Calgary Fire Department Self Assessment Manual

COMMISSION ON FIRE ACCREDITATION INTERNATIONAL FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES SELF ASSESSMENT MANUAL 8TH EDITION CITY OF CALGARY FIRE DEPARTMENT W. (BRUCE) BURRELL, FIRE CHIEF FEBRUARY 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS CATEGORY 1: GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Criterion 1A –Governing Body Criterion 1B – Agency Administration CATEGORY 2: ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING Criterion 2A – Documentation of Area Characteristics Criterion 2B – Fire Risk Assessment and Response Strategies Criterion 2C – Non-Fire Risk Assessment and Response Strategies Criterion 2D – Strategic Planning CATEGORY 3: GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Criterion 3A – Goals and Objectives Criterion 3B – Implementation of Goals and Objectives Criterion 3C – Measurement of Organizational Progress CATEGORY 4: FINANCIAL RESOURCES Criterion 4A – Financial Planning Criterion 4B –Financial Practices Criterion 4C – Resource Allocation CATEGORY 5: PROGRAMS Criterion 5A – Fire Suppression Criterion 5B –Fire Prevention /Life Safety Program Criterion 5C – Public Education Program Criterion 5D – Fire Investigation Program Criterion 5E – Technical Rescue Criterion 5F – Hazardous Materials Criterion 5G – Emergency Medical Services Criterion 5H – Domestic Preparedness Planning and Response Criterion 5I – Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting Services Criterion 5J – Marine and Shipboard Fire Fighting and Rescue Services CATEGORY 6: PHYSICAL RESOURCES Criterion 6A – Physical Resources Plan Criterion 6B – Fixed Facilities Criterion 6C – Apparatus and Vehicles Criterion 6D – Apparatus Maintenance Criterion 6E – Tools and Small Equipment Criterion 6F – Safety Equipment CATEGORY 7: HUMAN RESOURCES Criterion 7A - Human Resources Administration Criterion 7B - Recruitment, Selection, Retention and Promotion Criterion 7C - Personnel Policies and Procedures Criterion 7D - Use of Human Resources Criterion 7E - Personnel Compensation Criterion 7F - Occupational Health and Safety Risk Management Criterion 7G – Wellness/Fitness Programs CATEGORY 8: TRAINING AND COMPETENCY Criterion 8A - Training and Education Program Requirements Criterion 8B - Training and Education Program Performance Criterion 8C - Training and Education Resources CATEGORY 9: ESSENTIAL RESOURCES Criterion 9A - Water Supply Criterion 9B - Communication Systems Criterion 9C - Administrative Support Services and Office Systems CATEGORY 10: EXTERNAL SYSTEMS RELATIONSHIPS Criterion 10A – External Agency Relationships Criterion 10B – External Agency Agreements Category I: Governance and Administration For purposes of this Category, Governance is defined as the recognition of the authority that allows an organization or agency to legally form and operate. In fulfilling this responsibility, the legal entity that oversees this formation process reflects the public interest, protects the agency from undesirable external interference, determines basic policies for providing services and interprets the agency’s activities to its constituency. Administration is defined as the activities that carry out the implementation of the policies established by the authority having jurisdiction. In fulfilling this responsibility, the agency or organization carries out the day-to-day operations. The legal entity and governing authority defines the duties and responsibilities of the agency in an official policy statement, which should include a separation of powers between the policy-making function of the boards of directors or other elected officials and the executive and administrative responsibilities of those who carry out those policies. An organization’s charter or local or state general statutes likely contain an agency’s official policy statement. The chief executive or chief fire officer should provide staff leadership in developing policy proposals for the legal civil authority having jurisdiction, so those officials can take action to implement public policy based upon knowledgeable input from public safety leadership. It is the primary responsibility of agency leadership that reports to an elected governing board and/or other high-ranking individual for the execution of policy, to keep that higher authority informed on all matters affecting the agency and delivery of emergency services to the public. It must be recognized that other organizations participate in the governance of the agency, such as the state/provincial and federal governments through legislation, regulations and funding procedures, and other organizations through associations and bargaining units. The governing board has the responsibility for the administrative activity and coordinates all of these diverse interests to set the direction of the agency. The City of Calgary Fire Department Self-Assessment Manual (February 2014) Category I Page 1 The agency administration exercises responsibility for the quality of the agency through an organized system of planning, staffing, directing, coordinating, and evaluating. The agency administration is entrusted with the assets and charged to uphold its mission and programs, to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, and to provide stability and continuity to the agency. For many volunteer fire service organizations, the governing board is within the municipal or county government and is the executive/legislative body for municipal or county governance, some elected directly by the public, such as special districts. In the absence of a municipally appointed fire chief, or chief executive officer, for purposes of accreditation, the duly elected or appointed fire chief shall be the individual responsible for the criteria and performance indicators. In many city or county municipal organizations a separation of powers exists that give the governing body legislative responsibility while giving administrative responsibility for policy and administration with a strong mayor or city manager. The chief fire officer/chief executive officer in such organizations generally reports directly to the mayor, manager, or their designee. It is vital that the leadership of every agency understand who actually sets policy for the government structure they are working in and their role in implementing that policy. The City of Calgary Fire Department Self-Assessment Manual (February 2014) Category I Page 2 Criterion 1A: Governing Body The governing body and/or agency manager is legally established to provide general policies to guide the agency, approved programs and services, and appropriated financial resources. Summary: City Council is the primary governing body of the Fire Department and is established under The Province of Alberta Municipal Government Act R.S.A. 2000. Council is comprised of 14 elected councillors and one elected mayor whose roles are to: 1) represent the public and consider the well being of the municipality; 2) to propose, adopt, evaluate and guide policies and programs of the municipality; 3) to determine municipal services; 4) to ensure that administrative practices are in place to implement Council approved decisions, policies and programs; 5) to provide financial resources and sustain the financial integrity of the municipality; and 6) carry out any other duties specified under the Act (Part 5 Division 1). The Municipal Government Act enables Council to pass bylaws with respect to the safety, health and welfare of people and the protection of people and property. Calgary’s fire chief is appointed on the authority of Council and is charged with governing the internal operations of the Fire Department. The fire chief operates under City of Calgary Bylaw Number 37M84, Operations of a Fire Department. This bylaw grants the fire chief authority to develop and approve policies that guide the operations, programs and services of the Fire Department, and distribute financial resources as required. A cascading series of City of Calgary planning documents provide a vision, mission and guiding direction for the Fire Department. The City’s 2020 Sustainability Direction, a 10- year plan, links the 100-year vision set out in the imagineCALGARY Plan to The City’s three-year business plan and budgets. The Fire Department’s 2011-2021 Sustainability Plan supports The City’s broad sustainability goals, advances The City’s 100-year vision and provides a vision for organizational longevity and prosperity around which supporting short-term plans are developed. The City of Calgary Fire Department Self-Assessment Manual (February 2014) Category I Page 3 Performance Indicators: CC 1A.1 The agency is legally established. Description The City of Calgary (“The City”) is a legally established municipality under the Province of Alberta Municipal Government Act R.S.A. 2000, Chapter M-26. The Municipal Government Act enables City Council to pass bylaws respecting the safety, health and welfare of people and the protection of people and property. City Council enacted Calgary Bylaw Number 37M84, Operations of a Fire Department, which is a statutory document that defines the establishment of the fire department, its governing authority, provision of policies and programs and its services. Appraisal The Fire Department has been legally established. The Province of Alberta Municipal Government Act R.S.A. 2000, Chapter M-26 remains relevant and appropriate, and the Fire Department has complied with Bylaw Number 37M84. Bylaw Number 37M84 continues to provide authority and governance for the Fire Department but requires modernization to combine the primary and supporting bylaws into a single, comprehensive legislative framework to govern Fire Department operations. Due to administrative

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