Fire department outlines budget calendar, COVID safety posture and to-agendize slow-streets discussion

Chief Janine Nicholson told the commission the department was in the final week of discussions with the Mayor's budget office and that the Mayor will introduce the budget June 1. Nicholson said the department is scheduled to present to the Board of Supervisors on June 17 and June 24 and that earlier requested cuts were no longer expected; she said the department expects at a minimum to “remain whole” and hopes proposed additions will be approved.

On employee health and safety, Deputy Chief Jose Luis Velo reported department vaccination numbers: "74 percent of our members" were vaccinated in April and the department had “no new cases” in April and one new community-spread case in May. At a later point Nicholson said the department had identified roughly "242 members that have not been vaccinated and actually have said that they will not be vaccinated." She told commissioners the department will follow city and state public-health guidance, including Cal/OSHA, and will not lift station masking rules until official workplace guidance changes.

Commissioners also discussed an Emergency Firefighting Water System feasibility study being coordinated with the Public Utilities Commission. Velo said a draft report on a West-Side saltwater pump-station feasibility will be presented to the Board of Supervisors by June 30 and described the project as resource- and approval-intensive.

On future agendas, several commissioners requested a return visit by MTA staff to continue a prior presentation on slow streets and permanent shared spaces so the commission can ask questions and consider whether to send a letter to the Board of Supervisors. The Fire Marshal offered to participate in that discussion. Staff said the slow-streets item should be agendized for a future meeting.

Next steps: department will present budget materials to supervisors in June, continue to follow public-health guidance on mask and vaccination policy, and staff will schedule a follow-up MTA/slow-streets briefing for the commission.