/program-267638-firefighters-reserve.html
Somebody has plenty of time at the coffee shop to Google and blog.
DeleteI wonder how this is possible, what with all the training, cleaning, and whatnot.
Or maybe fighting for continued perks is considered productive time by the department.
(end snark)
Seriously, if the department is doing everything as efficiently and effectively as possible, then it should welcome and scrutiny and review by citizens. If it proves true that cross-staffing is bad, that station coverage is optimized, and that there is no possible improved use of downtime, then why get upset?
The majority of citizens are reasonable people. If we poke a few sticks at methods and practices of the department and nothing bad falls out, we are going to move on. The fact that some in the department feel compelled to circle the wagons and marshal a public response raises a red flag.
Frankly, I wasn't very interested in this issue before, and I thought Bob was off base. Now I'm starting to wonder.
10:47 - I was somewhat confused on this issue, but after some though and a re-read of Bonde's proposal (see EU archives), I'm thinking that this has already been dismissed as an alternative. Sure, fresh eyes are always welcome to seek out efficiency and improvement, but the "circling the wagons" you refer to may be frustration that "we" have already gone down this road before. On the FB page they clearly say the Olivenhain station would also be subject to closure. After seeing the red and yellow truck heading down Lone Jack this morning, I sure don't want to see that station closed anytime soon! I also don't understand how the proposal above would reduce response times in any significant manner
Delete- The Sculpin
Tool as usual.
Delete12:12 PM
DeleteAfter all the council went through to open the Olivenhain fire station, I have a hard time believing they would turn around and close it. In the early discussions for the Olivenhain station I remember comments about the current station being temporary with the permanent station further east. Maybe that idea has been dropped.
Anon 10:45 AM,
DeleteI am not a firefighter, nor am I employed by Encinitas or any other govt agency in San Diego. I have time to actually read, attend meetings, and know what I'm talking about because I have been following issues in the public sector for well over a decade (and was a public employee in another city years ago).
People don't have a problem with looking into different ways to maximize service, but they DO have a problem with people who are hell-bent on controlling things that they are not familiar with.
While I'm sure Mr. Bonde is a very nice man, and he probably means well, he is personally responsible for burdening city staff for many, many years with multiple requests and "suggestions" that are incredibly expensive and totally unworkable. This has cost a lot of money and resources.
If you doubt this, just read Bonde's proposal and/or attend the meeting to learn more. There is a lot of history here.
pffff- fire fighter wife no less.
Deletefire sleepers. Do us one favor. tonight instead of watching Top-gun for the 124 time- think of ways to lower the fire service costs.
DeletePS- Your windfall pensions are killing the taxpayers.
Your ignorance is killing the discussion.
DeleteJust a concerned citizen.
DeleteAt this very moment, six uniformed firefighters enjoying coffee out front of Moonlight Coffee, corner of D and 101.
ReplyDeleteCould they be doing something useful?
They need coffee and their blog time before heading to the grocery store....
DeleteBig movie night tonight- Starwars Trilogy!!
Oh my God! Do you know we pay firemen to sleep. How cush is that except having to jump out of bed at all hours for emergencies.
DeleteOh yeah- Two fire engines need to check on Ms. Jones who took two aspirin instead of one. OMG. Now back to the Trilogy!!! and some shut eye for the rest of your 24 hour shift. Pffff. Tough stuff.
DeleteAnon 8:15 PM,
DeleteWhy are you so obsessed with firefighters and movies? You keep repeating this movie thing over and over and over again. Why?
Movies, firefighters, and princesses. Weird obsessions.
DeleteThere's more to the story than you're letting on. Were you rejected by a fire department when you wanted to become a firefighter? A firefighter made off with your wife? Your obsession is so extreme.
I don't think it's extreme. I think it's just the tax payer concerned about wasteful spending. And firefighters getting paid to sleep and watch movies.
DeleteWhy not address the wasteful spending issue?
The fire princesses Kayden went to Publix starts reviewing what they actually get for those millions of dollars spent on the fire department costs.
DeleteCity can pay six times over for the cost of any structure burned in a fire relative to the cost they pay for the huge fart apartment cost.
Please don't look at our welfare glory program. We like it the way it is. Let's go get some more Starbucks and check out the waves.
They're boycotting Starbucks.
DeleteChecked with the fire department, and there were no engines in that area at that date and time. Either they were off-duty firefighters, or you're lying.
DeleteWhich one is it?
12:23, It's a block from station 1.
DeleteNo, Station 1 was not there. None of the coastal fire engines were there, and unless you saw the huge ladder truck there, then Balour wasn't there, either.
DeleteSo, why are you lying?
And you're wrong about the dollar value of what they protect vs. what they cost, too.
DeleteThere is very little wasteful spending. But you wouldn't know that, now would you? And how much would your homeowner's insurance cost without a professional fire department nearby? Try calling up your agent to see what it would cost, and that's IF you could even get insurance.
It's easy for you to just throw around your opinion. Try facts next time.
It might be a good idea to stop broadcasting your bitterness and ignorance. Educate yourself before you post, and try sticking to the truth for a change.
1:43, the top of this thread was my post. I saw six uniformed fire fighters having coffee at an outdoor table on the northwest corner of 101 and D St.
DeleteThat location is a block from fire station number one, which is on second street.
I simply asked if there might be a more productive use of their time while on the clock.
The rest of your arguments are silly. No responsible person is suggesting we get rid of FD wholesale.
Why don't you address the original question? Could there be more effective uses of fire fighter downtime than getting coffee (or sleeping, watching movies, etc.)?
Again, Station 1 was not there, nor were any of the other stations from that area. You are making assumptions about things you don't know about, and that's IF there were any firefighters/paramedics there in the first place.
DeleteWhat makes you think they were on the clock? And what makes you think they're not entitled to break or lunch time even if they were on the clock (again, it appears as though these firefighters/paramedics were NOT on shift, and that's IF uniformed firefighters/paramedics were even there in the first place)? Do you think they should not be entitled to get a coffee or lunch during a 24 hour shift? Really????
Probably not. That's what they get paid to do. Let's give them a huge pension and a new fire station!!
ReplyDeleteThey get to go check the waves. Or they could give a tour of their new station?
ReplyDeleteAccording to Lisa Shaffer's latest newsletter: "Contrary to some emails and blog postings, there is no Council proposal to close any fire stations."
ReplyDeleteIt may not be a "Council proposal" but it is a proposal they are considering. If Council is not considering said proposal, why is there a "special" council meeting for the Fire Department to respond?
DeleteExactly. People just need to read the proposal. It's all right there; the closing of fire stations is mentioned throughout.
DeleteWho cares about the fire princess's opinion, Council just cut their pension to zero and if they protest, tell them to find a real job.
ReplyDeletehttps://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwNUuyQVVz1mdDVyQVdQOW83R1U/edit
ReplyDeleteEmergency medical and service calls: 95.86%
Fires/explosions/hazardous conditions calls: 4.14%
Number of ambulances on duty during the day: 2
Number of ambulances on duty at night: 1
Fire/explosions/hazardous conditions = 4% that probably includes kittens in trees. Actual fires probably less then 1 or 2%.
ReplyDeleteLets contract with paramedics and get better service at a much much lower cost.
I think the public should be able to use the Firehouses to watch the movies with the firefighters. Why shouldn't the public get all the pleasures that our firefighters get to enjoy all the time?
ReplyDeleteLets get better value to the public for those $6 million dollar stations. Otherwise its only enjoyed by a few luck Fire fighters each night.
This is a little harsh, but actually has some useful facts and figures about how good firefighters have it.
ReplyDeleteNever before heard the expression "dozing for dollars."
http://youtu.be/EmC26RuO26g
Except that most of those facts and figures aren't true, especially as it concerns EFD.
DeleteYeah. Encinitas even pays more. Fk)(*g fire fighters end up getting over 100% of their salary when they retire, thanks to the $tock$ 35% increase in all pensions to 2.7% X years X highest annual salary which makes Encinitas conditions even worse.
DeleteNo, they don't. But keep on spouting that bitter ignorance. You wear it well.
DeleteYes they do. What was said that was not accurate workfare princess.
DeleteWhy don't you call and ask the city about the number and ask if they can give you the percentage of retired firefighters who get 100% of his/her pay at the age of 50.
DeleteWhen will the city unload the old fire station on Birmingham ?? Assholes at the city won't even allow public parking.
ReplyDeleteThat video is perfect not to harsh. Everybody should be so lucky to be a fire fighter or win the lottery! Sorry for the rest of you suckers who pay the glory boys huge salaries and pensions.
ReplyDeleteThese guy and their unions are villains. Its pure tax payer robbery. Plain and simple.
"Hot off the press--Mayor Gaspar rejects proposal to close down two Encinitas fire stations".
ReplyDeleteThe above was posed on Gaspar's FB page. Why is SHE taking the lone credit for this?
Any one have an answer?
I don't think that she is taking sole credit, just stating that she rejected the proposal to close down the stations. Looks like she is simply publicizing her position on the issue.
Delete