Explanation
BACKGROUND: Over the course of the last year, Mayor Michael B. Coleman and Councilmember Michelle M. Mills have made improving diversity recruiting a priority. The City’s current recruitment process creates unnecessary barriers for some highly qualified applicants, especially women and people of color. Removing unnecessary barriers will allow us to build on our successes, for the benefit of every Columbus neighborhood.
Earlier this year, the Safety Recruiting Working Group began to meet to discuss areas where the recruitment process can improve to make sure that our citizens know about Fire and Police tests and are prepared to take them. A three-day camp for adult Columbus residents was one of the ideas that came out of the Working Group discussions.
This three-day camp will be held at the Ohio Fire Academy. It will give Columbus residents interested in a career with the Division of Fire a better idea of what the job entails. Participants will have the opportunity to become certified in CPR and First Aid and they will receive basic firefighting training. Through keynote speakers and seminars, questions can be answered and any misconceptions about job duties can be eliminated. This camp will also allow more targeted recruiting. Furthermore, the participants will have the opportunity to sign up for the Fire test in the spring. Finally, the camp will increase awareness of the upcoming Fire testing.
The City is competing with the private sector for the best and the brightest. This camp will showcase that public service is a great opportunity for our Columbus citizens.
This legislation authorizes the appropriation and expenditure of $30,000 from the Columbus City Council Public Safety Initiative Fund to hold an introduction to the Columbus Division of Fire camp for Columbus residents.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an appropriation and expenditure from the Columbus City Council Public Safety Initiative Fund.
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