LAGUNA BEACH : City Rejects Funding Firefighters Survey

City firefighters interested in joining the higher-paying Orange County Fire Authority were disappointed Tuesday night when the City Council would not help fund a study on whether such a switch would benefit the city.

The council did, however, agree to address “salary inequities” within the department and to consider ways to improve training and equipment.

Disgruntled city firefighters, the lowest-paid in the county, have been lobbying city leaders to consider joining the authority, which they maintain would benefit Laguna Beach while boosting salaries and enhancing career opportunities for local firefighters.

On Tuesday night, firefighters’ union president Steen Jensen said the union would pay half of the $15,000 cost for the Orange County Fire Authority study, providing the union gets its money back if the figures show a savings for the city.

“We’re putting our money where our mouth is, because we believe there’s a savings to be had,” Jensen told the council.

While not rejecting the possibility that the city might someday make the switch, council members said most residents like having a fire department of their own.

“This is not a budget issue, this is not a numbers issue,” Councilman Wayne J. Baglin said.

The council also directed city staff to define the level of fire service desired by the city and to phase out the relief firefighter program, moves welcomed by Jensen.

In the past, firefighters have complained about hiring relief firefighters, who receive no benefits.