Fire officials to review efficiency recommendations

Recommendations to improve efficiency in Las Vegas Fire & Rescue are scheduled to be presented to the Las Vegas City Council in January.

The recommendations came as the result of a six-month review of the department's operations by International City/County Management Association, costing the city $155,000.

"How do we continue to deliver the same level of quality while serving a growing number of people?" Fire Chief Mike Myers said. "We have to work more fiscally responsible and efficiently."

The department has increased spending 43 percent over an eight-year period, from $77 million to $111 million, according to Myers.

The study yielded 23 recommendations, including eliminating the duplication of services between Las Vegas Fire & Rescue and valley ambulance companies.

To rectify the situation, the department could either discontinue emergency medical transport services - saving the city $14 million to $18 million a year - or take over all EMS transports from private ambulance companies - generating an estimated $12 million to $14 million in revenue.

Both options are feasible, Myers said.

"We're going to have to put a team together and really go through the document," he said. "If we can find ways to run better, I'm welcome to it."

Representatives from the International City/County Management Association plan to present their findings to the city council during a January meeting, but Myers said he is hesitant to put a time line on the proceedings.

"We can implement many of the recommendations in the first six months," he said. "The rest we will try to get done by the end of 2013."

City Manager Elizabeth Fretwell said she believes it is a process worth going through.

"The purpose of the study is to find new and better ways of delivering fire and rescue services more efficiently," Fretwell said in a statement. "This is a long process, and we will be thoughtful and thorough in our review of these recommendations."

Other recommendations include the establishment of demand-based staffing with 12- and 24-hour shifts to improve productivity; maintenance of appropriate staffing levels to reduce overtime pay and expense; and policies that better manage scheduled and unscheduled leave and sick leave.

The full report can be found on the city's website at lasvegasnevada.gov/publications/27724.htm.

Contact Paradise/Downtown View reporter Nolan Lister at nlister@viewnews.com or 702-383-0492.