To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrator
Staff Name and Phone Number: Terri Wright: 565-3775
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): All Districts
Title:
Title
Fire Services Agreements
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt a Resolution authorizing the County Administrator to enter into an Agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) to provide Amador Plan services at the Cazadero Cal Fire Station, for an amount not to exceed $323,812, from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020.
B) Authorize the County Administrator to amend the Agreement with North Bay Fire to administer programming for the Mayacamas and Wilmar Community Facilities Districts, for a not to exceed amount of $153,200, through June 30, 2021.
C) Authorize the County Administrator to enter into an agreement with the Sonoma County Fire District to transfer appropriations (spending limit) authority related to the Revenue Exchange Agreement approved by the Board on January 29, 2019.
D) Approve a Budget Resolution to the FY 2019-20 Budget, increasing expenditure appropriations by $461,312 in the Fire Services Project Fund to cover the costs of the Cal Fire Amador Agreement and to Re-budget $137,500 for the Cloverdale and Geyserville Fire Protection District Enhanced Services Agreements.
(4/5th Vote Required)
end
Executive Summary:
This item seek authority for the County Administrator to execute several agreements that continue and/or expand services and authorities for activities previously approved by the Board of Supervisors. The agreement with Cal Fire authorizes a second year of Amador services at the Cazadero Station, to provide emergency response services in West County during the winter months. The amended agreement with North Bay Fire expands authorization to administer funding for the Mayacamas and Wilmar Community Facilities Districts that serve volunteer fire companies in these two communities. Lastly, the agreement with Sonoma County Fire District formally transfers appropriations/spending limit authority between the two entities to ensure the Fire District has sufficient expenditure authority related to the revenue exchange agreements entered into by the two entities last January.
Discussion:
Cal Fire Amador Contract
On June 11, 2018, the Board of Supervisors approved an agreement with Cal Fire to provide Extended Fire Protection Services Availability, known as “Amador” services at the Cazadero Fire Station for FY 2018-19. Cal Fire staffs the Cazadero Station during fire season and an Amador contract pays for the staff to remain at the station beyond the fire season. The term of the contract runs for the entire fiscal year, but the staffing and related costs are based on when Cal Fire completes its fire season deployment. This often results in actual costs that are far below the total not-to-exceed contract amount because Cal Fire has increasingly expanded the duration of the deployment to cover fire seasons that go well into November.
The Fire Services Working Group recommends this contract for a second year because of concerns regarding existing fire response capacity for this area. The area is currently serviced by the Cazadero Community Services District and the Fort Ross Volunteer Fire Company. Under the Deployment Plan developed by the Fire Services Working Group, the area would receive additional funding to strengthen the response capabilities if the Sonoma County Wildfire Prevention, Emergency Alert and Response Sale Tax Measure is passed by voters in March.
North Bay Fire Amendment
On March 19, 2019, the Board authorized an agreement with North Bay Fire to provide administrative, training, and supervisorial support for the 11 Volunteer Fire Companies (VFCs) supported by Community Services Area (CSA) 40. In developing this contract, staff overlooked that the Mayacamas and Wilmar VFCs are supported by Community Facility District revenue, which is funding generated from special Mello Roos taxes approved by voters. Since this funding is not related to CSA 40 revenue sources, staff is seeking specific authority to amend the agreement with North Bay Fire to include the Community Facility District (CFD) revenue. North Bay fire staff have experience with administering CFD revenue sources and the contract amendment will ensure that authorized expenditures meet the CFD requirements. There are sufficient appropriations in both of these budget units to accommodate this amendment.
Appropriation Limit Transfer
On January 29, 2019, the Board approve a Property Tax Transfer Agreement with the Windsor Fire Protection District to support the consolidation of the Bennett Valley, Rincon Valley, and Mountain VFC into one agency. The agency has reorganized into the Sonoma County Fire District and this item will authorize an additional agreement to transfer the requisite appropriation (spending limit) authority to Sonoma County Fire.
Budget Resolution
The Budget Resolution included as an Attachment, will authorize an adjustment to the FY 2019-20 Budget to accommodate the Cazadero Amador Agreement discussed above, as well as the re-budget of $137,500 to cover costs associated with the Enhanced Services Contracts executed with the Cloverdale and Geyserville Fire Protection Districts. The Board of Supervisors authorized the agreements with Cloverdale and Geyserville on March 19, 2019, but the payments for FY 2018-19 did not go out until FY 2019 because the County did not receive proper funding documentation from the Districts.
Prior Board Actions:
June 11, 2018 - Authorized an Amador contract with Cal Fire.
January 29, 2019 - Approved a Property Tax Transfer Agreement with Windsor Fire.
March 19, 2019 - Authorized Agreements with North Bay Fire, Cloverdale, and Geyserville Fire Protection Districts.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 19-20 Adopted |
FY20-21 Projected |
FY 21-22 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
153,200 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
461,812 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
614,512 |
0 |
0 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
153,200 |
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
461,812 |
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
614,512 |
0 |
0 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
There is approximately $1.2 million in the Fire Services Project Fund to cover the Amador Agreement, which does not include the $137,500 re-budget for the Cloverdale and Geyserville agreements. Staff does not anticipate the full $323,000 to be expended through this contract. The attached budget resolution authorized the necessary appropriation increase. The Wilmar and Mayacamas CFD budget units have sufficient appropriations to cover the requested contract amendments. The transfer of appropriation spending limit authority has no impact upon the County’s Budget.
Staffing Impacts
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
Attachments:
Budget Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board: