CC - Agendas - City Council - STUDY SESSION - 2/14/2023

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Community First - Courage, Grit, and Duty - Driven by Excellence Page 28 Strategic Issue Statements The stakeholder outreach from both 2019 and 2022, diligent work on the formation of a defined organizational identity, and the department’s Community Risk Assessment and Standards of Cover were the foundation of formulating the key issues influencing the planning needs of the Prescott Fire Department for the next five years. This area is representative of a departure from traditional planning methods as not only are the key issues identified, but an analysis of the impact of inaction is also represented to show the impact on the community for prioritizing needs of the department. It is important to note that these statements are not the result of an individual lack of action in the past or that a stakeholder group failed to act. Instead, they are a realistic and fact-based assessment of the current conditions that are influencing the strategic objectives contained in this plan. Therefore, the focus of these statements must be to motivate future initiatives and not to look retrospectively at prior efforts to influence these factors. They are a call to solving collective problems that the community shares, along with a wide-ranging set of issues facing the community beyond emergency services. The following statements represent the seven most significant strategic issues that impact the ability of the Prescott Fire Department to meet the current and expected community demand for emergency response and risk mitigation services. Issue 1: Staffing and Infrastructure The needs of the department for staffing and infrastructure have not been effectively communicated, resulting in a lack of understanding and prioritization by fiscal decision-makers and the community, which, if it continues, will result in: • Continued inadequate staffing levels to meet service demands • Continued inadequate infrastructure and equipment to meet community expectations and risk • Poor patient outcomes • Negative social and economic results from a devastating event • Negative impact on the wellness of our first responders Issue 2: Occupational Safety Due to a changing emergency response environment coupled with inadequate facilities, equipment, and policies for Prescott Fire, members face increased exposure to chemicals, violent incidents, workloads, and stress. If national standards, codes, and recommendations are not addressed, exposures will continue to be imposed on our personnel, resulting in: • Increased rates of injury, illness, and cancer • Increased mental health issues • Increased healthcare costs • Loss of personnel 107