AgdaPkt 2020-10-26 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

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From: Lisa Casale To: GRP -City Council Subject: Engine 9 Date: Saturday, October 24, 2020 12:23:15 PM Dear City Council, I'm married to a Redwood City firefighter and also an ICU nurse at Sequoia Hospital. As you already know being in those job positions has made this a tough year for the both of us. My husband working overtime for fires and myself working overtime due to COVID. Sequoia Hospitals response to the pandemic was to hire more people and up staff our ICU, as well as a bonus in recognition for the sacrifices we were willing to make. We cared for those patients because that is what we were trained to do, not for the bonus that was a big surprise to us all. But the fact that they were willing to up staff our unit right away helped us fill supported in a very scary time. As things were just starting to get better our state starts on fire. Which I thought would warrant the need for more fire fighters in our community. I watched as the Redwood City fire department struggled to help the state and be able to staff their own engines and truck. But you have decided to put a hiring freeze and close engine 9. Of course I find this very frustrating since my husband is only getting one day off a week and hopefully it's on a day I'm not working a 12 hour shift. But I also would like to know why. Why is this the right decision? How will this fix the current issues? I would like to recommend the Redwood City Fire department hire per diem fire fighters. Let me explain, in the hospital we have per diem nurses they must work 4 days a month are required to complete annual training and must work one major holiday. They do not receive benefits, retirement or PTO, but they are paid more an hour. This is also done through a nursing union and I think it would be beneficial to look into. It helps us when people are out on leaves so we can fill in the holes. I think what would be important for a fire department is that Per diem firefighters had quarterly training due to the extent of their job. There will be cost to train and put them through an academy but you will be saving money when it comes to benefits and pension. My fear for the Redwood City Fire department is that they will lose their fire fighters. It is already a community where your own fire fighters cannot afford to live in. Most are commuting from out of town, which they were doing because they loved where they worked. Now add in the fact that they don't feel appreciated by the community they are working for they will end up lattering over to other cities and the department will fall apart. I hope you read this email and reconsider your decision. Thank You, Lisa Petrocchi