REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the City Manager to execute the Side Letter Agreement between the City and the Santa Clara Firefighters, IAFF Local 1171 (Unit 1) for the Tuition Reimbursement Pilot Program (Paramedic School) and Approve the Related Budget Amendment
Report
BACKGROUND
Employees represented by the Santa Clara Firefighters, IAFF Local 1171 (hereafter, “Unit 1”) are entitled to tuition reimbursement of up to $2,000 per fiscal year, subject to available funding, under City Manager’s Directive 26 (Attachment 1), entitled “Tuition Reimbursement Program” (hereafter, “CMD 26”).
Currently, there is a nationwide shortage of paramedics, including in the Santa Clara Fire Department. Five (5) current employees volunteered to go to “Paramedic School” and obtain their paramedic licenses to help address the shortage of paramedics in the Fire Department.
“Paramedic School” consists of three (3) distinct portions: “Didactic” which is the classroom work; “Clinical” where students work in area hospitals to gain the required hours of experience; and “Field” where students perform work in the Fire Department at a station or ambulance to gain the required hours of paramedic performance. Foothill College commenced a “Paramedic School” in September 2025. To help alleviate the costs to the employees, the City engaged in discussions with Unit 1 to extend CMD 26 to reimburse the full classroom tuition of approximately $9,000 for each employee, for a total reimbursement of $45,000.
DISCUSSION
The recommended action authorizes the City Manager to execute the Side Letter Agreement (Attachment 2) reached with Unit 1 on a Pilot Program to reimburse five (5) employees the tuition for the classroom portion at Foothill College to obtain their paramedic licenses beyond the specified limit of $2,000 per fiscal year as set forth in CMD 26.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
The estimated tuition is $9,000 per employee, for a total tuition reimbursement of $45,000 for the five employees who volunteered for the program. To cover this cost within the Fire Department, staff recommends appropriating $45,000 from ambulance transport revenue received from public healthcare providers and patients for Fire Department ambulance transport to hospitals. Under the current Santa Clara County dispatch orders, the City is allowed to transport patients to hospitals in conjunction with Country contracted ambulance services.
Budget Amendment
FY 2025/26
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Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
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General Fund |
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Revenues Other Fees for Services - Ambulance Transport Expenditures Fire Department |
$100,000 $70,335,667 |
$45,000 $45,000 |
$145,000 $70,380,667 |
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Finance Department and City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov, or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute the Side Letter Agreement between the City and the Santa Clara Firefighters, IAFF Local 1171 (Unit 1) for the Tuition Reimbursement Pilot Program (Paramedic School); and
2. Approve the FY 2025/26 budget amendment in the General Fund to increase the Other Fees for Services estimate by $45,000 and increase the Fire Department appropriation in the amount of $45,000 (five affirmative Council votes required to appropriate additional revenue).
Staff
Reviewed by: Marco Mercado, Acting Director of Human Resources
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. City Manager’s Directive 26 - Tuition Reimbursement Program
2. Side Letter Agreement - City and IAFF Unit 1 (Paramedic School)