The final report will not be formally received by the Board of Directors.
Public comment provided by: Jim Diaz, resident of Clayton; Bill Granados, CCC Advisory Fire Commission; Dennis LeGear, resident of Pleasant Hill.
The Board heard the presentation from Fitch & Associates. The Board and Chief Carman expressed their appreciation for the great work.
Director Piepho requested the new website under construction include a full organization chart identifying the Board of Directors as the governing body to provide the public with an increased level of information. Director Piepho commended the report the Chief recently provided the Finance Committee and requested the report be included on the District’s website. Director Piepho noted the effort, expense and comprehensiveness of the Fitch report and suggested it be used as a benchmarking tool for the future and not be shelved.
Director Andersen expressed a desire to continue seeking reductions in personnel costs, with implementation of 2-person squads for medical emergencies, reducing pension benefit costs for new hires going forward, and working with the County Administrators Office to streamline recruiting through the County’s Human Resources Department. Director Andersen stated she would like to see improvement in the scheduled work hours in the communications center (dispatch), possibly aligning with the Sheriff’s Department. Director Andersen stated the District needs to address the currently unfunded capital improvements program for structures and equipment soon. Director Andersen would like to be sure all other options are explored exhaustively before placing a parcel tax measure on the ballot;
Director Gioia inquired about the expected timeline for Chief Carman to return to the Board to request additional information on the short- and long-term effects of the SAFER grant on District planning. While the Chief would like to specifically learn what changes are expected over the next few years and he believes a parcel tax measure will be necessary. In addition, the Chief requested the estimated projection of dollars expected to be returned to the District from the dissolution of the Redevelopment Agency and the anticipated timeline for it to be realized;
Chair Mitchoff would like more information on staffing and scheduling in the communications center and firefighter crews; and requested more data on the operational side of implementing Option 2 Three/Two Response Staffing. Chair Mitchoff also requested additional intelligence regarding what the consolidation of the communications center with the Sheriff’s would look like and might entail, both favorable and not;
Directors Gioia, Andersen, Piepho, and Mitchoff agreed that discussions of the governance of the District should be held, but not until a future time when the District is more financially stable.
Chief Carmen informed the Directors that in addition to the Fitch Report, the District itself had been actively investigating internally and exploring options to become a more efficient and cost conscious organization. He noted that no member of the organization has proposed what has been called the ‘status quo’ in regard to staffing and operations. Changes are underway. Already completed was a comprehensive look at the communications center and determination reached that the necessary tools for staff had eroded and will be addressed going forward; negotiations are in progress with the City of San Pablo for the 2-person squads; and work to improve the website with a focus on public education has already begun.