Appointment of Fire ChiefMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
DATE:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Fire Chief Appointment
August 7, 2014
Dubuque
All-Amenca City
II
2007 • 2012 2013
I am pleased to recommend the appointment of Dubuque Assistant Fire Chief Rick
Steines as the new Fire Chief. Rick began his employment with the City on June 14,
1985. He received promotions to Fire Equipment Operator on November 20, 1988, Fire
Lieutenant on August 17, 1990, Fire Captain on July 12, 1992 and Assistant Fire Chief
on July 6, 1999. Rick served as Assistant Fire Chief in both training and suppression
activities. Rick has an Associate's Degree in Fire Science from Northeast Iowa
Community College and has completed the Executive Leadership course at the National
Fire Academy. He also attended the Midwest Fire Service and Executive Institute and
has obtained an Iowa Fire Service Senior Management Certificate.
The selection of Rick is a culmination of a national search and lengthy evaluation
process. Following a review of the applications and questionnaires submitted by the
candidates, I selected six candidates to interview. Four of the candidates are City of
Dubuque Firefighters and two candidates were from outside the department. The
evaluation process involved two separate structured interviews. The interview panelists
included Building Services Manager Rich Russell, Training and Workforce Development
Coordinator Andre Lessears, Dubuque County Emergency Management Agency
Director Tom Berger, Dubuque Firefighter Professional Association President Bob
Rehfeldt, Emergency Communications Manager Mark Murphy, Assistant City Manager
Cindy Steinhauser, Economic Development Director Maurice Jones, Leisure Services
Manager Marie Ware, Police Chief Mark Da!sing, Personnel Manager Randy Peck and
me. Those department managers who were not involved in the interview process were
invited to either a lunch or breakfast with each of the candidates.
Rick has the attitude, work ethic, knowledge and leadership qualities that will continue
to make the Dubuque Fire Department one of the finest in the country. I am pleased to
recommend to you the appointment of Rick Steines as Fire Chief, and I look forward to
working with Rick as we continue to improve the high level of services provided to the
citizens of Dubuque. If you approve my recommendation, the appointment will be
effective on August 18, 2014.
I respectfully request the Mayor and City Council approval of my recommendation to
appoint Rick Steines as Fire Chief.
MVM/Imh
2
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
Rick Steines
3087 John F. Kennedy Road
Dubuque, Iowa 52002
563-583-8005
rsteines(a,cityofdubuque.orq
Objective
Further challenge my leadership abilities as the City of Dubuque Fire Chief.
Skills
Participatory leader.
Life-long learner and career -long instructor.
Reliable, organized, thorough.
Experience
Assistant Fire Chief (15 years) serving in both training and suppression divisions.
Department grant writer/administrator with over 51.1 million success to date.
Heavily involved in budget preparation and administration.
Partner in the development of the regional training center.
Led the development of rope, vehicle and confined space rescue programs.
Worked with multiple governmental and private partners on various projects.
Education
Associate in Arts degree (fire science), Northeast Iowa Community College.
Executive Fire Officer Program (EFO), National Fire Academy Emmitsburg MD.
Midwest Fire Service and Executive Institute.
Iowa Fire Service Senior Management Certificate Program.
References
Available upon request.
24
APPLICATION FOR THE POSITION.
OF
FIRE CHIEF
Prepared by:
NAME: Steines • Rick A.
Last First Middle Initial
ADDRESS: 3087 JFK
Street
Dubuque Iowa 52002
City State Zip Code
TELEPHONE: (563) 583-8005 (563) 589-4172
Home Office
•
E-MAIL
ADDRESS: rsteines(a�cityofdubuque,orq
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION
Please complete all sections of this application. Please return the completed form to
Randy Peck, Personnel Manager, City Hall, 50 West 13th Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001-
4864 or citype. rsRcityofdubuque.orq, by 5:00 PM on May 14, 2014.
The selection process will involve a review of this application. Finalists will be invited to
participate in an interview process.
Thank you for your interest in the position of'Fire Chief.
THE CITY OF DUBUQUE IS AN
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
1
Education, Training and Work History
Formal Education (Begin with highest degreeobtained)
1. Northeast Iowa Community College
8342 NICC Dr. Fire Science
Address Major Course Work
Peosta Iowa 52068
City State Zip
Undergraduate X Graduate
2. National Fire Academy
16825 South Seton Ave
Address
Other Course Work
Degree M
Executive Leadership
Major Course Work
Emmitsburq MD 21727 Risk Management/Emergency Management
City State Zip Other Course Work
Undergraduate
3. Marquette High School
502 Franklin Street
Address
Graduate X Degree Executive Fire Officer
Bellevue IA 52031
City State Zip
General Education
Major Course Work
Other Course Work
Undergraduate Graduate X Degree High School Diploma
2
Work Related Training
1. .Title of Course or Workshop: Midwest Fire Service Management Program
*Length of Course or Workshop: 32 hours
Sponsor of Course or Workshop: Fire Service institute Ca? Iowa State University
2. Title of Course or Workshop: Iowa Fire Service Senior Management Workshops
*Length of Course or Workshop: 35 hours -
Sponsor of Course or Workshop: Fire Service Institute a Iowa State University
3. Title of Course or Workshop: Community Fire Protection: Master Planning
*Length of Course or Workshop: 42 hours, residence course
Sponsor of Course or Workshop: National Fire Academy, Emmitsburg MD
*List in terms of contact hours of actual instruction. Usually a full day of training is 6 or 6
1/2 hours.
3
Work History
Please start with your current or most recent position and work backward for ten (10)
years or until you entered the labor market, whichever is first. Briefly describe your
duties and responsibilities. Includeforeach position shown the name, address and ,
telephone number of your immediate supervisor. Please attach additional sheets, if
necessary.
1. Name of Employing Firm: Dubuque Fire Department
Job Title: Assistant Fire Chief Monthly Salary: $7654
Employed From: February 2006 To: Present
Duties and Responsibilities: Suppression shift commander. Direct, and command
on -duty force, respond to emergency incidents as the incident commander. Handle
administrative tasks including staffing, training, budget and program management.
Reason for Leaving: N/A
Name and Title of Immediate Supervisor: E. Daniel Brown, Fire Chief
Current Address: 11 West 9th Street Dubuque, Iowa 52001
Telephone Number: (563) 543-4389
Home
E-mail Address: dbrown@cityofdubuque.org
(563) 589-4160
Office
2. Name of Employing Firm: Dubuque Fire Deparment
Job Title: Assistant Fire Chief Monthly Salary:
Employed From: July 1999 To: February 2006
Duties and Responsibilities: Department training officer. Plan, evaluate, and present
training on all fire service topics. Develop training programs, oversee hazardous
materials and special operations programs. Manage entrance physical ability testing.
Develop and administer department safety program.
Reason for Leaving: Transfer to suppression position.
Name and Title of Immediate Supervisor: E. Daniel Brown, Fire Chief
Current Address: 11 West 9th Street Dubuque, Iowa 52001
Telephone Number: (563) 543-4389
Home
E-mail Address: dbrown(c�cityofdubuque.orq
4
(563) 589-4160
Office
May inquiry be made of your present employer regarding your character, qualifications
and record of employment? Yes { X } No { }•
May inquiry be made of your past employer(s) regarding your character, qualifications.
and record of employment? Yes { X } No { }
Name of Employer
Dubuque Fire
Department
Supervisory Experience
Your Number of Employees
Position Title Supervised
Assistant
Chief/Division 27 8,5 years
Experience
Years/Months
Dubuque Fire
Department
Assistant
Chief/Training Varied 0-89 6.5 years
Dubuque Fire
Department
Captain
1 -- 3 7 years
Dubuque Fire
Department
Lieutenant
1 — 2 2 years
Articles Authored
(Copies available upon request)
Date of Publication Title
Publisher
August 2013 How Do You Get to Carneige Hall? Blaze Publications Inc.
(Iowa Firefighter) 512 Sumner Ave. Humbolt, Iowa 50548
December 2011 What's Behind Door Number One? Blaze Publications Inc.
April 2011 The Other Fire Behavior Blaze Publications Inc.
February 2008 Unsung Among Heroes Blaze Publications Inc.
March 2006 Meeting the Challenge In a Fast -paced World G. A. Publishing (Julien's
Journal) 432 Bluff St. Dubuque, IA 52001
July 2003 Everything I Need to Know About the Fire Service I Learned as a
Volunteer Blaze Publications Inc,
6
References
Please list threereferences who would be qualified to . comment- on your work
experience, No more than one should be a supervisor mentioned in the WORK
HISTORY section of this application.
1. NAME: Brown E, Daniel
Last First Middle Initial
ADDRESS: 11 West 9th Street Dubuque Iowa 52001
Street City State Zip Code
TELEPHONE (563)543-4389 (563) 589-4160
Home Office
E-MAIL ADDRESS: dbrown@cityofdubuque.orq
2. NAME: Rick Randall • R.
Last First Middle Initial
ADDRESS: 20361 Kruse Ln. Sherill Iowa 52073
Street City State Zip Code
TELEPHONE: (563) 583-9621 ( ) • -
Home Office
E-MAIL ADDRESS:
3, NAME: McDonald
Last
Bryan F.
First Middle initial
ADDRESS: 201 Summer Dr. Asbury Iowa 52002
Street City State Zip Code
TELEPHONE: (563) 451-8257 (563) 589-4160
Home _ Office
E-MAIL ADDRESS: bmcdonal a(�cityofdubuque.orq
Additional Comments and Information
Please use the space below for any other comments or information you feel is important
to your candidacy, including salary expectations.
1 am applying for the fire chief position out of a true desire to improve the. Dubuque
fire department and myself. I do not claim to know everything about leading a city
department, or to have all the fire service answers. I always have, and will continue to
rely on, the exceptional people around me for support. What I can offer is my continued
dedication and sincere devotion to this job. Over the past 29 years I've come to realize
my good fortune in working for the City of Dubuque. I believe ours is an outstanding
municipal organization, of which I'm proud to play a small part.
The city has always treated me well regarding salary. I am very interested in a
salary structure dependent on my acquisition of a four-year degree. 1 look forward to
discussing this and other issues in the future.
am also attaching a resume for your use.
Thank You.
I CERTIFY that all of the statements made in this Application are true, complete and
correct to the i est ofj y knowledge and belief.
SIGNA URE
23
DATE