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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 3109-2020Sponsored by: Administration CITY OF KENAI ORDINANCE NO. 3109-2020 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO REIMBURSE ANNUAL LEAVE USED BY FIREFIGHTER scon SUMMERS FOR AITENDING A PARAMEDIC INTERNSHIP PROGRAM . WHEREAS, Firefighter Scott Summers recently completed his paramedic certification program; and, WHEREAS , as part of the certification process, Firefighter Scott Summers expended approximately $20,000 of his own funds and used approximately 336 hours of annual leave to attend a paramedic internship at Cypress Creek EMS in Houston, Texas from October 2, 2019 through November 14, 2019; and, WHEREAS , the City benefits from having certified paramedics in the Fire Department providing a higher level of service; and, WHEREAS, as a certified paramedic, Firefighter Summers receives additional compensation; and, WHEREAS , it is in the best interests of the City to reimburse Firefighter Scott Summers leave account, whi ch he used to attend the paramedic internship; a period of time in which 336 hours of annual leave were used; and, WHEREAS, an ordinance is necessary to accomplish this as the City Code does not contain a specific method to accomplish such reimbursement of leave time. NOW, THEREFORE , BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, as follows: Section 1. Form: That this is a non-code ordinance. Section 2. Authorizing the Reimbursement of Leave : That the City Manager is authorized to enter into an agreement to reimburse 336 hours of annual leave utilized by Firefighter Scott Summers for attending a paramedic internship program over a period of three years. Section 3. Severability: That if any part or provision of this ordinance or application thereof to any person or circumstances is adjudged invalid by any court of co mpetent jurisdiction, such judgment shall be confined in its operation to the part, provision, or application directly involved in all controversy in which this judgment shall have been rendered, and shall not affect or impair the validity of the remainder of this title or application thereof to other persons or circumstances. The City Council hereby declares that it would have enacted the remainder of this ordinance even without such part, provision, or application. Ordinance No. 3109-2020 Page 2 of 2 Section 4. Effective Date: That pursuant to KMC 1.15.0?0(f), th is ordinance shall take effect 30 days after enactment. ENACTED BY THE COUNC IL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALAS KA, this 4 th day of March , 2020 . ATIEST: BRIAN GABRIEL SR., MAYOR Introduced: February 19, 2020 Enacted : March 4, 2020 Effective: April 3, 2020 New Text Und erlined; [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 11011~ UJ/tlv a PaJ'~ Ct'tj UJ/tlv a Fu.t~ 11 210 Fidal go Ave , Kenai , Alaska 99611-7794 Telephone: (907) 283-7535 I Fax: (907) 283-3014 www.kenai .city MEMORANDUM TO: THROUGH: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: Mayor Brian Gabriel and Kenai City Council Paul Ostrander, City Manager Jeff Tucker, Fire Chief February 11, 2020 Ordinance No. 3109-2020-Reimburse Annual Leave The purpose of this memo is to provide additional information in support of the referenced ordinance . Firefighter Scott Summers participated in a pilot offering of the Paramedic program through the Kenai Peninsula College. What was unique about this program is that it allowed fulltime EMT Ill's to enroll without the perquisites typically required for the program and allowed the student to complete a quarter of their internship at their home department. This reduced the leave that a full-time employed EMT Ill would be required to take to complete the program. The program consisted of classroom sessions , ride-a-longs, labs, hospital clinical rotations and culminated with a 6 week field internship. The field internship took place at Cypress Creek EMS in Houston , Texas. Firefighter Summers spent nearly $20,000 out of pocket for the 1,600 hour course and utilized 336 hours of personal leave time. Firefighter Summers has completed the program and as of January 14th, 2020 is a Nationally Registered Paramedic. Kenai Fire Department firefighters are not required to become paramedics and are not e ligible for a leave of absence with pay under KMC 23.40.060 to attend paramedic school since it is not a requirement of their position . However, in recognition of professional development, personal time, and effort of the individual to achieve the same , a recognition entitlement is paid to Fire Department employees who obtain a paramedic certification at the rate of $1,500 per year, which is only $500 more per year than the employee would receive as qualification pay as an EMT Ill. Reimbursing leave taken to attend paramedic is typical of what other similarly-situated departments are doing nation-wide. Based upon the recommendation of Fire Chief Jeff Tucker, the attached Ordinance provides for the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Scott Summers to be reimbursed for the leave he utilized to attend paramedic training in equal Page 2 of 2 Ordinance No. 3109 -2020 reimbursements over a period of three years. Should Firefighter Summers employment with the City end prior to the reimbursement being complete, the reimbursement would not continue. If City Council enacts Ordinance 3109-2020, the City would reimburse Firefighter Summers for the 336 hours of personal leave time over a 3 year period. Thank you for your consideration .