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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06052007 - D.2 P. .y. TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS -L °" Contra" FROM: John Cullen County Administrator o`•,I horn ;i Costa County William Weisgerber, Interim Chief SrA Faun East Contra Costa Fire Protection District DATE: May 30, 2007 I SUBJECT: Status Report on East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Master Plan and Service Delivery Model SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATIONS)&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". 3. AUTHORIZE 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. 4. REQUEST 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. , 5. DIRECT 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. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATUR . �— --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- -------------- _RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR _RECOMMENDATION OF BO D COMMITT APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S)- ------------------------- ---- ---- --------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------OTHER 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 / W� S ' '�7 CONTACT: Rich Seithel JOHN CULLEN,CLEPK OF THVBOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COU ADMINISTRATOR cc: William Weisgerber, Interim Fire Chief County Administrator's Office Interim ECCFPD Fire Chief &4—.4e BY O �_,D UTY CS r . r I 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. 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 (3-person with ALS) would require approximately $3 million additional annual revenue utilizing current cost basis. Input offered has suggested a range of options including 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; 1 Excludes city developer fees for fire services,which are not in the custody of the District. 2 �� 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. NEXT STEPS • As recommended in the Master Plan Report, the workgroup, and at community forums, the desires of the District residents should be incorporated into future decisions. It is recommended that the Board direct staff to issue an RFP to engage a consultant to conduct a public opinion survey. The survey would specifically address the public's wishes for increased service levels; their willingness to increase taxes to fund higher cost service delivery models; and their desires regarding governance structure. • Continue having the District III & V Supervisors represent the Board in working with staff, cities, community service districts and unincorporated areas; in developing details to assure sustainable fire services in the District. Attachments: City Gate/Master Plan Final Report Community Outreach Presentation Community Outreach Input Summary 3 ADDENDUM TO D.2 JUNE 59 2007 On this day the Board CONSIDERED accepting report from the County Administrator and the Chief, East Contra Costa Fire Protection District(ECCFPD) on the Fire District Master Plan and service delivery models. Due to time constraints, Supervisor Piepho directed the County Adminsitrator to return on June 11, 2007 to discuss in detail Recommendations (1) ACCEPTED status report on the progress of service delivery and cost model developments for East Contra Costa Fire Protection District); and (2)ACCEPTED City Gate and Associates-"Final Report: Fire Service and Emergency Medical Services) (EMS) Master Plan for the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District." She suggested discussing Recommendations 3, 4, 5 from the Board Order, (3)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 an preferences for District service levels, tolerance of an assessment or tax increment to fund increased service levels, and governance structure; (4)REQUESTED the District III and V Supervisors to continue to work with staff, cities, community service district, 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 (5) 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 asked for public comment and the following person spoke: Ron Walker, Business Agent, Local 1230, informed the Board it would be premature to move forward with the survey without the transcriptions of the public meetings. By a unanimous vote with all Supervisors present the Board of Supervisors took the following action: ACCEPTED Recommendation Number 3-5 (as spelled out on Board Order) and DIRECTED County Administrator to reschedule items 1 and 2 from the Board Order for June 12, 2007.