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 Environmenta...
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