CITY OF RENO NEWS RELEASE
Below are the outcomes of the agenda items related to fire deconsolidation at today’s Reno City Council meeting.
• Agenda Item J.3
This item was continued until no later than the next Reno City Council meeting (April 25) in order to receive the results of the upcoming Washoe County Commission meeting (April 10) regarding forming a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) for regionalized fire service. At the joint meeting on Monday, the Reno City Council directed staff to begin working toward a JPA while Washoe County Commission directed their staff to have a discussion with commissioners prior to working on the JPA jointly.
• Agenda Item J.4
The City Council approved to send written notice of termination as of June 30, 2012, to the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and Sierra Fire Protection District, terminating the cooperative agreement between Sierra Fire Protection District and the city of Reno/Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District. This item is an administration item and is needed since this entity will no longer exist once deconsolidation occurs.
• Agenda Item J.5
The City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the city manager to reduce staff as a result of the Reno Fire Department and Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD) deconsolidation. When deconsolidation occurs, the Reno Fire Department will become a much smaller department and may have to lay off firefighters. In 2000 as part of the merger with TMFPD, Reno hired 98 additional fire personnel. As of March 2012, the Consolidated Fire Department has 266 positions. After deconsolidation, the Reno Fire Department will have 186 positions. That’s a net loss of 80 positions due to the termination of the Interlocal Agreement with TMFPD. The TMFPD has not told Reno if or when they will hire the personnel who will be laid off from the Reno Fire Department. If an agreement with Washoe County can be reached, the layoff notices can be rescinded.
