2022-02 Hawaii Fire Department Performance Audit

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Initially, several policies were created which aligned with the plan. However, over time, most of the items in the plan were not achieved, and some of the items that were initially developed were not maintained. Some deliverables could not be substantiated. Because the strategic plan was described as dynamic and subject to periodic review, failure to implement an item in and of itself does not constitute a failure of the plan. We noted that current HFD leadership had no ownership of the plan, and attestation relied on the current leadership's familiarity with historical activity. A master plan creates a vision and should encompass a ten-year timespan. A strategic plan identifies a subset of items from the master plan that can be achieved in a much shorter three-to-five-year time frame. Masterplan Overview Masterplans also referred to as growth management plans, match the current level of services being provided with the anticipated growth of the communities they serve. In short, the masterplan answers three questions: • Where are we now? • Where will we need to be in the future? • How do we get there? The plan life is expected to be relevant for ten years and, because of the complexity, usually requires a third-party consultant. The masterplan assesses the current conditions, the department, and the environment it operates in. Fire department masterplans often incorporate Insurance Services Office (ISO) statistical and actuarial information to educate the department and community of the risks they face because of the fire organization's distribution of resources and fire service performance. The sophistication of plans varies, but it is generally assumed agencies that service populations greater than 100,000 residents will use more robust data capture methods. Elements of a masterplan address a wide range of issues depending on the mission, where the department is at, and what it still needs to accomplish. This may include organization charts, procedures, recordkeeping, staffing, service delivery, performance, training, and future delivery system models. Master plans take time, planning, and resources. If the department does not possess the internal skills or software to gather and analyze its own data, then it should expect to outsource. We found simple plans ranging from $ 78,000 for a department the size of HFD with larger masterplans costing approximately $ 144,000, including modules that address: 15 Page