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SD. 4

To:	Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Board of Directors
From:	Daryl L. Louder, Contra Costa Fire Protection Dist.
Date:	February 12, 2013

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Joint County-City Strategic Workshop to Discuss Service Delivery

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 02/12/2013

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

See Addendum

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

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

Contact:

Chief Daryl Louder, 925-941-3500

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: February 12, 2013
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Fire Chief to organize a joint County-City strategic workshop to discuss service delivery expectations and a collaborative approach to providing services.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No fiscal impact.

BACKGROUND:

The Fire District is a dependent special district that serves and protects the cities of Antioch, Clayton, Concord, Lafayette, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg, San Pablo, Walnut Creek, and a number of unincorporated areas of the County including Bay Point, Briones, Clyde, El Sobrante, and Pacheco. The District protects approximately 600,000 residents across a 300 square mile service area. The District is governed by a Board of Directors that also serve as the Board of Supervisors for Contra Costa County.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

The District is primarily funded (approximately 90%) through the collection of property tax from the areas identified. The District does not have access to a diverse revenue stream such as sales tax or special taxes. This lack of diversity makes the District very vulnerable and susceptible to fluctuations in property values. During the recent recession, property values and subsequent tax revenue for the District have declined significantly. This loss of revenue, as well as increasing personnel benefit costs, has resulted in a serious deficit for the District. The District and our employees have undertaken a number of initiatives to control and reduce costs. In spite of the efforts, the District still faced a significant deficit and was forced to close fire stations and reduce service levels in order to balance the budget.

Residents of the affected areas have expressed serious concerns regarding the level of service and protection in their communities as a result of the fire station closures. Many of the residents are not aware of the District’s governance model and the relationship with the respective cities.

It is recommended that representatives from the District’s Board of Directors, elected officials, and city managers from the nine cities and District staff meet jointly to discuss the following issues:

• Fiscal status of the District
• Operational capabilities and capacity of the District
• Expectations of the public regarding service delivery
• Sustainability
• Community development and increased service demands
• Communications and collaboration
• How to create diverse revenue solutions
• Engagement, governance, and ownership in the District

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The above-referenced workshop would not occur.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

Not applicable.

CLERK'S ADDENDUM

Speakers: Julie Pierce, Mayor of Clayton.

APPROVED and AUTHORIZED the Fire Chief to organize a joint County-City strategic workshop to discuss service delivery expectations and a collaborative approach to providing services;DIRECTED that attendee's include representatives from the District’s Board of Directors, elected officials, city managers from the nine cities, District staff, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Director Patricia Frost and a representative from AMR (ambulance services contractor).