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Thursday, May 19, 2011

City Council Votes on LAFD Deployment Plan


I spent Wednesday at City Hall as the City Council voted on the LAFD FY2011-2012 Deployment Plan that would make major cutbacks at Fire Station 69.

As we expected, the new plan was passed overwhelmingly.

Councilman Rosendahl presented a motion asking for full staffing at Fire Station 69. He spoke passionately several times about the fact that we are an isolated community that is a high brush fire zone. He insisted that Chief Peaks and City Council needed to consider that the current construction on the 405 at Sunset, and the sewer construction on PCH, along with the upcoming Santa Monica incline construction cause major traffic gridlock and will hamper response time to the Palisades that could endanger lives.

The bad news is that only two City Councilmembers voted against the proposal. Councilman Rosendahl was one.

The good news is that City Council did vote that this WILL NOT BE A PERMANENT CUT. And any concession from the Fire Union (they are expecting $7 million) would go
right back into restoring service. The Chief said he would be happy to negotiate with the Councilman when they were off the Council floor for a return of some of our men.

As for the jaws of life there is some good news. PPCC brought to the Fire Department's attention at our meeting on Friday that when we are at 50% staffing (which will be on many days with this new plan) the jaws of life will just sit in our station with the hook and ladder truck because there won't be enough manpower to run it. Chief Richmond told me today LAFD realized this was indeed a serious concern. They are now planning to go to the fire foundation that often gives them funds for special items, and get money to buy a battery run jaws of life that can be used on an Engine. We will always have enough men for an Engine.

In addition, City Council order Chief Peaks to report back to them every quarter on how the plan is working so that it can be re-evaluated if necessary. So if necessary
we can go back to City Hall every three months and plead our case.

Janet Turner, Chair
Pacific Palisades Community Council

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