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GOOD AFTERNOON CONGRESSMAN TAYLOR AND MEMBERS OF
THE SUBCOMMITTEE. I AM DONALD EDWARDS, FIRE CHIEF OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IT IS A
PLEASURE TO APPEAR BEFORE THIS PANEL TO DISCUSS THE FISCAL YEAR 1999 BUDGET REQUEST FOR
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT. ACCOMPANYING ME
THIS AFTERNOON ARE MEMBERS OF THE AGENCY'S SENIOR STAFF. THEY ARE: DR. WAYNE MOORE,
DIRECTOR, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE BUREAU; FLOYD MADISON, ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF OF
OPERATIONS DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF DAVID A. RYAN, ACTING ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF OF SERVICES; MR.
MORRIS THORPE, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER; AND MS. DEIRDRE JORDAN, ADMINISTRATOR THE MISSION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO CHOOSE TO LIVE, WORK, VISIT, AND DO BUSINESS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THIS MISSION IS ACCOMPLISHED BY PREVENTING FIRES BEFORE THEY OCCUR; EXTINGUISHING THOSE FIRES THAT DO OCCUR WITH A MINIMUM LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY; PROVIDING STATE-OF-THE-ART PRE-HOSPITAL TREATMENT AND TRANSPORTATION OF THE SICK OR INJURED; AND PROVIDING OTHER SPECIALIZED TECHNICAL RESCUE SERVICES. THE FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS COMMITTED TO BECOMING A MODEL FOR PROVIDING THE VERY BEST IN FIRE, RESCUE, AND EMS SERVICES IN THE COUNTRY. CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE THEME OF THE DEPARTMENT AS IT INTERACTS WITH THE VARIOUS SEGMENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE DEPARTMENT MUST STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE IN ALL AREAS OF SERVICE DELIVERY. AS A PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY, THE HIGHEST QUALITY FIRE PREVENTION, FIRE SUPPRESSION, AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ARE A PRIORITY TO ALL INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CITY. THE DEPARTMENT MUST ENSURE THAT WHEN A FIRE OR HEALTH EMERGENCY OCCURS, SERVICES WILL BE PROVIDED IN A TIMELY, EFFICIENT, AND EFFECTIVE MANNER WE ARE OFTEN CALLED UPON BY OUR CUSTOMERS FOR SERVICE AT TIMES WHEN OUR PROMPT INTERVENTION COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE OR DEATH OR THE LOSS OF LIVELIHOOD AND PRECIOUS POSSESSIONS. WE MUST BE MINDFUL OF THESE SITUATIONS AND RENDER THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS SERVICES AS POSSIBLE. THE DEPARTMENT IS DEVELOPING STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE TO ENSURE THAT ALL EMPLOYEES ARE ACCOUNTABLE. IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION AND EXCUSES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE CUSTOMERS OF THE D.C. FIRE AND EMS DEPARTMENT CAN EXPECT NOTHING LESS. THE DEPARTMENT WILL ACHIEVE ITS MISSION BY MEETING THE FOLLOWING GOALS: 1. Improve Customer Service by providing timely Fire and EMS services. Optimal response times to all emergencies will be achieved through increased employee accountability. The Department will take a more proactive role in the its interaction with the community by providing more fire safety and emergency medical education. Increase the number and types of building inspections which should result in a reduction in the reactive service demands that the Department must currently meet. 2. The Department will increase efficiency operations. The agency has realized that it can no longer defer the pursuit of improvement in specialized areas of operations Emphasis has been placed on the enhancement of arson investigations, technical rescue, and training programs. The workforce must be equipped with the necessary tools required to carry out their duties. The development and implementation of vehicle and equipment replacement schedules are underway. As we approach the new millennium, technology has become an integral part of the efficiency of this agency. Accordingly, an information technology strategy has been developed to support all phases of our operations. This technology will provide data for quantitative analysis of performance and accountability. 3. Meet established budget targets: Although enormous strides to restore the financial stability of the District of Columbia have been made, the Department must continue to contribute to this financial recovery. Sound and responsible management of the agency's financial resources will continue as we strive to accomplish the operational goals that have been established. IN AN EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS MENTIONED, THE D.C. FIRE & EMS DEPARTMENT FY 1999 PROPOSED BUDGET FROM ALL FUNDING SOURCES IS $101,638,000 AND INCLUDES 1764 FULL TIME POSITIONS. THIS REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF $2,787,000 OVER THE FY 1998 BUDGET. THE PROPOSED LOCAL BUDGET REQUEST IS $101,557,000 AND 1764 FULL TIME POSITIONS, AN INCREASE OF $3,360,000 OVER THE FY 1998 BUDGET. THE FY 1999 PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PAY RAISES. THIS INCLUDES FUNDING FOR THE 9.5 % PAY RAISE FOR UNIFORMED FIREFIGHTERS THAT WAS AUTHORIZED IN THE FY 1998 APPROPRIATIONS ACT. ADDITIONALLY IT INCLUDES $1,000,000 FOR A 9.5% RAISE FOR EMS PERSONNEL AND $478,000 FOR PAY RAISES OF 3.7% TO 6% FOR OTHER NON-UNION WORKERS. THE FY 1999 PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES $2,106,000 TO FINANCE CAPITAL RELATED ITEMS THROUGH A MASTER LEASE PURCHASE PROGRAM. THE D.C. FIRE & EMS DEPARTMENT PLANS TO FINANCE $7,800,000 OF ITS EQUIPMENT NEEDS OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD FOR AN ANNUAL LEASE COST OF $2,106,000. THE FY 1999 RECOMMENDED CAPITAL BUDGET INCLUDES FUNDING FOR FIRE APPARATUS REPLACEMENT, PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS TO VARIOUS AGENCY FACILITIES, A COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM UPGRADE, AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW TRAINING FACILITY. CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION, MANAGEMENT REFORMS, UNION NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS, AND THE
INCREASING NEED FOR OPERATIONAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL ENHANCEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT
REQUIRE ADDITIONAL FUNDING. THE APPROVAL OF |
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