The savings from early station closures will not be recognized in the current fiscal year, resulting in more severe service level reductions in the following fiscal year (FY-13/14).
Chief Louder presented the staff report. Chair Piepho invited the public to comment. The following people spoke: Pat Frost, Director of Emergency Medical Services (EMS); Rob Schroder, Mayor, City of Martinez; Howard Geller, Mayor, City of Clayton; Don Tatzin, resident of Lafayette; Cheryll Grover, Mt. View Improvement Association; Raly Ulmer, Mt. View Improvement Association; Michelle Valente, resident of Lafayette; Chris Limepeter, resident of Pleasant Hill; Becky Hanson; David George, resident of Lafayette; Ralph Hoffman, resident of Walnut Creek; ; Michael Egan, Rudgear Estates Homeowners' Association; George Burtt, Acalanes Valley Homeowners Association; Brandt Anderson, resident of Lafayette; Alma DeBisschop, CERT; Bobbi Freitas, resident of Lafayette; Kris Hunt, Contra Costa Taxpayers Association; Carol Yates, resident of Lafayette; Leslie Mueller, American Medical Response; Vincent Wells, President, Firefighters Local 1230. Written comments were received from: Michael Thomas, resident of Walnut Creek; Dave Fleming, resident of Sonoma;and Florence Franet, resident of Walnut Creek (attached) Chief Louder presented the staff report. Chair Piepho invited public comment. The Board discussed the matter at length. Supervisor Gioia noted that they must very soon set up a structure that involves the work of the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) and Emergency Medical Care Committee (EMCC), with their broad base of knowledgeable professionals with overlapping areas of operation, to look at how to move forward with some long term issues on a more efficient and cost effective fire and emergency medical services delivery model. He said that in the short term, there are no general fund monies, and that Prop 172 monies are also linked to the Sheriffs budget model. The idea of undertaking ballot funding measures in individual areas would create unequal service in the county and he would much prefer equal service delivery throughout the County. Chair Piepho noted her agreement with the need for longterm planning, while noting that collaboration from all related agencies is an opportunity that would take time, and that today they must address the imminent budget cycle concerns. Savings must be achieved in order to implement the new model that is to be designed. At this time that model does not yet exist. She requested input from the Board members. Supervisor Mitchoff agreed with all that this was not an simple matter. She said that the direction for the Chief had been clear, it was a matter of getting information to the public. She requested that the information provided today be made available on the District and Clerk of the Board's websites. Additionally she noted that the Board of Supervisors has done all that is legally possible in regard to costs of pensions, and will also there are and will be future difficulties in recruitment and retention. Supervisor Andersen, while recognizing that what could be done has in regard to pension reform, she would like to look to the longterm opportunities five to ten years out, such as the 2% COLA, as firefighters would be retiring and new one hired. Those figures were not in today's report and she believes those would be helpful. She said she would like to know if it was absolutely necessary to close four stations, if there was a feasible scenario of closing less, or if any closures could be delayed until July, and would like the closures to be viewed as a temporary measure. Chief Louder said that he was open to the suggestion of a study, which may cost from $100,000 to $200,000, should the Board feel it appropriate and necessary. Such a study had not been undertaken as of yet because of the district's financial situation. The Board having spoken, Chair Piepho provided the following list of requested information to return with at the Board's next meeting on December 11, 2012: a) Recommendations on station closures: b) station call volume listed on the PowerPoint slides; c) comparison between different station closures; d)the average response time by AMR ambulance service added to slide ten; e) page numbers on slides; f) need presentation by Pat Frost, Director of EMS; g)analysis beyond call volume, the process of choosing stations for closure; h) Additional information on the costs and benefits of creating and implementing a reserve firefighter program, including recruitment challenges; i) more data on response times in station 16 if that is available - especially medical response calls; j) clarification on a brownout versus a closure. k) Make the PowerPoint presentation available on the Board and District websites; l) informational report from Pat Frost, EMS Director, as the facilitator in regard to collaboration with AMR, Fire Districts, Cities, and LAFCo, to have them in the EMCC structure (for the long term), with assistance from the County Administrators Office ; m) Cost benefit analysis of station closures with more specifics of districts revenues and expenses, building reserves (County Administrators Office to assist) By unanimous vote of the Supervisors present, this matter is CONTINUED to December 11, 2012.