This is the first of a four phased plan for collaboration/consolidation of fire services across six communities in the Capital City area. This phase will provide a platform for regional collaboration among six communities, building upon and formalizing much of the regional collaboration that has already taken place.
Certain componenets of the plan have been implemented by some of the partners and others are still being worked on.
The Mutual Aid Plan is in effect, the Collaboration Committee has been created, certain communities are working on getting grants to fund their portion of costs for the Blue Card Command Training Center and have not yet signed. The Purchase of mobile data terminals and support equipment has not happened as the members of the iniative are trying to seek grant funding for this.
2014 Update:
Barriers/Challenges to implementation:
Varying levels of interest in sharing fire services along with varying service expectations;
Compensation, policies, procedures, schedules, rank, promotions and collective bargaining agreements vary among all of the six communities making uniform operation very complex;
Legacy costs (pension and healthcare) vary among the six communities as well as the levels to which they are funded;
Different forms of government (city, township, strong-mayor, council/manager) which have different political dynamics;