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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 01191993 - 2.A1 2.Al THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on January 19 , 1993 by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Powers, Smith, Bishop, McPeak and Torlakson NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------ SUBJECT: Fire Benefit Assessments The Board this day considered and approved the recommendations of the County Administrator with respect to Management Integration of the Moraga and Orinda Fire Protection Districts, and in connection therewith, discussed, considered and approved the following: The Board confirmed additional stronger language it desired in the notice to the public on the benefit assessments authorized on January 12, 1993 . Supervisor McPeak suggested use of bold type and underlining to emphasize that the Board will not be doing business as usual, but will monitor and examine budgets continually and pursue all savings possible, and that it is the Board' s intent to lower the actual amount of the proposed assessments if the State does not go forward with anticipated cuts, and that the assessment amounts on the notices are the upper limit. Supervisor Powers suggested exploring a way to place an alternative tax measure on the ballot in the Orinda area that would reflect reduction in costs if the district were merged with the Contra Costa County (Consolidated) Fire Protection District. The County Administrator commented that the Board should be advertising to the voters that it will not charge any more than the cost of maintaining the current level of service. Supervisor Torlakson commented that the public should be aware that the Board is going to continue fighting any taking of the property tax base by the State. The Board discussed the length of time for the payback of the one-time, short-term loan to the Orinda Fire Protection District. Chief Cooper advised that there were more risk benefit units among which to spread the assessment than thought last week. The Board considered the additional units and the cost of the payback and determined one would offset the other and it would not affect the total proposed assessment. Good cause appearing therefore, IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the payback schedule be a two-year timeframe, and that the amount . of the proposed benefit assessment for the Orinda Fire Protection District remain the same as approved last week. Ray Davis, Citizen of Orinda, appeared and declared that fire trucks don' t stop wildfires in the Orinda Hills, that in his opinion the way to stop wildfires is by promoting fire prevention. Supervisor Torlakson discussed the Riverview Fire Protection District. He advised that the proposed assessment had included three additional fire stations and suggested eliminating two fire stations and reducing the assessment. He noted that there are three fire stations proposed, one of which is funded and will be on line and require staffing, but that the other two are not seen as coming on line in the immediate part of the 5-year horizon. Supervisor Torlakson cautioned that there is an immediate need to keep the existing service funded, and in Riverview including funding for staffing two additional stations might be viewed as a fee to take care of new growth and the measure simply will not pass. He advised that the elimination of the two proposed stations would have to be monitored closely with the city councils and their growth plans. As recommended by Supervisor Torlakson, IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED the proposed benefit assessment amount for the Riverview Fire Protection District is reduced from $297 to $237, which fee would provide for the opening of one additional station, and the City of Antioch is to be officially notified that the fee does not include staffing and equipment for the additional two proposed stations, and must be taken into consideration in its growth development plans. Supervisor Torlakson noted that as the Board is moving to establish a fire service coordinating committee to review a whole host of issues, including the issues of captains, lieutenants, and means of providing the fire service, he would like to know if it were the Board' s consensus that these measures would go on the June ballot. He noted that election costs had been built into the proposed fee. He advised that in his district, he was strongly recommending that, in order to gain public support, the matter be brought to the public because it is such a large and significant tax measure. Board members discussed the cost of placing the matter on the ballots in the various districts. Supervisor Smith suggested that he would not want to spend the money on an election if it is not necessary, and that different districts will have different perspectives and some of the districts have a fairly low assessment while others are fairly high, and that he would prefer to leave it up to the process as described by law, and if there is a 5 per cent challenge, then it goes on the ballot in those districts that challenge it, and in those that don' t challenge it, it does not. Supervisor McPeak suggested looking at some options because of the cost and technicalities that need to be considered. She recommended authorizing the County Administrator to put together an all-out public information program immediately to coincide with everyone getting their letter, whether it be cable television or taking out advertisements; but noting the urgency to get the message out now. Supervisor Torlakson advised that he had heard quick and furious response to even the thoughts of the notices, and the educational campaign needs to advise what the County is doing in terms of productivity standards and workload increases that employees have had, and because the public will be looking at the general fund budget to bail out the fire district, it has to be made clear that we are already under stress in the general fund. He suggested that it is a complicated educational effort that needs to be undertaken. Supervisor Torlakson commented that he noted the difference of opinion of the Board of four to one on the issue of automatic elections. He advised that in his District, he will be urging that the matter be taken to the voters to develop a greater good will and response. He noted the rest of the Board is expressing flexibility until it hears from the public. Good cause appearing therefore, IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the County Administrator is AUTHORIZED to immediately begin the educational campaign. I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of cc: County Administrator an action taken and entered on the minutes of the County Counsel Board of SupervisArs on the date shown. ATTESTED: -r- -9 3 PHIL BAT HELOR,Clerc of the Board Of Supervisors and County Administrator By deputy IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SPEAKING ON ANY MATTER APPEARING ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING, PLEASE PRINT YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS BELOW AND IDENTIFY THE ITEM NUMBER. PRESENT TO THE CITY CLERK PRIOR TO APPROACHING THE PODIUM. YOUR NAME WILL BE CALLED WHEN THE MATTER IS ANNOUNCED FOR DISCUSSION. SPEAKERS ARE REQUESTED TO LIMIT THEIR REMARKS TO THE ISSUES) AT HAND SO THAT ALL INTERESTED PERSONS MAY HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THEIR COMMENTS TO THE COUNCIL. r� o ITEM NO+ FOR AGAINST Q�-4f� NAME ADDRESS CITY IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SPEAKING ON ANY MATTER APPEARING ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING, PLEASE PRINT YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS BELOW AND IDENTIFY THE ITEM NUMBER. PRESENT TO THE CITY CLERK PRIOR TO APPROACHING THE PODIUM. YOUR NAME WILL BE CALLED WHEN THE MATTER IS ANNOUNCED FOR DISCUSSION. SPEAKERS ARE REQUESTED TO LIMIT THEIR REMARKS TO THE ISSUES) AT HAND SO THAT ALL INTERESTED PERSONS MAY HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THEIR COMMENTS TO THE COUNCIL. ITEM N0. A FOR AGAINST �oe-A(�/k F cpvv\4y\\SS (ot\. VIA A 14 0 ft— NAME e_��3 LA ADDRESS CITY IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SPEAKING ON ANY MATTER APPEARING ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING, PLEASE PRINT YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS BELOW AND IDENTIFY THE ITEM NUMBER. PRESENT TO THE CITY CLERK PRIOR TO APPROACHING THE PODIUM. YOUR NAME WILL BE CALLED WHEN THE MATTER IS ANNOUNCED FOR DISCUSSION. SPEAKERS ARE REQUESTED TO LIMIT THEIR REMARKS TO THE ISSUES) AT HAND SO THAT ALL INTERESTED PERSONS MAY HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THEIR COMMENTS TO THE COUNCIL. ITEM NO. FOR _ AGAINST - ` -mss NAME � e ADDRESS CITY