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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09081992 - 2.4 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra FROM: PHIL BATCHELOR ; COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Costa County DATE: SEPTEMBER 8, 1992 T C SUBJECT: Status Report on Functional Integration of County Fire Protection Districts SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION(S): ACCEPT the status report on the functional integration of County fire districts. BACKGROUND/REASON(S) FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: 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 on the integration plan and discussed the functional integration issues. The Board directed the County Administrator to continue to meet with interested parties and to provide the Board with status reports on August 11 and September 8, 1992. On August 11, 1992, the County Administrator provided a status report to the Board. The status report discussed potential regional integration plans developing in east and west county. The Board accepted this report and directed the County Administrator to continue to meet with fire chiefs, fire commissioners and employee representatives. On September 2, 1992, Supervisor Torlakson convened a community workshop on east county fire protection services. The meeting was attended by representatives of the east county fire districts and commissions, city councils, municipal advisory councils, the firefighters union, volunteer firefighter associations, industry and interested citizens. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: _YES SIGNATURE: Glce RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OFFBOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE _OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON September 8, 1992 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED x OTHER x ACCEPTED status report and INSTRUCTED staff to meet with the fire chiefs, fire commissioners, and representatives to Local 1230 to discuss all issues pertinent to this subject and to report to the Board on November 17, 1992, on the results of those discussions; and REQUESTED the County Administrator to write to the State protesting the State's claim to a percentage -of the revenue collected by fire districts for fire suppression programs, benefit assessments, fire flow taxes, and the fire prevention bureau, and to share that letter with other jurisdictions in the State. VOTE OF SUPERVISORS x ___ I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A _UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AND AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ON MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ATTESTED September 8, 1992 PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contact: Terry McGraw,646-4855 AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR cc: CAO Auditor-Controller County Counsel County and Indep. Fire Dist. United Professional Firefighters Local 1230 `- h27:tmgfire.bos BY P6 DEPUTY r The purpose of the workshop was to present information on budget reductions and discuss the feasibility of regional coordination and the functional integration of the east county fire agencies. Supervisor Torlakson also proposed the adoption of a declaration by east county elected and appointed officials and community leader which states the following position: • Opposition to the countywide functional integration plan involving the five merit system fire districts. • Request an extension of time until at least February 1, 1993 to develop further details on regional cost savings in east county and adjustments to the impacts of the State budget. • Opposition to the State's proposal to mix fire district property tax with the County General Fund money to form a "Super Pot." Supervisor Torlakson and the County Administrator's Office urged the workshop attendees not to assume that the financial crisis was over because the State budget impact on districts appeared to be substantially less than earlier estimates. It was stressed that there is still a need to achieve economies in the fire service. On September 3, 1992, Supervisor Powers held a meeting of west county fire agencies, cities, fire commissioners, other governmental agencies and industry representatives to further discuss west county fire agency organizational alternatives. Supervisor Powers and the County Administrator's Office discussed the impacts of the State budget on local fire agencies. As mentioned above in the discussion about the east county fire service workshop, it was stressed that fire agencies need to continue to explore ways of implementing cost saving measures because of inadequate revenues. A representative of the west county chiefs informed the group that the chiefs have been meeting and discussing various organizational alternatives, but believe that the chiefs cannot begin developing organizational plans without the involvement of the fire agencies' directors. Supervisor Powers and the County Administrator's Office discussed the need to get fire directors and others involved in the review process. It was agreed that the Chair of West County Mayor's Conference and Supervisor Powers will write to the cities, the commissions, and other governmental agencies and industries that have an interest in west county fire services requesting the appointment of representatives to form a steering committee of the Fire Service Study Committee. Upon the formation of the steering committee, the committee will meet to set an agenda for the exploration of organizational alternatives. On August 11, 1992, the Board directed the Contra Costa County Fire Districts to assist in the administration of the West County Fire District. Representatives and the Contra Costa County and West County Fire Districts and the City of Richmond Fire Department have met on two occasions to work out the details of the management plan which will be effective October 1, 1992. With the adoption of the State budget, it appears that the impacts on fire and other districts will not be as severe as earlier predictions. However, this does not mean that districts will be adequately funded this year. Also revenue losses to the State could increase in future years. The County Administrator's Office is working with the County Auditor-Controller's Office to determine the actual impact of the State budget on special districts.