To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrator
Staff Name and Phone Number: Terri Wright 565-2431
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Fire Services Agreements
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize the County Administrator to extend the agreement with North Bay Fire through June 30, 2023, to provide Volunteer Fire Company (VFC) support, for an annual not-to-exceed amount of $2,315,000.
B) Authorize the County Administrator to extend the Enhanced Fire Services agreements through June 30, 2023, as follows:
i. Bodega Bay Fire District to provide an additional 24/7 paramedic coverage for an annual not-to-exceed amount of $500,000.
ii. Cloverdale Fire District to provide 2.0 staffing for an annual not-to-exceed amount of $275,000.
iii. Gold Ridge Fire District to provide 2.0 staffing for an annual not-to-exceed amount of $600,000.
iv. North Bay Fire to provide VFC stipends and to contract with Cal Fire for a Petaluma Amador Contract, for an annual not-to-exceed amount of $550,000.
v. Northern Sonoma County Fire District to provide 2.0 staffing for an annual not-to-exceed amount of $275,000.
end
Executive Summary:
This item requests authorization for the County Administrator to enter in amendments that extend six fire services contracts that were originally initiated in March 2019 for a term through June 30, 2021 to provide enhanced fire services and VFC oversight until a broader plan to support fire services could be implemented by the potential passage of Measure G, the Sonoma County Wildfire Prevention, Emergency Alert, and Response Tax Measure.
Measure G failed by 1.84%, but the Board of Supervisors during the FY 2020-21 Budget Hearings, recommitted to placing another fire tax measure on the June 2022 ballot. The changes requested maintain the basic terms of the original agreements and extend them through June 30, 2023. A term to open renegotiation in the event of the passage of a new fire tax and/or consolidation was added to all agreements.
Discussion:
North Bay Fire Amendment
On March 19, 2019, the Board of Supervisors approved the third phase of a multi-phased plan that dissolved the former Fire and Emergency Services Department and established a relationship with North Bay Fire to provide oversight of the Volunteer Fire Companies (VFC) that make up CSA 40. North Bay Fire is a non-profit organization formed by the County’s volunteer fire companies that came together to create a self-governance structure that seeks to provide cohesive management and leadership to the County’s VFCs. The volunteer program has been strengthened by the partnership with North Bay Fire and its sub-contract relationship with the Gold Ridge Fire District. The North Bay Fire and Gold Ridge partnership provide the following services:
• Provide primary fire and emergency services with CSA 40.
• Train and equip volunteers, including maintaining effective safety programs that comply with state and federal standards.
• Provide maintenance and repairs to vehicles and equipment.
The terms of the North Bay Fire agreement remain largely the same. The following is a summary of the revisions contained in the amendment:
• The agreement amount was lowered to $2.31 million from $2.45 million to align with available revenue sources that are decreasing due to ongoing consolidation efforts. Since the execution of the original agreement, the Mayacamas VFC has been detached from CSA 40.
• The agreement allows for two payments from a single payment to also align with available revenue sources.
• The subcontract amount for Gold Ridge was increased by $25,000.
• An unspent funds expenditure exhibit was added to outline how accumulated funds from the previous contract may be spent.
• The vehicle exhibit was updated to reflect the status of vehicles that were turned into County Fleet for auction or transferred as a result of annexation.
• A renegotiation clause was added in the event of the passage of a new fire tax or upon the consolidation/annexation of CSA 40 territory.
Enhanced Services Contracts
Also on March 19, 2019, the Board approved contracts with five fire districts that were identified by the Fire Services Work Group (formerly known as the Strategic Leadership Group) as districts requiring additional funding to strengthen service delivery. As noted above, the agreements were planned as a bridge to a potential fire tax that did not pass. The Fire Ad Hoc has received support letters from the Sonoma County Fire Districts Association and the Fire Chiefs Association requesting these agreements be extended. The Fire Ad Hoc recommends the agreements be extended to maintain the enhanced services levels authorized by the original agreements until the outcome of the June 2022 fire tax measure is known.
Prior Board Actions:
March 19, 2019 - Approval of the Original Fire Services Agreements
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 20-21 Adopted |
FY21-22 Projected |
FY 22-23 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
4,651,500 |
4,515,000 |
4,515,000 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
4,651,000 |
4,515,000 |
4,515,000 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
4,651,000 |
4,515,000 |
4,515,000 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
4,651,000 |
4,515,000 |
4,515,000 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The payments for the FY 2020-21 term have already been made. The payments associated with the extensions will go into effect beginning July 1, 2021. The extension of these contracts have been included in the FY 2021-22 Recommended Budget. The North Bay Fire contract will be covered by $2.2 million in CSA 40 funds and $115,000 from Wilmar Mello Roos funds. The Enhanced Services contracts will be covered by $2.2 million in Fire Services Project funds, which are comprised of Prop 172 and TOT funds.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
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|
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
A. North Bay Fire Second Amendment
B. Bodega Bay First Amendment
C. Cloverdale First Amendment
D. Gold Ridge First Amendment
E. North Bay Fire First Amendment
F. Northern Sonoma County Fire (formerly Geyserville) First Amendment
G. Map of Agencies Funded
H. Request Letters from Sonoma County Fire District and Fire Chiefs Associations
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None