The memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Idyllwild Fire Protection District (IFPD) and Idyllwild Career Firefighter’s Association (ICFA) will go before the IFPD board of commissioners for approval.
The ad hoc committee, made up of IFPD commissioners Rhonda Andrewson and Henry Sawicki, finalized the MOU with ICFA, recommending it for board approval.
Below compares some items between the prior MOU (July 1, 2016- June 30, 2021) and the one up for approval. The 2016-2021 MOU is on the department’s website and the 2021-2026 is included with the January meeting board packet.

Staffing
2016-2021: IFPD and ICFA agree to a career staff minimum daily staffing of 3/0, including one fire captain (paramedic), one fire apparatus engineer (EMT-B or paramedic) and firefighter (EMT-B or paramedic). There are to be at minimum two paramedics and one EMT-B.
2021-2026: Same as prior MOU

Salaries
2016-2021: Captain paramedic annual salary from $68,479.02 to $83,696.58, Engineer paramedic annual salary from $60,974.16 to $74,523.98, Engineer EMT annual salary from $51,498.45 to $62,942.55, Firefighter paramedic annual salary from $45,708.35 to $55,865.77, Firefighter EMT annual salary from $37,301.58 to $45,590.82, Assistant chief annual salary is not included, Battalion chief annual salary from $71,516.30 to $87,146.38.
2021-2026: Captain paramedic annual salary from $75,326.92 to $92,066.24, Engineer paramedic annual salary from $67,071.63 to $81,976.44, Engineer EMT annual salary from $56,648.35 to $69,236.88, Firefighter paramedic annual salary from $50,279.25 to $61,452.42, Firefighter EMT annual salary from $41,031.74 to $50,149.90, Assistant chief annual salary from $84,514.23 to $108,681.58, Battalion chief annual salary from $78,253.92 to $95,643.68. See photo with the story for steps.

Work period
2016-2021: nine shifts in 27 consecutive days, two

consecutive shall be 24 hours each from 8 a.m. to 8 a.m. under the guidelines of the “48/96 hour” platoon schedule.
2021-2026: Same as prior MOU

Work week
2016-2021: “The established work week for district employees assigned to shifts is 56 hours and is based on a three platoon system.” Regular drills are paid at overtime rate. On duty personnel shall not be additionally compensated for drills. Approved standby time by regular employees shall be compensated at the overtime rate and “all district employees shall respond to fire and other alarms as directed, even when it results in working more than 56 hours per week.”
2021-2026: Same as prior MOU

Health insurance
2016-2021: provided through PERS and the district will contribute $650 per month for firefighters, $850 for engineers and $1,050 for captains. The plan “will be increased each subsequent year by $100 to a maximum amount of $1,250 for every employee.”
2021-2026: provided through PERS and the district will contribute $850 per month for firefighters, $1050 for engineers and $1,250 for captains. The plan “will be increased each subsequent year by $100 to a maximum amount of $1,550 for every employee.”

Life insurance stipend
2016-2021: lump sum caps are 0-5 years of service: $300 per employee, 6-10 years of service: $450 per employee, 11-15 years of service: $550 per employee, 15-separation: $650 per employee.
2021-2026: lump sum caps are 0-5 years of service: $600 per employee, 6-10 years of service: $750 per employee, 11-15 years of service: $900 per employee, 15-separation: $1,200 per employee.

The residence requirement has been removed. In the prior MOU, staff hired after July 1, 2016 (original hire date, not probation completion date) were mandated to reside within 50 drive miles of the station and the relocation had to be completed within six months after probation was completed. Extensions and exceptions were granted on a case-by-case basis.