REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 23, 2020
FROM
DAN MUNSEY, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
SUBJECT
Title
Employment Contract for Wildland Program Coordinator
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, approve employment contract with Michael Wakoski as Wildland Program Coordinator for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 in the compensation amount of $87,682 ($78,091 Salary and $9,591 Benefits), with an option to extend for an additional one-year period.
(Presenter: Dan Munsey, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, 387-5779)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the need for additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as the cost of this employment contract ($87,682 for 2020-21) will be fully funded by existing revenue sources of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (SBCFPD). Appropriation for this contract is included in SBCFPD’s 2020-21 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Wildland Program is a valuable resource for SBCFPD as it assists the department with fire suppression, mop-up operations, flood mitigation, and hazardous fuel reduction. The Wildland Program Coordinator (WPC) provides supervision and management for the Wildland Program, which includes SBCFPD’s Hand Crew Firefighters and Heavy Fire Equipment Operators. The WPC may also assume a command role/position on any vegetation fire within the jurisdiction of SBCFPD and serve as the Agency Representative or Unified Incident Commander on multijurisdictional incidents within San Bernardino County. The WPC reports to the SBCFPD Assistant Chief of Training and Special Operations.
Currently, Michael Wakoski is contracted by SBCFPD as the WPC. Mr. Wakoski, who was with the US Forest Service for over 30 years as a Hot Shot Hand Crew member and Division Chief, serves as a Type II Incident Commander on a Federal Incident Management Team. These qualifications make him uniquely qualified to lead and train SBCFPD’s growing wildland fire suppression program. The current contract with Mr. Wakoski, which was approved by the Board of Directors on June 13, 2017 (Item No. 113), is scheduled to end on June 30, 2020.
This new employment contract with Michael Wakoski shall be effective July 1, 2020 and continue until June 30, 2021. The contract may be extended by an additional year with approval of SBCFPD and the contractor. Either party may terminate the contract at any time without cause with a 14-day prior written notice to the other party. The contract may be terminated for just cause immediately by SBCFPD.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Cynthia O’Neill, Supervising Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 19, 2020; Human Resources (Mark DeBoer, Assistant Director, 387-5570) on May 20, 2020; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on May 27, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on June 5, 2020.