HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06122007 - D.1 D.1 .
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on June 12, 2007 by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Gioia, Uilkema, Piepho, Bonilla and Glover
ABSENT: Supervisor Gayle B. Uilkema
ABSTAIN: None
SUBJECT: RELISTED to June 26, 2007 to consider accepting report on the East Contra
Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) Master Plan and Fire Services Models.
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: June 12, 2007
John Cullen,Clerk of the Board
Of Supervisors and County Administrator
By: O t
Deputy Clerk
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Contra
FROM: John Cullen _
County Administrator �' _� Costa
poses - , �
William Weisgerber, Interim Chief rA Co-;- Cou my
East Contra Costa Fire Protection District
DATE: June 6, 2007
SUBJECT: Status Report on East Contra Costa Fire Protection
District Master Plan and Service Delivery Model
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. ACCEPT status report on the progress of service delivery and cost model developments for
East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD).
2. ACCEPT City Gate &Associates—"Final Report: Fire Service and EMS (Emergency Medical
Services) Master Plan for the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District".
BACKGROUND
Since the November 2002 merger of the former Bethel Island, :East Diablo, and Oakley Fire
Protection Districts, the new East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) has been able
to sustain fire and rescue response with Basic Life Support (BLS) emergency medical services
through 2-person per shift engine companies deployed at seven stations throughout the District.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMI E
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVE AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE
AYES: NOES: SHOWN.
ABSENT: ABSTAIN:
ATTESTED: JUNE 12,2007
CONTACT: Rich Seithel (925)335-1024 JOHN CULLEN,CLERK OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY
ADMINISTRATOR
cc: County Administrator
BY DEPUTY
Paid on Call (POC) staffing has also been used to supplement career staff and to provide
primary coverage at the Knightsen station. Cal Fire (California Department of Forestry) provides
coverage at the Morgan Territory station through a contract with the District. Additionally, First
Responder Advanced Life Support (ALS) is currently provided without cost to the District, through
the County Emergency Medical Services Program contractor American Medical Response
(AMR). Three Quick Response Vehicles (QRV) are strategically placed throughout the District.
The City of Brentwood contracted with the District from January 2003 through February 2007 to
fund a third firefighter to each shift at the two stations in Brentwood. (Since Brentwood
discontinued this supplemental service agreement, staff have been deployed to Knightsen.)
ECCFPD operations are funded primarily with ad valorem property tax revenue. Proposition 13
set the District's share of ad valorem property tax, which is lower than many other fire districts
due to the rural nature of the community in 1978, when the tax rates took effect. ECCFPD
capital costs are funded with developer impact fees. Despite a healthy capital reserve of $3.5
million', developer fees for the District are likewise lower than many of the surrounding areas.
District staff, working with'Muni Financial will soon forward a recommendation to the District
Board on developer fee rates for unincorporated areas. Total annual District operating
expenditures and revenues are budgeted at $11.4 million for fiscal year 2007/08. The District
has an operating reserve of approximately $3.6 million.
Recognizing the extreme population growth in East County and the demand for higher levels of
services, the District Board commissioned Sacramento-based City Gate &Associates in 2004 to
develop a Master Plan for..addressing.growth and service.needs. The City Gate report identified
the ideal service level as 10 stations geographically arranged, staffed by 3-person crews with
Advanced Life Support. The Master Plan identified three key issues to be resolved in order to
move forward: need to establish and adopt a preferred level of service; need to develop funding
options for any service expansions; and, need to identify/determine on-going governance
structure of the District.
During the Master Plan process, a community stakeholders workgroup met to provide input on
desired outcomes. Membership included representatives of the City Councils and communities
within the District. As part of the planning process, the workgroup requested staff to analyze
alternate delivery models including utilizing Cal Fire to serve the district, as well as consider a
merger with Contra Costa Fire Protection District.
Since July 2006, the Fire District has completed cost studies of various service delivery models
suggested in the Master Plan. In short, current revenue cannot fully support increased service
level recommendations. Summaries of the City Gate recommendations and cost findings have
been developed (attached) and presented in eight separate community outreach meetings held
during February/March 2007. Over 375 citizens attended and 70 persons presented public
comment on our service level models and funding requirements (summary attached). Overall,
the District's revenue can continue to support 2-person Basic Life Support at its current eight
stations expanding to ten stations when operating revenue permits. Moving to the higher
personnel standard (3person with ALS) would require approximately $3 million additional annual
revenue utilizing current cost basis. Input offered has suggested a range of options including
1 Excludes city developer fees for fire services,which are not in the custody of the District.
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seeking amendments to the Proposition 13-set tax_ basis; obtaining a share of Proposition 172
from local law enforcement; minimize.cost growth by contracting out services to the California
Department of Forestry/Cal Fire; and/or asking the voters to assess themselves for expanded fire
service. Staff view seeking changes to Proposition 13, or securing Proposition 172 funding as
not viable, given that any changes to these laws would require other jurisdictions or viable
services to lose funding.
The issue of Governance has also been raised by both City Gate and in public forums. As the
District evolves, development of an independent Board of Directors representing the District
area, versus Contra Costa County, may result in greater ownership and community support of
future decisions.
On June 5, 2007, the Board of Supervisors:
■ authorized the County Administrator to issue, on behalf of ECCFPD, a Request for Proposals
(RFP) in an amount not to exceed $40,000 for Public Opinion Survey and engage a public
opinion survey consultant to conduct an opinion poll of District electors to gauge desires and
preferences for District service levels, tolerance of an assessment or tax increment to fund
increased service levels, and governance structure;
■ requested the District III and V Supervisors to continue to work with staff, cities, community
services districts, and unincorporated areas to discuss and develop details regarding fire
protection services, associated support functions, and funding and sustainability issues
related to the fire District's service demands and expected growth over the next decade; and
■ directed the County Administrator and Interim Chief to report back to the Board of
Supervisors on the outcomes of the public opinion survey and ECCFPD status.
The Board, today, is asked to accept this status report on the progress of service delivery and
cost model developments for ECCFPD, and the City Gate &Associates—"Final Report: Fire
Service and EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Master Plan for the East Contra Costa Fire
Protection District".
Attachments provided on June S.2007.
City GatelMaster Plan Final Report
Community Outreach Presentation
Community Outreach Input Summary
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