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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06151996 - 1.79 e —21� CITIZENS SUPPORT COMMITTEE FOR THE MORAGA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT June 1, 1993 Supervisor Tom Torlakson, Chairman RECEIVED Board of Supervisors _ Contra Costa County JAN 419M 300 East Leland Road, Ste 100 Pittsburg, CA 94565 CLERKBOARDOFSUPERVISORS CONTRA COSTA CO. RE: budget Cuts and Functional Integration of the Fire Protection Districts including Moraga Fire Protection District Dear Tom: After fifteen years, Proposition 13 has finally caught-up with us and the funding for government programs is being cut to drastically low levels . With the funding available it appears only the essential programs will survive and at a reduced level of service . We within the Moraga Fire Protection District are gravely concerned about the resulting level of service with this reduced revenue. For the past twenty years the Moraga Fire Protection District (MFPD) provided. services well beyond the normal fire protection generally associated with suburban community service. As you are well aware, our firefighters provide an essential paramedic service and other emergency medical responses in addition to their fire protection responsibilities . The excellent management, training and personal commitment of the MFPD personnel has gained the support and respect of the community. We have, a number of times, committed to additional taxes in order to maintain this high level of service. Due to various circumstances, we now find ourselves without any local management which has been an integral part of this excellent fire protection/paramedic team. This situation has us extremely concerned. As the Board of Supervisors seeks functional integration of the fire districts , a group in the MFPD area has organized in an effort to outline what we believe to be the minimum acceptable level of service in this restructuring. This crisis has given us an opportunity .to get to know Supervisor Jeff Smith., Mr Scott Tandy, Chief Allen Little and Mr Robert Nyman all of whom are working on the functional integration plan and the reduced budget. These gentleman have been very helpful and cooperative in this effort and are to be commended for their dedication to achieving severe cost reductions while maintaining the service level as high as possible. We understand, from Mr Tandy, that the Board of Supervisors has stated that the fire protection districts involved will remain intact with their independent identity, tax base and budgets . This is most important to us in Moraga. Our citizens group has outlined objectives and an implementation plan which will save considerable monies and may provide an acceptable level of service under these circumstances . The enclosed statement is a consensus of concerned citizens within the Moraga Fire Protection District. This statement has been forwarded to Mr Tandy and Chief Little. Chief Little has indicated to us that our objectives and implementation plan are within his plans for functional integration. We, in Moraga, feel very strongly the need for a full time chief officer at our local fire station. Also, a back-up officer should be in close proximity to Moraga, possibly Lafayette. This position should be considered a permanent position in that the person selected would remain with us for some time, ( that is in lieu of some type of rotation basis ) . In order to maintain the high level of service this community demands , management, budgeting and hiring and training of personnel for the Moraga Fire Protection District must continue to excel. It is our desire to continue to work with the Board of Supervisors, Mr Tandy and Chief Little to achieve this goal . Sincerely, Merle D. Gilliland MDG/ged Encl . Position statement List of Committee members C.C . Supervisor Sunne McPeak Supervisor Tom Powers Supervisor Gayle Bishop Supervisor Jeff Smith TO: THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, JUNE 1, 1993 FROM: THE CITIZENS SUPPORT COMMITTEE FOR THE MORAGA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT (MFPD) RE: POSITION PAPER ON THE MFPD RESTRUCTURING AS A PART OF FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION OBJECTIVES: 1. The Moraga Fire Protection District Paramedic/Fire Fighter E.M.T. Program be kept intact and provide the high level of service it has in the past. 2. The residents of the MFPD be assured that: A. Our fire flow tax funds will be used only within our MFPD and spending decisions will be made as in the past. B. The existence of our fire flow tax fund shall have no bearing on the budgeting and distribution of all other State and County funds available to all fire districts. C. Our existing and future fire and rescue apparatus remain within the MFPD and not be transferred elsewhere, except for temporary emergency fire or rescue crises. D. Donations made to Rescue One Foundation and purchases made by the Foundation remain in the MFPD. 3. The Moraga Fire Commission remain as currently organized, and continue to play its leadership role with the MFPD chief officer in establishing the MFPD's budget and tax rate. 4. The boundary lines of the MFPD, and the name Moraga Fire Protection District remain as currently designated, as legally necessary for: A. Protection of the Fire Flow Tax Authority, and B. Protection for the life-long contractual agreement for the paramedic program ambulances. LSPiL,EMENTATION: In support of these objectives, the following are essential for maintaining our previous level of service: 1. A full-time on-site Chief Officer with background and experience in paramedic service, fire protection, operations and budgeting be appointed to administer the MFPD. 2. Our current full-time (or two half-time) on-site clerical position be maintained in support of the full-time on-site chief officer, other staff and the Moraga Fire Commission. 3. Our administration building remain as headquarters for our chief officer and staff, and continue to be available for community use. CITIZENS SUPPORT COMMITTEE FOR MORAGA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT PARAMEDIC AND FIRE SERVICES Partial List: Cory, Mike 406 Fernwood Dr. 376-3069 Dale, Ellen 118 Allen Ct. 376-2578 Farnsworth, Jean 157 Walford Dr. 376-4579 Fisher, Julie 815 Camino Ricardo 376-7408 Gilliland, Merle 416 Tharp Dr. 376-4217 Gross, Barry 4 Conte La Rado 376-1740 Kirsch, Jeanne 267 Deerfield Dr. 376-3448 Lino, Norman 1742 Spyglass 376-2718 Meyer, Jerry 105 Devin Dr. 376-4939 Nelson, Dr. Lee 136 Donald Dr. 376-4378 Olsen, Dick 1861 St. Andrews Dr. 376-4386 Porterfield, Carol 1060 Sanders Dr. 376-0140 Reif, Jane 703 Moraga Road 376-5631 Rosenberg, Priscilla 12 Merrill Dr. 376-6674 Simpson, Barbara 288 Fernwood Dr. 376-7343 Smith, Ann 395 Redfield Pl. 631-1752 Advisory Board: Legal Advisor: Robert Merritt, Atty: 227 Paseo Del Rio 2842398 Medical Advisor: Dr. R. Homrighausen 12 Camino Encinas, Orinda 254-4345 Liason: Moraga Fire Commission: Borrelli, Linda 60 San Pablo Ct. 376-6151 Moraga Parents Group: Brita Harris 178 Corliss Dr. 376-0393 County: Supervisor Jeff Smith 651 Pine St. Room 108 A 646-2080 Martinez, CA 94553 Scott Tandy: Chief Ass't: 651 Pine St. 11th Floor 646-4087 Co. Administrator Martinez, CA 94553 Chief Allen Little 1500 W. 4th St. 427-8900 Antioch, CA 94509 757-1303