Menlo Park Fire Protection District

 

District Administration

 

Program Overview

The District Administration (DA) program serves as the executive management body of the District, providing oversight for personnel, financial, capital, operational, and legal functions. This program supports the Board of Directors in implementing its vision and policies. It is also responsible for succession planning, mentoring, and appointing new leadership within the District. Additionally, the program manages fire service operations, ensures daily service levels are met, prepares board meeting agendas, and coordinates staff reports for the board. 

Management Oversight

The DA program is led by the Fire Chief, with oversight provided by the Deputy Fire Chief and Administrative Services Director. The program consists of four full-time equivalent positions and covers expenses related to general liability insurance, consultant and legal counsel services, contract services, general supplies, training and conference registration fees, and a contingency reserve for unexpected expenses.

Goals and Objectives

  • Oversee administrative, logistical, and operational services in compliance with best practices, labor relations, and applicable laws and regulations.
  • Manage the District’s daily operations, including fire suppression, fire prevention, training, emergency management, special operations, and administrative services.
  • Review and address organizational and administrative matters, ensuring effective follow-through and resolution.
  • Plan, prioritize, and manage capital improvement projects to support the District's long-term goals.
  • Oversee the preparation of agendas and materials for all Board and Committee meetings.

FY 2023-24 Accomplishments

  • Developed and implemented an inclusive recruitment and outreach program for a successful firefighter recruitment.
  • Initiated a contract with AP Triton for the preparation of a District Strategic Plan.
  • Worked with staff, the Finance Committee, and the Board to develop a comprehensive investment policy in order to guide our new investment advisors in responsibly investing District resources.
  • Engaged a data analytics firm to assist in the preparation of a professional data analysis report and began using data to help analyze District performance.
  • Working with staff, the Facilities Committee, and our architect, moved the District forward with the Station 1 design project receiving unanimous Board support for exploring the full campus concept.

FY 2024-25 Program Initiatives

  • Implement new paramedic school sponsorship program to enhance the District’s ALS capabilities.
  • Continue to focus on the mental health of our first responders and staff.
  • Engage the Board, staff, and the community on the Station 1 rebuild project.
  • Create a District-wide strategic plan with input from staff and the community.
  • Develop Board approved metrics to evaluate District emergency response performance.

Full-Time Equivalent Personnel

Program Expenditure Summary

Expenditure Analysis

  • Retirement: This includes the employer's standard retirement contributions, annual payments for unfunded actuarial liability (UAL), excess UAL payments, and Medicare tax payments. The increase of $184,110 is due to the allocation of UAL annual and excess expenses to the employee program and an increase in the normal retirement contribution rate.

  • Benefits: This category includes payments for the café plan, dental plan, life insurance, and post-employment health benefits. The increase of $45,585 is attributed to a typical year-over-year rate increase for the café and life insurance benefit plans.

  • Materials and Supplies: This includes expenditures for special projects, office supplies, travel, conference registration, and membership and license fees. The increase of $16,100 is due to anticipated higher costs for conference and training registrations, as well as travel and transportation expenses, particularly related to the District’s involvement in the fire scope task force.

  • Contract Services: This category covers consultant services, legal services, general insurance services, and contingency reserves for general administrative matters. The increase of $78,055 is due to additional expenditures for consultant services to support the District's upgrade of its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.