City of Morgan Hill Public Safety Master Plan

personnel, a Battalion Chief in charge of training, an EMS Captain, and a Fire Training Captain. Other members of the organization may assist in providing certain aspects of the training depending on their particular skill set and desire to take on additional duties. The training guidelines and the overall structure of training activities are specified in a very structured process utilized throughout the CAL FIRE system. All employees enter the system as a state certified Fire Fighter-I. This training utilizes a defined a curriculum that is managed for all CAL FIRE Units. Employees must complete a 16-week training academy in which they follow the IFSTA (International Fire Service Training Association) firefighter training curriculum. Upon completion of the fire training academy, employees are placed on a one-year probationary period and assigned to a unit in which their training and skills are assessed and monitored. Upon completion of the training probationary period, all CAL FIRE employees enter a three-year Joint Apprenticeship Program that requires 144 hours of annual training through a defined curriculum. This program is administered jointly by the unit training staff and the employee’s supervisor. CAL FIRE employees are also expected to utilize an Individual Development Plan that specifies individual goals and achievement levels that are utilized in employee evaluations and in consideration for promotion and grade advancements. The Training Division distributes a monthly training calendar that specifies the block of training to be carried out by each of the crews under the supervision of their officer. These include fire training and multi-company drills, wildland training, EMS training, and other specialty training drills or new equipment training and familiarization. CAL FIRE also utilizes online resources to supplement its training activities (Target-Solutions). The unit has access to training simulators for command training and driver operator training. In addition, employees are offered multiple opportunities to attend training offerings throughout the state for enhanced skills and proficiencies that can be included as part of the individual development plan. The CAL FIRE training program is well organized and is monitored on the basis of employee outcomes and individual personnel development. The process is tied to the organizational needs, is closely aligned with the various job descriptions, and is utilized in grade advancement and promotion. The training requirements include regular skill assessments, personal fitness, and an annual medical health evaluation. The training and development process utilized by CAL FIRE is one of the most organized and comprehensive training program CPSM has evaluated in its review of numerous fire departments. We recognized CAL FIRE’s training program as a Best Practice . Emergency management in the City of Morgan Hill is coordinated by the city’s Office of Emergency Services (OES), which operates the under Police Administration. The city has appointed a staff member who serves as its Emergency Services Coordinator. This individual is charged with the oversite of the city’s Emergency Operations Plan and maintaining the readiness of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The city’s EOP is a very comprehensive and well-written document that is kept up to date and exercised regularly. The City Manager is designated as the Director of Emergency Services and is empowered to make a variety of decisions that will guide the city during significant emergency events. The City Manager works closely with the city’s Disaster Council, which is made up of the Mayor, Council Members, and other key city officials (Police Chief, Public Works Director, Fire Chef, Emergency Services Coordinator, and others as needed). The Disaster Council works in an advisory capacity in guiding the City Manager in decision making during a disaster. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT/COOP/HAZARD MITIGATION

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