HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08111992 - 2.1 (2) 2. 10
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on August 11, 1992 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
(See below for vote) t
ABSENT
ABSTAIN:
--------------
SUBJECT: Report on` Fire District Functional Integration Status
The Board received from the County Administrator the status
report on the functional integration of County fire districts and the
development of alternatives for consideration by the Board. The
County Administrator presented several alternatives for consideration
within the scope of the existing functional integration study and
recommended that the Board determine those alternatives it desired to
have included in the study. A copy of that report is attached and
included as a part of this document.
In addition, the County Administrator has advised that the
Richmond Fire Department has given notice that is was not interested
in continuing to provide administrative services to the West County
Fire Protection District. The County Administrator has included in
his report for Board approval Recommendation No. 3 that would direct
the Contra Costa Fire Protection District to assist the West County
Fire District with its administration.
The Board received a letter dated August 10, 1992, from Louis
Ginochio, Chairperson, Board of Commissioners, East Diablo Fire
Protection District, 745 First Street, Brentwood 94513 , requesting
the Board of Supervisors to not take any action at this time to
create a single-county nor an East-County Fire District.
The following persons spoke:
Sue Noe, Commissioner, Board of Fire Commissioners, Moraga Fire
Protection District, 23 La Salle Drive, Moraga; and
Russell S. Greenlaw, West County Firefighters, 643 Abrigo Court,
San Ramon.
Supervisor McPeak advised that the study is aimed to review all
options to achieve administrative and operational cost savings. She
emphasized that no decision is being made at this time on functional
integration but only to "en sure that all pertinent issues are
included in the study. She then called for a vote on the
recommendations of the County Administrator.
IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that Recommendations Nos. 1 and 2 are
APPROVED with the determination that all alternatives be considered
within the scope of the existing functional integration study; the
Board REQUESTED the County Administrator to meet with the fire chiefs
to review the projected savings that may be realized as proposed in
the program alternatives.
The vote on the motion was as follows:
AYES: Supervisors Powers, Schroder, Torlakson, McPeak
NOES: Supervisor Fanden (for the reason that she would prefer
to havethe discussions take place after the November
Election)
ABSENT: None
Fire District Functional Integration Status
August 11, 1992
Page 2
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Chief, Contra Costa County Fire
Protection District, is DIRECTED to assist in the administration of
the West County Fire Protection District as set forth in Recommenda-
tion No. 3 of the County Administrator' s Report.
The vote on the motion was as follows:
AYES: Supervisors Powers, Fanden, Schroder,, Torlakson, McPeak
Noes: None
Absent: None
I hereby certify that this Is a true and correct copy of
an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: �,c o L. !! , /f y�.
PHIL.9ATC OR,Clerk of the Board
of Supervisors and County Administrator
By `- .....e .Deputy
CC: County Administrator
County & Indep. Fire Dist.
Local 1230
Auditor-Controller
County Counsel
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ° j
FROM: PHIL BATCHELOR
County Administrator
DATE: August 7, 1992
SUBJECT: Fire District Functional Integration Status
Specific Request(s) or Recommendation(s) & Background & Justification
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1 . Accept the status report of the functional integration of County fire
districts and the development of alternatives for consideration by the
Board.
2 . Determine which of the following alternatives should be reviewed within
the scope of the existing functional integration study:
A. Establish independent districts
B. Functional integration of the districts
C. Political consolidation of the districts
D. Establish regional districts
E. No change in present organizations
3 . Direct Contra Costa County Fire District to assist in the administration
of the West County Fire District by providing a liaison function between
District personnel, the Commission, the Richmond Fire Department and the
firefighters union necessitated by the notice that the Richmond Fire
Department was not interested in continuing the administrative services
of the District.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND:
Recommendation No. 1
On July 28, 1992, the Board of Supervisors received the report of the County
Administrator on the concept of the functional integration of the fire merit
system fire districts . The Board received comments from the public including
city fire district and employee representatives on the integration plan.
After discussing the concept of functional integration at length, the Board
requested the County Administrator to involve the fire chief, fire
commissions, and employee representatives in the further development of the
plan and other alternatives and to provide the Board with status reports on
August 11 and September 8, 1992 .
Continued on Attachment: X YES Signature: : A'�
Recommendation of County Administrator
Recommendation of Board Committee
Approve Other
Signature(s) :
Action of Board on: Approved as Recommended Other
Vote of Supervisors : I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
Unanimous (Absent ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE
Ayes : Noes : ) BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN.
Contact: CAO-T. McGraw Attested:
cc: County Administrator Phil Batchelor, Clerk of
Auditor-Controller the Board of Supervisors
County Counsel and County Administrator
County and Indep. Fire Dist.
United Professional By: , DEPUTY
Firefighters Local 1230
Recommendation No. 2
In considering the concept of functional integration on July 28, 1992, the
Board of Supervisors discussed the importance of exploring other alternatives
for reorganizing the fire districts . Accordingly, presented below are some
additional organizational options which may be explored.
Fire District Organizational Alternatives
A. Establish independent districts
This alternative has not been considered in the current review of
possible organizational changes . However, in view of the major
disruptive changes that will have to occur because of the State
budget actions, this concept should be considered. This
alternative could be implemented with the districts as presently
constituted or after political consolidation into a fewer larger
districts .
This alternative may need to be carefully examined by the citizens
of the districts to determine what level of service is desirable
and can be funded by the communities by local revenues as in the
case of Moraga and Orinda.
Some organizational arrangements that could be considered are as
follows :
• Each district could become independent
• Regional independent districts :
• East County
• Central County
• Moraga/Orinda
• West County
The State is taking property tax funds from local government to
balance the State budget leaving local government in a crisis .
This presents an opportunity for examining this alternative.
Although this has never been considered before, perhaps the Board
of Supervisors should give serious consideration to exploring this
option. However, it should be pointed out that in order to explore
this option certain legal questions would have to be answered.
B. Functional integration
The Board of Supervisors on July 28, 1992 considered a conceptual
plan for functional integration. This plan may be further defined
to include consideration of the following:
• Review the practicality of maintaining responsibility for fire
suppression operations and management in each district. This
would be in contrast to providing overall supervision of
operations which could cross district boundaries .
• Explore the necessity of establishing line/staff ratios for
all districts .
• Examine the desirability of establishing standardized
management salaries on the basis of span of control and
numbers of personnel .
• Investigate the economic and operational practicality of
establishing a Fire Services Support Bureau to provide
administrative and other support services to all the
districts .
C. Political consolidation of the districts
The Board of Supervisors has rejected the forced consolidation of
unwilling districts because of the concerns and opposition of local
citizens . However, consideration should be given to any
consolidation plans which are developed by willing participants.
D. Establish regional districts
Since the County is unique geographically with east, west and
central areas, it may .be desirable to explore the feasibility of
organizing regional districts . In fact, there are two such plans
that have been discussed: one concerning east county and one in
west county.
Supervisor Torlakson has been meeting with east county fire chiefs
and representatives of east county cities, fire commissions and
other interested citizens to explore various alternative
organizational options .
2 -
Supervisor Powers convened a meeting of west county fire agencies,
cities, other governmental agencies and industry representatives to
review fire service financial and operational issues . This meeting
has resulted in the chiefs of the west county fire agencies forming
a committee to examine organizational alternatives for west county.
E. No change in present organizations
The Board of Supervisors has rejected this option in the past. In
view of the pending financial crisis facing fire agencies, this
option seems even more unacceptable.
Recommendation No. 3
For the past several years, the West County Fire District has been managed by
the Richmond Fire Department under a contractual arrangement that includes
management and administrative services, communications, training and
secretarial support. This integration of functions or services has included
the E1 Cerrito Fire Department and the Kensington Fire Protection District.
The integration has resulted in an effective operational arrangement that has
been advantageous to all parties . However, the West County Fire Commission
has come to the decision that the time has come to make other arrangements
for the administration of the District. The proposed change would not affect
the joint communications, training and operational aspects of the Richmond
contract. Coincidently, the Richmond Fire Department has indicated its
unwillingness to continue the management portion of the contractual services .
In view of the current exploration of organizational alternatives and the
immediate need for management services in the form of a liaison function
between the District employees, Commission, firefighters union, the Richmond
Fire Department and City and County government, it is recommended that the
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District be directed to assist in the
management of the West County Fire Protection District under the direction of
the County Administrator as an interim measure until a permanent organization
is established.
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