Agenda

Return

PR.1

To:	Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Board of Directors
From:	David Twa, County Administrator
Date:	January 22, 2014

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

FITCH & ASSOCIATES, LLC TOWN HALL MEETING PRESENTATION

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 01/22/2014

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, Director
Candace Andersen, Director
Mary N. Piepho, Director
Karen Mitchoff, Director
Federal D. Glover, Director

Contact:

Timothy Ewell, 925-335-1036

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: January 22, 2014
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

PRESENTATION of draft operational study report of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District by Fitch & Associates, LLC.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No fiscal impact.

BACKGROUND:

The Board of Supervisors directed the County Administrator and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency to coordinate an independent EMS System re-evaluation study and a Fire Service study of Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (CCCFPD). Because the EMS Agency had already engaged Fitch & Associates, LLC to conduct the EMS System study and the experience that Fitch has with fire service evaluations, it was determined that Fitch should also conduct a study of CCCFPD.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

STUDY MILESTONES

On February 12, 2013, the Board of Supervisors approved a contract amendment with Fitch, including two independent scopes of service; one for the EMS Re-evaluation and one for the CCCFPD study. The County Administrator presented the structure of each as being separate modules, with separate consulting teams, which would deliver standalone recommendations at the conclusion of the study.

On March 28, 2013, the consulting team managing the Fire Study made the first on-site visit to the District – meeting with management and labor. Based on the on-site evaluation and discussion, Fitch drafted a work-plan, which the Board reviewed and approved in open session. In addition, Fitch sent a comprehensive Initial Data Request (IDR) to the District and County to initiate collection of critical information related to the study. All information requested has been sent to and acknowledged by Fitch.

On April 15, 2013, the consulting team met with key stakeholders from the County, outside fire districts, the EMS Agency, and the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) Executive Director in an effort to continue gathering background information related to the study. The County has continued to make every effort to efficiently manage the consultants’ time on-site and conduct broad outreach to all stakeholders within the system.

On June 11-13, 2013, the consulting team met with city managers and various mayors/councilmembers from 8 of the 9 cities within the District. The City of San Pablo was unable to meet with the consultants and was engaged during a future visit. The consultants also met with the LAFCo Executive Director and an ad hoc committee of two LAFCo Commissioners appointed by the full Commission. Fire District officials and members of Local 1230 were also engaged during this visit.

On July 10-11, 2013, the consulting team met with the County Administrator, County Finance Director, Senior Deputy County Administrator-Public Protection and the Fire District Chief of Administration to review current and projected financial and fixed asset information.

On August 12, 2013, Fitch & Associates, LLC provided an interim report to the Board outlining preliminary findings from an initial data collection period and described methodology being used to evaluate that data.

On December 3, 2013, Fitch returned to the Board to provide a second interim report regarding potential options to be evaluated in the study document once released.

On January 13, 2014, the County released the draft operational report for a three week public comment period. Once complete, public comments will be reviewed and addressed by Fitch and integrated into a final report to be presented to the Board on February 25, 2014.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

There is no action being requested by the Board associated with this agenda item.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

No impact.

CLERK'S ADDENDUM

Fitch and Associated, LLC presented the draft report.

Chair Mitchoff invited public comment. The following people spoke: Jim Cunha, resident of Lafayette; Lawrence Nunes, resident of Briones; Edi Birsan, resident of Concord; Carole Dwinell, resident of Briones; Traci Reilly, resident of Lafayette; Paul D. Brooks, resident of Briones; Hal Bray, Republican Party representative.

The Chair noted that all questions posed this evening were recorded and will be included in the data for the Final Report. The Board will return to consider the results of the report on February 25, 2014.