The City of San Diego contracted Citygate on an as-needed basis for consultation work to support, evaluate, and review various areas of operation within the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. The current projects include an EMS ambulance deployment study and a review of staffing levels, hiring, and training programs within the Emergency Command and Data Center.

Citygate, in partnership with COAR Design Group (formerly Jeff Katz Architecture), assessed the space and facility needs of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department’s Emergency Communications and Data Center to provide space-needs planning for this essential public facility in a way that can cost-effectively evolve. This assessment included researching the benefits of sharing space with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Interagency Command and Communications Center.

Citygate performed an assessment of the capabilities of the City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department to perform all-risk maritime response to the Port of San Diego. This assessment included a review of the capabilities of partnering agencies within and adjacent to the Port and a gap and risk/benefit analysis, among other operational and training assessments.

Citygate completed an ambulance services contract analysis for the City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. This study included a peer review of existing deployment and compliance measures and methods, a review of the ambulance provider’s plan for improving response time performance, and the negotiation of a system stabilization contract amendment on behalf of the City. In addition, Citygate helped co-design a Request for Proposal to successfully re-bid the system.

Citygate completed an emergency command and data center staffing study to enable the City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department to create a blueprint for a new command center while efficiently planning for the long-term growth of the center and being mindful of the future costs of repairs, upgrades, or expansion. Citygate partnered with COAR Design Group (formerly Jeff Katz Architecture), a nationally acclaimed public safety design firm.

Citygate completed a fire dispatch merger feasibility study for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department with the Heartland Communications Facility Authority and North County Dispatch Joint Powers Authority, along with a parallel feasibility study of merging lifeguard dispatch with San Diego Fire Dispatch.

Citygate completed a Standards of Coverage update analysis based on our 2010 study for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, including a comprehensive assessment of the Department’s deployment fact-pattern in light of changes over the prior six years.

Citygate used the fire station location study geographic information services model it performed in 2011 to help staff locate final parcels for needed fire stations.

Citygate conducted a fire service Standards of Coverage deployment study for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, which serves a population over 1.25 million. The study broke new ground by determining the appropriate number of additional fire stations critically needed and then recommended Fast Response Squads staffed by two firefighters/paramedics for adaptive peak-hour deployment. The study independently reviewed in depth the existing fire and emergency medical risks to be protected and the current and desirable response system to meet these needs and recommended a best-fit solution to most effectively leverage the existing situation while allowing the development of an even stronger regional response system to benefit everyone.