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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03191996 - D5 D. 5 °�. Contra TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS o'. _ ,s Costa FROM: SUPERVISOR JEFF SMITH . .. ,� County TTS c uK� J SUPERVISOR TOM TORLAKSON Sub-Committee of the Fire District Committee of the Whole DATE: March 19, 1996 SUBJECT: STATUS REPORT ON FIRE DISTRICT ISSUES Specific Request(s) or Recommendation(s) & Background & Justification RECOMMENDATIONS: 1 , Approve letter from the Board of Supervisors to the cities in the Contra Costa County Fire District regarding District funding concerns and redevelopment losses . 2 , Approve letter from the Board of Supervisors to the City of Pittsburg regarding the status of a proposed City special assessment for police and fire services . 3 . Approve development and submission of legislation to provide for the return of property tax revenue taken by the State in 1992-1993 . 4 , Direct the Contra Costa County Fire Chief and the County Administrator to study fire service in the west county areas served by the City of Richmond Fire Department and the County Fire District to def ine the best fire service delivery system for the area. 5 . Consider the timing for the submission of an application to the Local Agency Formation Commission to annex the City of Pinole into the Contra Costa County Fire District. 6 . Continue referral of Station 87 issue to the Fire District Committee of the Whole and appoint Supervisor Torlakson to represent the Board in discussions with the City of Pittsburg on Station 87 and other fire needs in the City. Continued on Attachment: X YES Signature: Recommendation of County Administrator Recommendation of Board Committee Approve Other Signature(s) : Action of Board on: March 19 , 1996 Approved as Recommended x Other Vote of Supervisors : I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN x Unanimous (Absent ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE Ayes : Noes : ) BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN. Contact: Terry McGraw (646-4855) Attested: March 19 , 1996 cc : County Administrator Phil Batchelor, Clerk of Auditor-Controller he Boa d of Supervisors County Counsel nd Co ty Administrator LAFCO 0 County and Indep. Fire Dists . By: , DEPUTY United Professional Firefighters Local 1230 Dale Robbins, Teamsters Local 315 P. O. Box 3010, Martinez, CA 94553 Status Report on Fire District Issues March 19, 1996 Page 2 REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND: On February 27, 1996 the Board of Supervisors received status reports on six fire service issues from Chief Allen Little. The Board discussed these issues, with particular attention to the financial problems facing the fire district. Because of the number of issues currently under consideration, the Board decided to meet as a Committee of the Whole to thoroughly discuss the issues, set priorities and give clear direction to staff . The Committee of the Whole held its first meeting on March 11, 1996 . The Committee members present discussed a number of fire service issues that resulted in the five recommendations outlined above and discussed further below: 1 . Letter to Cities Served by Contra Costa County Fire District The Committee reviewed a draft letter to redevelopment agencies served by Contra Costa County Fire. The Committee directed that the letter be revised and sent to all the cities served by Contra Costa County Fire. The Committee wanted the letter to mention other possible solutions to the financial problems such as the Board of Supervisors direction to staff to prepare legislation to recover the property tax transferred from fire districts to the State in 1992-1993 . The Committee also discussed the issue of fire facility development fees . The fees were established several years ago and may need to be increased. There is also concern about the fact that only the County and three (Antioch, Clayton and Pittsburg) of the nine cities served by Contra Costa County Fire have adopted development fee schedules. It should be noted that although Walnut Creek has not implemented a fee schedule, it has contributed approximately $1 million for fire station construction. The letter was also revised to indicate the Board' s interest in working with the Mayors ' Conference on the fire issues . Supervisor Torlakson commented that he and Supervisor DeSaulnier had recently mentioned these issues to the City/County Relations Committee. The City/County Relations Committee members expressed an interest in becoming involved in the fire service issues . Attached is a copy of the letter to the cities (Attachment 1) . 2 . Letter to the City of Pittsburg Regarding Station 87 Supervisor Torlakson discussed the efforts over the years to provide a needed new fire station in the southwest area of Pittsburg. Provision of the new station has been delayed because of problems in obtaining an appropriate site, accruing funds to build the station and identifying an ongoing revenue source to cover annual operating costs . Upon locating a suitable site, the station could be established by the use of the temporary modular facility formerly used as Station 88 in Antioch. Supervisor Torlakson has suggested that operational funding be provided in the initial years by a combination of one-time redevelopment funds and a proposed public safety special assessment to be levied by the City of Pittsburg. The purpose of the letter to the City of Pittsburg is to formally request the City to establish the special assessment. A copy of the letter is attached (Attachment 2) . 3 . Legislation to Recover Property Tax Lost to the State in 1992-1993 As discussed in several prior reports to the Board from the County Administrator, the fire districts lost approximately $4 . 4 million to the State in 1992-199.3 . Status Report on Fire District Issues March 19 , 1996 Page 3 The restoration of the tax loss over the last four years of approximately $17 . 6 million would go a long way toward meeting the critical capital needs of the districts . Recovery of the $4 .4 million on an annual basis would offset the operating deficit, thus assuring maintenance of the current service level . Background information on the 1992-1993 tax shift is being researched and developed now by the Auditor-Controller' s Office to provide the basis for the letter and language for proposed legislation to the County' s lobbyist. 4 . Richmond Fire Department/Contra Costa County Fire District Contract Service Issues The Fire District and the City of Richmond are finalizing a contract for the 1995-1996 fiscal year. The City has raised several long-term policy issues including a proposed major change for future years that would have the City contract to operate the two former West County Fire District stations (E1 Sobrante and San Pablo) with its own employees . The fire service impacts on Contra Costa County Fire as well as other west County fire agencies will require considerable review. In view of the substantial changes proposed by Richmond, the Committee recommends that the Fire Chief and County Administrator be directed to study comprehensive fire service issues in the area served by the two fire agencies to design the most logical, effective fire service delivery system possible within realistic financial constraints. The study and system design should be conducted without regard to agency boundaries or political considerations . 5 . Contra Costa County fire District/Pinole Fire Department Merger The City of Pinole has requested that the County and the City jointly explore the feasibility of the Contra Costa County Fire District annexing the City into the District and assuming responsibility for fire service in the City. The County Administrator's Office recently provided the City of Pinole with an outline of proposed issues to be explored in determining the feasibility of transferring responsibility for fire service from the City to the District. Supervisor Smith expressed the desirability of bringing Pinole into the Contra Costa County Fire District providing that it be operationally and fiscally feasible. In recognition of the lengthy process to complete such a jurisdictional change, Supervisor Smith suggested that staff be directed to begin exploring the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFC) application process while the annexing issue is being pursued. Supervisor Torlakson indicated support for the concept but stated that the annexation should be financially feasible. Attachment 1 County Administrator Contra Board of Supervisors Jim Rogers County Administration Building Co st a 1st District 651 Pine Street, 11th Floor J c'� Jeff Smith Martinez,California 94553-1229County 2nd District (510)646'-4080 FAX: 510 Gayle Bishop ( )646-4098 3rd District Phil Batchelor Mark DeSaulnier County Administrator / 4th District Tom Torlakson a J;a 5th District re _: April 3, 1996 Leonard K. Herendeen, Mayor City of Antioch 3211 Pierce Court Antioch, CA 94509 Dear Mayor Herendeen: Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, the fire district that protects property and responds to life threatening emergencies within your city boundaries, is facing severe financial difficulties . In spite of the substantial savings that resulted from the 1994 consolidation and a long-standing spending freeze, it is projected that the District will not be able to maintain the current service level beyond the 1996-1997 fiscal year. The financial situation also means that the Districtwill have great diffficulty maintaining existing facilities and replacing existing equipment. opening needed additional fire stations will not be possible. The major causes of this fiscal condition are low property tax growth in recent years, the mandatory transfer of property tax to the State in 1992-1993 and the loss of on-going annual property tax revenue to redevelopment agencies . The Board of Supervisors met on February 27, 1996 to discuss the fire district finances and other fire service issues . Enclosed is a hard copy of the oral presentation made on the financial issue. You will note that the largest single element of the fiscal problem is the loss to redevelopment agencies . In order to give full consideration to the fire district issues and develop solutions to the fiscal problems, the Board has established itself as a Committee of the Whole to meet on the second Monday of the month to discuss fire service issues . The Board directed that legislation be prepared and submitted to the State for the return of the approximately $4 . 4 million property tax taken from fire districts in 1992-1993 . The restoration of the tax loss over the last four years of approximately $17 . 6 million would go a long way toward meeting the critical capital needs of the districts . Recovery of the $4 . 4 million . on an annual basis would offset the operating deficit, thus assuring maintenance of the current service level . We urge you to join us in this effort. We are partners in providing public protection and need your assistance in reminding the State of its pledge to not diminish public protection in connection with the property tax transfer. By copy of this letter, cities in the County served by other fire districts are being asked to support the legislative effo.-t to recapture the property tax transferred from fire districts to the State. The Board also directed the County Administrator to write to City redevelopment agencies to request the review of redevelopment plans to determine the feasibility of restructuring the plan(s) to provide for the pass-through of increment property tax revenue to the fire district. In some areas, pass-through agreements have been reached, but in most areas much work remains to be done. The County Administrator' s Office has been directed to do a similar review of County area redevelopment projects . The Board further directed that fire facility development fees be reviewed for adequacy and equity between the cities and regions of the District. Additionally, the Board of Supervisors wants to open a dialogue with the Mayors ' Conference City/County Relations Committee to assure that the Cities are fully informed about the fire district financial issues . Please consider this a formal invitation to your City Council to place this letter on your public agenda and to notify us when you will be considering its contents . Contact Terry McGraw ( 646-4855) , Special District Analyst, Office of County Administrator, with your agenda schedule and any requests for additional information. We would like to arrange a workshop with you in the near future to discuss these issues further. Thank you for your consideration. Very truly yours, Supervisor Jeff Smith, Chair Board of Supervisors cc: Hercules Danville Moraga Orinda San Ramon Supervisor Jim Rogers Supervisor Gayle Bishop Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier Supervisor Tom Torlakson Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Advisory Fire Commission Phil Batchelor, County Administrator Chief Allen Little, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District a The attached letter dated April 3, 1996 regarding Contra Costa County Fire District issues was mailed to the mayors of the following cities : Antioch Clayton Concord Lafayette Martinez Pittsburg Pleasant Hill San Pablo Walnut Creek ' Attachment 2 D. 5 County AdministratorContra Board of Supervisors c Jim Rogers County Administration Building C o s t a 1st District 651 Pine Street, 11 th Floor Jeff Smith Martinez,California 94553-1229 County 2nd District (510)646°4080 Gayle Bishop FAX: (510)646-4098 3rd District L Mark DeSaulnier Phil Batchelor County Administrator 4th District �✓ Tom Torlakson 5th District _ rJ S'icou�t' ; y April 3, 1996 Joseph Canciamilla, Mayor City of Pittsburg 4300 Thornhill Pittsburg, CA 94565 Dear Mayor Canciamilla: On February 27 , 1996 the Board of Supervisors considered a report from the County Administrator regarding fire district service issues . Enclosed is a copy of the report and the hard copy of the oral presentation on the financial condition of the District. The District is projected to be in a deficit situation after fiscal year 1996-1997 . The financial projection is made on the assumption that there will be no new fire stations or additional firefighters . During the discussion of these items, Supervisor Torlakson reiterated the need to build and staff a new station (Station 87 ) in the southwest area of Pittsburg. He then outlined a proposal discussed with Pittsburg over a year ago wherein the City would consider levying a special tax on new development throughout the City or in the area to be served by Station 87 to help provide ongoing funding for the new station. Additionally, the City and County cooperatively negotiated a significant redevelopment pass-through for fire. As a result of the redevelopment amendment and City annexation of Dow, USS POSCO and the San Marcos areas, $3 . 6 million is earmarked for fire service in the City of Pittsburg. In the collective opinion of Supervisor Torlakson and Fire Commissioner Bob Lewis, a major portion of this money would best be spent for start-up funds for operating Station 87 . We would like to know the Council ' s thoughts on this matter. Supervisor Torlakson concluded that creative partnerships will be essential to providing new service and new stations . He asked that the Board of Supervisors ask the City of Pittsburg to formally consider such a partnership with Contra Costa County Fire District. He further asked the Board of Supervisors to formally ask the City 1 of Pittsburg to proceed with the establishment of the special tax assessment for public safety, including both police and fire service operational funding. Supervisor Torlakson asked the Board of Supervis�.-)rs to designate him to represent the Board in discussions on station needs in Pittsburg. He would like to arrange a meeting with representatives from your Council and staff in the near future to communicate further on these matters . Very truly yours, .Supervisor Jeff Smith, Chair Board of Supervisors cc: Supervisor Jim Rogers Supervisor Gayle Bishop Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier Supervisor Tom Torlakson Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Advisory Fire Commission Phil Batchelor, County Administrator Chief Allen Little, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District 2