Other/Miscellaneous Request Template (Appointments; ROW; Code Changes; Zoning Action, etc.)
Date Submitted: 7-29-19
Requesting Agency: Fire
Division:
Subject Matter Expert Name: Chief Eric Tade/ Adriana Lara
Email Address: eric.tade@denvergov.org / Adriana.lara@denvergov.org
Phone Number:
Item Title & Description:
(Do not delete the following instructions)
These appear on the Council meeting agenda. Initially, the requesting agency will enter a 2-3 sentence description. Upon bill filling, the City Attorney’s Office should enter the title above the description (the title should be in bold font).
Both the title and description must be entered between the red “title” and “body” below. Do not at any time delete the red “title” or “body” markers from this template.
title
A bill for an ordinance submitting to a vote of the qualified and registered electors of the City and County of Denver at a special municipal election to be held in conjunction with the general election of November 5, 2019, a proposed amendment to the Charter of the City and County of Denver concerning ranks and grades in the fire department.
Refers a proposed Charter amendment to a vote of the qualified and registered electors of the City and County of Denver at the 11-05-19 election to add Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) as a named rank of the Denver Fire Department and to allow the Fire Chief to assign duties of Shift Commander to an assistant chief of the Denver Fire Department. The Committee approved filing this item at its meeting on 8-6-19.
body
Affected Council District(s) or citywide? Citywide
Executive Summary with Rationale and Impact:
Detailed description of the item and why we are doing it. This can be a separate attachment.
This referred measure is proposed to be submitted to the voters at the November 5, 2019 election.
The Denver Fire Department (DFD) and Denver Health Paramedic Division provide emergency medical care to the citizens of Denver and the surrounding communities. Care is divided into DFD providing Basic Life Support (BLS) emergency medical care while Denver Health provides more invasive Advanced Life Support (ALS) emergency medical care and this model of care will continue. In 2017, DFD formalized an alternative response vehicle program called the Medical Unit to target and relieve the workload of DFD’s Fire Companies addressing lower acuity medical calls. This position is currently staffed by two DFD firefighters at overtime rate. Referring the question to the Charter to add Emergency Medical Technician as a named rank, will allow DFD to more appropriately staff the Medical Unit, provide cost savings to the department, serve as a recruitment tool and ensure more accurate BLS emergency medical care for the citizens Denver and surrounding communities. Denver Health will continue to provide the specialized ALS emergency medical care.
The question will also amend the Charter to add Shift Commander as a rank on the Denver Fire Department. Denver Fire Shift Commanders operate as a dedicated Incident Safety Officer on significant scenes to ensure a higher safety margin. This change is a clean-up to the Charter, mirroring existing collective bargaining language.
Address/Location (if applicable):
Legal Description (if applicable):
Denver Revised Municipal Code (D.R.M.C.) Citation (if applicable):
Draft Bill Attached?