In 1995, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 95/475 delegating a broad range of its board of directors functions and responsibilities to advisory fire commissions of the, then, six dependent fire protection districts within the county. Through consolidation and dissolution, only two of the six county fire districts remain: Contra Costa and Crockett-Carquinez. In 1999, the Board adopted Resolution No. 99/138 updating the delegation of powers to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Advisory Fire Commission.
In 2014, the Board of Supervisors began convening monthly as the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District board of directors fulfilling, in effect, many of the functions and responsibilities that, in 1999, had been delegated to the Advisory Fire Commission for that district. On March 9, 2022, the Contra Costa County Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCo) unanimously approved the annexation of East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) to the CCCFPD and the dissolution of ECCFPD, requiring a modification to the membership of the CCCFPD Advisory Fire Commission to include representation of East County service areas. The Board of Supervisors, on May 17, 2022, resdesignated the At Large #2 seat on the AFC to represent the area former served by the ECCFPD and the At Large #1 seat to represent all remaining areas of the CCCFPD. The three Alternate seats continue to be representative of the entire District.
Along with the modification to membership, it is recommended that the delegation of board of directors duties also be updated to reflect the board's current, higher level of District oversight than in 1999. It is recommended that the following delegation of duties be removed from the CCCFPD Advisory Fire Commission since the Board of Supervisors now acts directly on these matters:
- To review and advise on annual operations and capital budgets
- To review district expenditures
- To review and advise on long-range capital improvement plans
- To advise the Fire Chief on district service matters
- To review performance of the Fire District against objectives
- To meet jointly with the Board of Supervisors
- To communicate with the other fire district advisory commissions on services and functional integration
- To assist in the Fire Chief's selection process as required
Update of the CCCFPD Advisory Fire Commission role and responsibilities will provide clarity and proper focus of the Commission's time and energy towards duties that will complement rather than duplicate the functions of the Board of Directors. The Internal Operations Committee recommends the following revised delegation of duties to the AFC as reconstituted pursuant to the annexation agreement:
"The functions of the fire commissioners are to review the goals and objectives of the District; provide liaison with the community, and provide advice and information on fire protection matters to the Board of Directors. This Board hereby delegates to the CCCFPD Advisory Fire Commission the following powers and responsibilities:
a. Pursuant to district ordinance, to serve as the Appeals Board on weed abatement matters;
b. To review and make recommendations on Fire District goals and objectives;
c. To provide advice and information to the Board of Directors on fire protection matters as needed;
d. To serve as liaison between the Board of Directors and the community served by the district;
e. To perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned and as directed by the Board of Directors."
The AFC considered these modifications at its regular meeting on June 13 and concurs with the IOC recommendations.
Adopted as amended to reflect in the bylaws that while not voting, alternates may fully participate in meetings. Revised version attached.