|
1. Establish cooperative working
relationships with neighboring jurisdictions in order to
provide the most efficient and cost effective services
possible.
The department must develop close, cooperative
relationships with neighboring jurisdictions.
Through increased inter-departmental cooperation,
considerable benefits may be gained including better
utilization of resources, improved training and cost
reduction due to joint purchasing, administrative
overhead and maintenance. To improve
relationships, the department will:
- Become an active participant in regional fire
protection issues.
- Continue to participate in the West Thurston Fire
Consortium.
- Seek joint training opportunities among
neighboring jurisdictions.
- Investigate cost saving and/or
consolidation/merger opportunities with neighboring
jurisdictions.
2. Be a model agency in providing superior
services in a suburban/rural environment.
The department incorporates a unique blend of
volunteer, station resident, part-time and full-time
members in our service delivery system. This model
provides a cost-effective method of providing rapid
response with highly trained personnel. To become
a role model in the delivery of emergency services in a
suburban/rural environment, the department will:
- Provide facilities for the housing of Resident and
Volunteer Firefighters.
- Establish a written training program to ensure
personnel meet and exceed training mandates.
- Provide funding to ensure current career staffing
levels are maintained.
- Expand the Volunteer program to enable additional
volunteer response for major emergencies.
- Ensure the organization provides apparatus and
facilities that meet current and future needs.
3. Provide for greater organizational stability.
The department must operate in an environment less
likely to be adversely affected by external
threats. For this to occur, the department will:
- Expand the volunteer firefighter program, which
will enable less dependence on the student
firefighter program for staffing.
- Secure long-term funding to ensure current service
levels.
- Seek creative solutions to overcome budgetary
limitations.
- Enlist community support in providing an
appropriate level of department funding to ensure
the continued employment of the career firefighters.
4. Develop excellent public relations
through frequent community contact and superior customer
service.
The department must proactively work to communicate
the service delivery capability and provide the citizens
an opportunity to determine the type and quality of
service they would like to be provided. In order
for this to occur, the department will:
- Establish a community advisory committee.
- Maximize the use of current facilities to develop
close neighborhood ties with the community.
- Adopt a Customer Service policy to serve as a
guide for department personnel.
- Expand the community disaster preparedness
program.
|
