HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12151992 - 2.3 The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County, California
Adopted this Ober on December 15, 1992 by the following vote:
AYES: Powers, Torlakson, Schroder
NOES: None
ABSENT: Supervisors Fanden, McPeak
ABSTAIN: None
SUBJECT: Management Integration of the Moraga and Orinda Fire Protection Districts
The Board considered the report of Phil Batchelor, County Administrator, on the Management
Integration of the Moraga and Orinda Fire Protection Districts(copy attached and included as a part of this
Board Order). Following the presentation of the County Administrator,the Chair invited those desiring to
speak on the issues to come forward.
The following persons spoke:
Sue Noe, Moraga Fire Commissioner, 23 La Salle Drive, Moraga 94356;
Charles L. Blue, Orinda Fire, 29 Tappan Lane, Orinda 94563; and
Mike Price, United Professional Firefighters, Local 1230, 112 Blue Ridge Drive,Walnut Creek.
All persons desiring to speak were heard. Supervisor Powers submitted information that he and Willis
Lamm compiled relative to the integration of the Moraga and Orinda Fire Protection Districts and other Fire
Districts to affect cost saving measures. Board members were in agreement to defer decision to a meeting in
January 1993 to permit the new incoming Board Members the opportunity to vote on this matter.
THEREFORE, IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that consideration of the recommendations of the
County Administrator on the management integration of the Moraga and Orinda Fire Protection Districts is
DEFERRED to January 19, 1993.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the County Administrator is REQUESTED to review the material
compiled by Supervisor Powers and Willis Lamm relative to the integration of the Moraga and Orinda Fire
Protection District and other Fire Districts to affect cost saving measures.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the County Administrator is REQUESTED to continue discussions
with the Moraga and Orinda City Managers, Boards of Fire Commissioners, representatives of Local 1230,
representatives of management staff of the districts, and Chief Maxfield, Contra Costa County Fire Protection
District.
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: _December 15, 1992
PHIL BATCHELOR,Clerk of the Board of
Supervisors and County Administrator
By Deputy Clerk
CC: County Administrator
County Counsel
............. Contra
s
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Costa•..-� �
g
FROM: PHIL BATCHELOR `. Y 1 County
r
County Administratorq'�-�n, `
DATE: December 15, 1992
SUBJECT: MANAGEMENT INTEGRATION OF THE MORAGA AND ORINDA
FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS
Specific Request(s) or Recommendation(s) & Background & Justification
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Acknowledge the work and input of the informal Ad Hoc Task Force
consisting of representatives of the Moraga and Orinda Fire Commissions,
the Acting Fire Chief of the Moraga and Orinda Fire Districts, the
Assistant Chief of the Orinda Fire District and the County
Administrator' s Office.
2. Approve the Task Force' s recommendation to support in principle an
administrative integration and shared management plan for the two
districts providing for one chief, no assistant chiefs, one fire marshal
and three battalion chiefs.
3 . Direct the County Administrator to continue to meet with the' Task Force
to develop detailed operations and district funding plans outlining the
steps and time schedule to fully implement the required integration and
funding plans.
4. Direct the County Administrator and the Acting Fire Chief to meet with
representatives of the United Professional Firefighter Union Local 1230
to receive their input and to identify any issues that may require meet
and confer.
5. Direct the County Administrator to set up meetings with the Councils of
the Town of Moraga and the City of Orinda and the Commissions of the
Moraga and Orinda Fire Districts to continue discussions of the
management integration plan and funding issues.
Continued on Attachment:—X— YES Signature.-
Recommendation
ignature:Recommendation of County Administrator
Recommendation of Board Committee
Approve Other
Signature(s) :
Act i of Board on: Approved as Recommended-----Other—
Vote of Supervisors: I HEREBY CERTI T THIS IS A TRUE
AND CORRECT PY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
Unanimous (Absent AND ENT ON THE MINUTES OF THE
Ayes: Noes: ) BOARD SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN.
Contact: Terry McGraw (646-4855) tte ed:
CC: County Administrator Phil Batchelor, Clerk of
Auditor-Controller he Board of Supervisors
County Counsel an County Administrator
County and Indep. re Dist.
United Profess' al By: , DEPUTY
Firefight s Local 1230
6. Direct the Personnel Director to immediately begin the recruitment
process for the positions of Fire Chief Group II and Battalion Chief.
7 . Request the County Administrator and the Acting Fire Chief to continue
to pursue other forms of functional integration in such areas as vehicle
maintenance, training and fire prevention activities to achieve
additional cost savings.
8. Direct the County Administrator to report back to the Board of
Supervisors on the status of these recommendations on January 19, 1993 .
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND:
On December 8, 1992, the Board of Supervisors took action on organizational
alternatives for fire districts. The action included recommendations
regarding the potential of integrating the management of the Moraga and
Orinda Fire Districts.
In addition to approving the concept of an integrated administrative
structure for Moraga. and Orinda, the Board appointed Moraga Acting Fire Chief
John Cooper as Acting Chief of the Orinda Fire District. Although not
discussed at the Board meeting, a logical result of the Board' s action is
that Orinda Assistant Chief Walter Luihn will also function as the Acting
Assistant Chief of the Moraga Fire District.
The Board also directed the County Administrator and the two districts to
report back to the Board on December 15, 1992 with a proposed plan for the
integration of the management structure of the districts.
Discussion of Recommendations
1. Acknowledge the work of the Ad Hoc Task Force
On December 10, 1992, the County Administrator' s Office met with members
of the Moraga Fire Commission (Gordon Nathan and Sue Noe) , the Orinda
Fire Commission (Bill Gross and Chuck Blue) , Acting Moraga/Orinda Fire
Chief John Cooper, and Orinda Assistant Chief Walter Luihn to form an ad
hoc committee to develop an administrative integration plan. The
meeting was also attended by Joyce Hawkins, Orinda City Council, Helene
Frakes representing Nancy Fanden' s Office and Vic Westman, County
Counsel.
The Ad Hoc Task Force discussed and analyzed various organizational
alternatives and agreed that a shared administration structure was
desirable as long as each district could maintain its local identity and
separate financial base. The Task Force members believe that the
conceptual plan meets those requirements.
The discussions were approached in a spirit of cooperation and sense of
urgency to provide a new management framework for the effective
administration of both districts.
2. & 3 . Approve Task Force recommendations regarding administrative
integration and further Task Force meetings
Both districts came to the meeting with alternative organizational
proposals. After discussing variations of several possible shared.
management structures, it was agreed that the best alternative for the
integration of management of the two districts would be a structure
consisting of one fire chief, no assistant chiefs, three battalion
chiefs and one fire marshal. This plan would also involve the addition
of one fire inspector and the ability to utilize fire suppression
personnel across district lines when appropriate.
Full implementation of this staffing plan is contingent upon the
retirement of one of the two current fire marshals. When fully
implemented, this plan would save approximately $116,000 per year.
2
Major elements of the plan include the reduction of one fire chief and
the conversion of assistant chiefs to battalion chiefs. The addition of
battalion chiefs will provide needed administrative support for the
chief as well as a 24-hour incident command structure.
The County Administrator' s Office will continue to meet with the Task
Force to develop plans for the implementation of the integration plan.
Concurrently, the Task Force and fire commissions will begin work on
developing funding plans for next fiscal year and beyond.
4 . Direct County Administrator and acting fire chief to meet with Local
1230
The County Administrator and the Acting Moraga/Orinda Fire chief will
meet with Local 1230 to fully discuss the proposed integration plan to
determine any important concerns the unions may have. . An important
element of these meetings will be to identify and resolve any issues
that may be subject to meet and confer.
5. Direct County Administrator to request meetings with the Councils of
Moraga and Orinda and the Commissions of the Moraga and Orinda Fire
Districts
It is essential that the proposed changes in the administration of the
fire service in Moraga and Orinda be fully discussed with the Councils
of the Town of Moraga and the City of Orinda so these community leaders
have an opportunity for input and to be part of the process.
Although the proposed integration concept was developed with the
assistance of members of the fire commissions of the two districts, it
is of vital importance that the full fire commissions be involved in the
development of the integration and funding plans.
6. Direct Personnel Director to recruit for Fire Chief Group II and
Battalion Chief
The fire commission members of the Task Force consider the recruitment
of a fire chief to be an integral part of the proposed integration plan.
It is the consensus of the Task Force that regardless of the final
organizational structure, there will be a need for a Group II Fire
Chief . Accordingly, it is recommended that the recruitment process be
started, with emphasis on the chief position.
7. Request acting chief to pursue functional integration
Although the emphasis of this report is on administrative integration,
it is important to continue to explore other potential opportunities for
functional integration in operational areas of both fire districts.
3
COUNTY COUNSEL'S OFFICE
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
MARTINEZ, CALIFORNIA
Date: December 15, 1992
To: Supervisor Nancy C. Fanden
From: Victor J. Westman, County Counsel
Re: 4-24-92 Orinda Fire Commissioners.' letter to Orinda City
Council on Orinda Fire District Organization
On 12-14-92, this office was asked to comment on your 12-10-92
memo. to the County Administrator on the above subject matter.
Earlier on 9-8-92, this office reported to the Board of Supervisors
on various points raised by the 4-24-92 letter at the time the Board
was considering Item 2 . 4 ( "Status Report on Functional Integration of
County Fire Protection Districts" . Again at the "Ad Hoc Task
Force's" 12-10-92 meeting on the continued organization and operation
of both the Moraga and Orinda County Fire District, the substance of
the points in the 4-24-92 letter were discussed by this office and
representatives from the County Administrator' s Office, both fire
districts, and the cities of Orinda and Moraga.
To summarize the legal points previously reported on and
discussed;
1 . Nothing has been found concerning a 1933 Orinda vote on the
formation of the Orinda Fire District that would now require or
authorize deviation from current state statutes pertaining to special
district organization.
2 . Orinda Fire District property financed by a past District
bond issue can not be taken over and used by the County for its own
purposes as is implied may be done according to the 4-24-92 letter.
. Such District property must be used for Orinda area fire protection
purposes .
3 . There is no legal conflict involving Contra Costa County in
this matter since the Board of Supervisors is .acting here as the
board of directors of the Orinda Fire District and not as the
governing body of Contra Costa County.
4 . This office on 12-16-91 reported on fire district
consolidation procedures (copies of this report were provided at that
time to the two involved cities ) . In any event, this office was not
directed on 3-3-92 by the Board of Supervisors to render legal
opinions on the 4-24-92 letter' s issues as is indicated in that
letter.
VJW:df
cc: Board of Supervisors
County Administrator
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605 LAS JUNTAS „'l� - CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
MARTINEZ CA 94553-1726 ni s BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
(510)646-2080 x• """""
FAX(510)646-1396 ?y ��,
sTa-cbiiK`C+
NANCY CARDINALLI FAHDEN aa
SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT TWO REC 1.
MEMO TO: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator 0FC J4 199
�vunrY
FROM: Supervisor Nancy C. Fanden Mgrt�i�EZ CAUR
SUBJECT: Orinda Fire District---I
DATE: December 10, 1992
Attached is a copy of a letter from the ..Oxinda Fire Protection
District Board of Fire Commissioners dated April 24, 1992 . It
was sent' to the Orinda City Council when discussions of merging
the .Orinda Fire District with Consolidated were ongoing. The
questions posed are interesting. They Are' r.elevant now when it
appears that functional integration will soon be going to the
Board for a decision.
Can you have your staff and County Counsel address and answer
these questions as soon as possible? I would like to have the
written report in hand by close of business , Monday, December 14 ,
1992 .
Thank you for your prompt attention to this request for information.
NCF:htf
attachment
cc : Jeff Smith
MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE April 24 , 1992
CITY OF ORINDA
26 Orinda Way
Orinda, CA 94563
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The issue of consolidation of the Orinda Fire Protection District
(OFPD) with the Contra Costa County Fire (Con-Fire) District has
not gone away and has as well focused attention on related issues
which call for affirmative action to protect the interests of
Orinda taxpayers.
The County Administrator and County Counsel continue to study the
matter of consolidation or combining and the legal issues
surrounding it. Their report is expected soon and we believe it
important that they be aware of and consider certain matters.
Since the Supervisors say that the Fire commissioners are County
appointed representatives and serve only.f* in a advisory capacity,
we believe.the City should act to protect its interests and to
thatend -we respectfully suggest the City give consideration to
issues raised by the following facts:
1. The County Auditor-Controller states that for fiscal
years 86/87 -through 90/91 Orinda taxpayers have paid on their
property taxes for fire protection $1, 160,383 more than has been
used for Orinda fire protection. This over a million dollar
amount of fire taxes has been spent in other areas of the County
and has been lost to the citizens of Orinda. What process is
available to secure the recovery .of these amounts and to insure
that there is no further diverting of Orinda's fire tax monies?
2. A 1933 initiative vote in Orinda created an independent
fire district. Therefore should not the OFPD retain its
autonomous independent status?
3 . Orinda fire station 45, now valued in excess of $2 .9
million, was constructed from the proceeds of an Orinda general
obligation bond issue. Consolidation or County control raises
the issue of whether there has been a "taking" or whether it
would be a "taking" under any form of combining or consolidation?
4 . May a petition in opposition to consolidation be
circulated and filed before a hearing on consolidation; and if
more than 50% of the voters in the OFPD oppose consolidation then
would the petition defeat consolidation.
The Commissioners of the OFPD are committed to the maintenance of
the highest possible level of fire protection and rescue
services, but our "advisory" status limits our- effectiveness in
dealing with the County. We believe direct involvement by the
City Council is important and needed, but just requesting an
opinion from County Counsel on the foregoing matters, and other
MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ORINDA
April 24, 1992
Page 2
issues which may surface, would not seem to be sufficient.
County Counsel represents the OFPD and the County so there is an
inherent conflict of interest. The Board of Supervisors directed
(3-3-92 TR 23: 1-5) the County Counsel to render legal opinions
on these issues.
Webelievethe County should retain independent counsel to render
opinions which were ordered on these matters, since there is a
conflict between the interests of the county and those in the
We enclose a draft resolution.
Respectfrlly submitted,
COMMISSIONERS OF THE ORINDA
FIRE PROT TION DISTRICT
President and
Charles L. Blue Commissioner
Vice President and
Lloyd MacDonald Commissioner
ate. l� Secretary and
Charles K. Glynn Commissioner
C"'-v - � Commissioner
Howard Conklin
Commissioner
William Gross
Ca-3
bbs Adel t,�
December 7
Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, RECEIVED
651 Pine Street,
Martinez, CA 94553 DEC 91992
Dear Members of the Board of Supervisors: CLERK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
CONTRA COSTA CO.
I am writing to urge strongly that Orinda be able to retain its fine
local fire department. This is a hazardous fire area, as seen by last
year's Oakland fire, and we need our fire stations as they are now
distributed over the area. We also need fire-fighting staff that is
thoroughly familiar with the obscure locations of many roads in this
area.
Please do not allow the diversion of tax funds that we pay to other
areas of the county or state until our own needs have been met by
retaining our fire department as it now stands. We want our fire
department in tact and local!
Sincerely,
F. H. Starkweather,
47 Ardilla Road,
Orinda, Cly 94563
1991
FIRE DISTRICT RESPONSE STATS
# OF STATIONS FIRES RESCUES TOTAL
1 BETHEL ISLAND 37 227 378
19 CON. FIRE 1,227 11,083 16,563
3 CROCKETT 83 226 433
6 EAST DIABLO 290 909 1,378 _
1 KENSINGTON 142 205 454
2 MORAGA 58 475 . 862
2 OAKLEY 267 583 995 lei 15
3 ORINDA 97 396 1,053
7 RIVERVIEW 949 5,609 8,525
2 RODEO 169 817 1,619
2 WEST COUNTY 814 1,747 (i,100
48 4,133 22,227 35,360
8 SAN RAMON 1,044 2,056 3,574
56 5,177 24,283 38,934
EXCLUDES: RICHMOND, PINOLE, EL CERRITO AND CDF.
SOURCE: 1991 COUNTY CHIEFS C.I.C. FIELD SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE
11/9/92
Sheed
ORINDA MORAGA WEST COUNTY
#STA. 3 2 2
STAFFING
POSITION
FIRE CHIEF 1 1 0
ASST.CHIEF 1 1 0
BATT.CHIEF 0 0 1
FIRE MARSHAL 1 1 0
FIRE INSP. 0 0 1
SECRETARY 1 0.5 1
DISPATCHER/CLK. 0.5 0 0
CLERK/EXP. 0 0.5 0
TOTAL 4.5 41 3
Pagel
FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION AND REORGANIZATION OF
ORINDA-MORAGA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS
Establish a joint ORINDA/MORAGA FIRE AGENCY with a staffing concept similar
to the one utilized by the WEST COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT.
STAFFING
ADMINISTRATION
POSITION ORINDA MORAGA COMBINED CHANGE
Fire Chief Group II 1 1 0 -2
Asst. Chief II (B/C Level) 1 1 2 -0
Fire Marshal 1 1 0 -2
Fire Inspector 0 0 1 +1
Secretary/Deep Class 1 .5 1 -.5
Dispatcher/Clerk .5 0 0 -.5
Clerk/Experienced 0 .5 0 0
COST SAVINGS
ELIMINATE 2 FIRE CHIEF-GROUP II ($254,670)
2 FIRE MARSHALS * ($198,154)
FIRE MARSHAL STDBY.PAY ($ 4,334)
3 FIRE CAPT. ACT B/C DIFF. ($ 15,983)
O.T. PAY/MINIMUM STAFFING ($ 50,000)
($518,807)
* ELIMINATE THROUGH ATTRITION `�`�5,4)(,
Cost Analysis. . , . .Option 3
(Create a Joint Orinda/Moraga Fire Authority with One Fire Chief,
Three Battalion Chiefs, one Fire Marshal, One Fire Inspector,
Joint Clerical Staff, and Merge shift Personnel to Cover
Vacancies and Reduce overtime)
Position Adjustments RecTuired: Salary
Divergence:
Eliminate 1 Fire Chief-Group II ($ 127, 335)
1 Fire Marshal ($ 99,077) *
3 Fire Captain Act.. B/C differentials ($ 15,983)
Reduce 1 Fire Marshals Standby Pay by 2 1/2% ($ 2, 167)
2 Asst. Chiefs ($ 4,936)
Overtime Pay for Minimum Staffing ($ 50, 000)
Reclassify 2 Asst. Chief II to B/C 0
Subtotal of Savings ($ 299,498)
Add 1 Battalion Chief $ 110, 142
1 Fire Inspector $ 73, 381
Subtotal of. Costs $ 183 , 523
Net Annual Savings = $ 115,975
Staffing Configuration-Option 3:
Position Orinda Moraga Combined Change
Staff:
Fire Chief Group 11 1 1 1 -1*
Asst. Chief II (B/C level) 1 1 0 -2
Battalion Chief 0 0 3 +3
Fire Marshal 1 1 1 _l*
Fire Inspector 0 0 1 +1
Secretary/Deep Class 1 .5 1. 5 0
Dispatcher/Clerk . 5 0 . 5 0
Clerk/Experienced 0 . 5 . 5 0
Subtotal-Staff 4 . 5 4 . 0 8 . 5** 0
Line:
Fire Captain/Paramedic 0 1 1 0
Fire Captain 9 5 14 0
Sr. Firefighter/Paramedic 0 7 7 0
Sr. Firefighter 9 4 13 0
Firefighter/Paramedic 0 4 4 0
Firefighter 15 6 21 0
Subtotal-Line 33. 0 27.0 60. 0 0
Organizational Totals 37 . 5 31. 0 68 . 5 0
Ratio of Management and Support Staff to Line Personnel =12 . 44