HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-12-10; Operational Impacts Resulting from Oceanside Fire Department Resource Reduction (Districts - All); Patnoe, GeoffTo the members of the:
CITY COUNCIL
Date ~CAV CC ✓
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December 10, 2025
Council Memorandum
To:
From:
Honorable Mayor Blackburn a~~':'~mbers of the City Council
Geoff Patnoe, City Manager ~
Michael Calderwood, Fire Chie
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2025072
Re: Operational Impacts Resulting from Oceanside Fire Department Resource Reduction
(Districts -All)
This memorandum provides information related to operational impacts resulting from a resource
reduction by the City of Oceanside Fire Department.
Background
On December 1, 2025, Oceanside Fire Chief David Parsons notified the City of Carlsbad that the
City of Oceanside will open Fire Station 9 in the northeastern portion of Oceanside on
December 13, 2025, and will suspend its paramedic ambulance at Oceanside Fire Station 2 due to
an "unforeseen budget issue." Personnel assigned to the Fire Station 2 ambulance will be
reassigned to partially staff the new fire station. Oceanside expects this operational change to
remain in effect until at least July 2026, pending City Council authorization of additional
firefighter positions.
Discussion
This closure removes a critical emergency medical resource along the Carlsbad-Oceanside
border and significantly impacts the closest-resource automatic aid agreement under which fire
agencies in North San Diego County operate. Carlsbad Fire Station 1 and Oceanside Fire Station 2
ambulances respond to approximately 4,500 total calls annually, regardless of jurisdiction. With
Oceanside's ambulance out of service, Carlsbad's ambulance is expected to absorb a substantial
portion of this displaced call volume, resulting in increased workload, reduced ambulance
availability, and longer response times in Carlsbad.
Given the limited two-week notice of this change, the City of Carlsbad must evaluate operational
options to mitigate impacts to emergency medical services delivery. On December 2, 2025, I
contacted the Oceanside City Manager to confirm this is the path the City of Oceanside intends
to pursue and expressed concern on behalf of the city regarding Oceanside's upcoming changes
to ambulance service in their city.
Options for Consideration
In consultation with Carlsbad Fire Chief Calderwood over the last few days, a series of options
have been considered for both short-and long-term solutions should the City of Oceanside
proceed with and/or maintain this shift of resources for an extended period.
Fire Department
2560 Orion Way I Carlsbad, CA 92010 I 442-339-2141 t
Council Memo -Operational Impacts from Oceanside Fire Department Resource Reduction
December 10, 2025
Page 2
Option 1: Do Nothing
Anticipated Results:
• Increased call volume per unit for Carlsbad ambulances
Fiscal Impact:
• Increased transport revenue resulting from higher transport volume
Operational Benefits:
• None
Operational Challenges:
• Reduced ambulance availability
• Longer response times
• Increased unit-hour utilization on already heavily used units
• Elevated risk of burnout among emergency personnel
Option 2: Increase EMT Staffing Using Additional Part-Time EMTs and Staff an Ambulance
Anticipated Results:
• Immediate EMT recruitment needed
• Improved ambulance availability and response coverage
• Reduced operational strain on existing ambulances
• Allows for a quick and temporary solution awaiting Oceanside's next move on
resolving this challenge
Fiscal Impact:
• Requires additional funding of at least $300,000 in fiscal year 2025-26 to increase
the budgeted part-time hours
• Higher staffing and overtime costs exceeding existing funding limits
• Increased transport revenue expected to offset personnel costs, with recovery
likely exceeding expenses
Operational Benefits:
• Maintains expected service levels for Carlsbad residents
• Stabilizes unit-hour utilization on already heavily used units
• Helps prevent risk of burnout among emergency personnel
• Supports regional reliability by preventing system overload
Operational Challenges:
• Maximum annual allowed hours already reached by many current part-time EMTs,
limiting opportunities with existing personnel
• Additional recruitments of part-time EMTs to sustain operations through end of
fiscal year
Council Memo -Operational Impacts from Oceanside Fire Department Resource Reduction
December 10, 2025
Page 3
• Historical difficulty with part-time EMT hiring and retention
• Dependent on successful part-time recruitment of EMTs
• Potential force-hire of existing full-time emergency personnel if part-time EMT
recruitment efforts fall short
o Elevated risk of burnout among existing emergency personnel
o Higher overtime expenses if force-hiring becomes necessary
• Temporary solution requiring ongoing support and additional funding
• Convert a reserve ambulance for temporary use
• No guarantee the City of Oceanside will restore its paramedic ambulance
Option 3: Temporarily Upstaff a Carlsbad Paramedic Ambulance
Anticipated Results:
• Improved ambulance availability and response coverage
• Reduced operational strain on existing ambulances
Fiscal Impact:
• Higher staffing and overtime costs of approximately $600,000, exceeding existing
funding limits
• Increased transport revenue resulting from higher transport volume
Operational Benefits:
• Maintains expected service levels for Carlsbad residents
• Stabilizes unit-hour utilization on already heavily used units
• Supports regional reliability by preventing system overload
Operational Challenges:
• Potential scheduling difficulties and increased forced hiring
• Elevated risk of burnout among existing emergency personnel
• Temporary solution requiring ongoing support and additional funding
Recommendation
Based on a recommendation from Fire Chief Calderwood and operational projections and system
impact analysis, I am directing that the city proceed with option 2 to provide an immediate, cost-
effective measure to address the service gap resulting from the City of Oceanside's action. As this
would involve temporary or part time hours, the City Manager has the authority to approve this
option without City Council authorization. Upon resolution of the current situation, the Carlsbad
City Council may evaluate whether to discontinue this temporary approach or transition to a
longer-term solution to enhance long-term system resilience. There are sufficient funds
remaining in the Operating Budget; however, to ensure there are not any shortfalls at the end of
the fiscal year, additional appropriations necessary to fund this effort will likely be requested as
part of the fiscal year 2025-26 Mid-Year Budget Report in February 2026.
Council Memo -Operational Impacts from Oceanside Fire Department Resource Reduction
December 10, 2025
Page 4
Next Steps
The City of Oceanside's decision to suspend its paramedic ambulance presents immediate and
substantial operational challenges for the City of Carlsbad's EMS system. Without intervention,
the anticipated increase in workload and response times could adversely affect service delivery
and staff well-being. Today's action will offer short-term mitigation and will serve the best
interests of our residents and those who live in in Oceanside who may now have to rely more on
our assistance in an emergency. I will continue to evaluate the situation and will provide
recommendations to the City Council on whether to extend should Oceanside's "unforeseen
budget issue" not be addressed.
cc: Cindie McMahon, City Attorney
Sheila Cobian, Assistant City Manager
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services
Zach Korach, Finance Director
Darrin Schwabe, Human Resources Director
Nick Ordille, Assistant Fire Chief