Background

In December 2004, the Belmont Fire Protection District sent a notice to the City of San Carlos and the South County Fire Authority of their intent to leave the Authority at the end of June 2006. A similar notice was sent by the City of San Carlos later that month. After these notices were sent, the South County Fire Authority Board (two Council Members from Belmont and two Council Members from San Carlos) asked the City Managers of each City and the Fire Chief to ask for proposals for Fire Services from the neighoring fire departments - City of San Mateo Fire Department and City of Redwood City Fire Department as well as the California Department of Forestry (CDF) which provides fire services to unincorporated portions of San Carlos and Belmont as well as unincorporated areas around San Mateo County. Proposals for Fire Services were received from these three agencies as well as the Menlo Park Fire Protection District.

At that time, then Mayor Inge Tiegel Doherty appointed the two San Carlos Council Members who represent San Carlos on the South County Fire Authority Board - Don Eaton and Mike King - to a City Council Ad Hoc Committee. This Council Committee worked with then City Manager Mike Garvey, Assistant City Manager Brian Moura and then Fire Chief Chuc Lowden to review how to provide fire services for the City of San Carlos, how to finance these services in the future and what type of organizational structure might be best for providing fire service.

In December 2005, then Mayor Matt Grocott appointed himself and Council Member Bob Grassilli to the South County Fire Authority Board. They participated in four "2x2 Committee" meetings in late 2005 and early 2006 with two Council Members from the City of Belmont to study issues and funding formulas related to South County Fire. In February 2006, the City Council voted to continue to obtain fire services from the South County Fire Authority. In June 2006, an amended and restated Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) was unanimously approved by the City Councils in both San Carlos and Belmont. The amended and restated JPA renames the South County Fire Authority to the Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department, changes the funding formula of the Fire Department from 50% San Carlos, 50% Belmont to 47.2% Belmont and 52.8% San Carlos if a revenue measure is passed in both cities (the formula will remain at 50% for each City if a revenue measure does not pass in both cities) and changes the management of the department from the City Managers of the two cities to the 4 Member Elected Fire Board effective on July 1, 2006.

A proposed Fire Assessment was authorized by the City Council on July 24, 2006. Information on the Fire Assessment proposed in 2006 is available on the City Web Site. Ballots on the proposed Fire Assessment were sent to property owners in both cities on September 28, 2006, with the mail in ballots due on November 13, 2006 (San Carlos) and November 14, 2006 (Belmont). The proposed Fire Assessment measure did not pass in San Carlos (47% Support; 53% Oppose) and did not pass in Belmont (41% Support; 59% Oppose) and therefore did not go into effect.

On January 8, 2007, the San Carlos City Council will consider a request from the Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department Board for the City to change the sharing of the Fire Department's costs each year starting on July 1, 2007 from 50% San Carlos and 50% Belmont to a formula that could increase the San Carlos share of these costs from 50.0% to a range of proposals involving a San Carlos payment of 50.9% to 56.6%. More information on this proposal is shown in the materials linked below.

The following reports and video updates will provide you with the latest information on the Fire Service Options for San Carlos. Click on the links below for more information.

• City Council Staff Report - Consider Increasing San Carlos Share of Fire Department Costs (January 22, 2007)
• City Council Staff Report - Consider Increasing San Carlos Share of Fire Department Costs (January 8, 2007) - Part 1
• City Council Staff Report - Consider Increasing San Carlos Share of Fire Department Costs (January 8, 2007) - Part 2

Videos: Reports to City Council on Fire Service Options for San Carlos - 2007

• Consider Increasing the San Carlos Share of Annual Fire Department Expenses - Mark Weiss, City Manager (January 8, 2007) 1 hour 41 minutes

• Final Engineer's Report - Proposed San Carlos Fire Assessment District (August 24, 2006) (PDF or FlashPaper , 203K)
• Timeline - Proposed San Carlos Fire Assessment District (August 7, 2006) (PDF or FlashPaper , 77K)

Reports to City Council on Fire Service Options for San Carlos - 2006

• City Council Staff Report - Consider Amending JPA for Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department and Consider Notice of Termination Options (December 11, 2006)
• City Council Staff Report - Consideration of Fire Service Provision Options (November 27, 2006)
• City Council Staff Report - Proposed Fire Assessment - Results of Balloting and Results of Property Owner Protest Proceeding (November 27, 2006)
• News Release - Results of Balloting - Proposed Fire Assessment in San Carlos (November 15, 2006)
• News Release from Belmont - Belmont Fire Protection District Assessment Ballot Fails (November 15, 2006)
• City Council Staff Report - Public Hearing on Proposed Fire Assessment Balloting, Close Balloting and Authorize Counting of the Ballots (November 13, 2006)
• City Council Staff Report - Consider Authorizing Mayor to Cast Ballots of City Owned Property in Proposed Fire Assessment Balloting (October 23, 2006)
• Redevelopment Agency Board Staff Report - Consider Authorizing RDA Board Chair to Cast Ballots of City Owned Property in Proposed Fire Assessment Balloting (October 23, 2006)
• City Council Staff Report - Consider Resolutions for Proposed Fire Assessment (July 24, 2006)
• City Council Staff Report - Report on Proposed Fire Suppression Assessment (July 10, 2006)
• City Council Staff Report - Ratify Proposed 2006-07 Budget for Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department (June 26, 2006)
• City Council Staff Report - Consideration of Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department Joint Powers Agreement (June 12, 2006)
• City Council Powerpoint Presentation - Amended and Restated Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department JPA (June 12, 2006) (PDF or FlashPaper , 214K)
• City Council Staff Report - Report on Proposed Fire Assessment and 10 Year Budget Model (June 12, 2006)
• City Council Powerpoint Presentation - Report on Proposed Fire Services Assessment and 10 Year Budget Model (June 12, 2006) (PDF or FlashPaper , 293K)
• City Council Staff Report - Consideration of Draft Letter of Agreement and Update on Fire Services in San Carlos (May 16, 2006)
• City Council Staff Report - Appropriation of $100,000 from General Fund to Cover San Carlos Share of Costs of South County Fire Authority for Balance of Budget Year (April 24, 2006)
• City Council Staff Report - Consideration of Draft Letter of Agreement and Update on Fire Services in San Carlos (April 24, 2006)
• City Council Staff Report - Update on and Discussion of City Council Action to Continue Fire Services Provision from South County Fire Authority and to extend the termination date for South County Fire Authority Joint Powers Agreement, to January 1, 2007 (March 27, 2006)
• City Council Staff Report - Supplemental Materials (March 27, 2006)
• City Council Powerpoint Presentation - Update on Continue Fire Services Provision from South County Fire Authority (March 27, 2006) (PDF or FlashPaper , 457K)
• City Council Staff Report - Update on and Discussion of City Council Action to Continue Fire Services Provision from South County Fire Authority and to extend the termination date for South County Fire Authority Joint Powers Agreement, to January 1, 2007 (March 13, 2006)
• City Council Staff Report - Consideration of Report from 2x2 Committee and Provide Direction on Options to Continue South County Fire (February 27, 2006)
• City Council Staff Report - Update on Options for Fire Services in San Carlos (February 27, 2006)
• City Council Staff Report - Consideration of Report from 2x2 Committee on Options to Continue South County Fire Authority and Provide Direction to 2x2 Committee and Staff (February 15, 2006)
• City Council Staff Report - Update on Options for Fire Services in San Carlos (February 15, 2006)
• City Council Powerpoint Presentation - Report from 2x2 Committee & Update on Options for Fire Services (February 15, 2006) (PDF or FlashPaper , 635K)
• City Council Staff Report - Proposed 2x2 Committee of the San Carlos and Belmont City Councils for Discussion of South County Fire Authority (January 13, 2006)

Reports to City Council on Fire Service Options for San Carlos (Videos) - 2006

• Resolution amending Joint Powers Authority (JPA) for the Belmont – San Carlos Fire Department and Notice of Termination Options - Mark Weiss, City Manager (December 11, 2006) 1 hour 11 minutes
• Conduct Public Hearing for Fire Assessment, Close Ballot Process at End of Hearing and Authorize Counting of Ballots - Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager (November 13, 2006) 41 minutes 7 seconds
  
• Consider Authorizing Mayor to Cast Ballots of City Owned Property in Proposed Fire Assessment Balloting (October 23, 2006) 6 mins 38 secs
• Consider Authorizing RDA Board Chair to Cast Ballots of City Owned Property in Proposed Fire Assessment Balloting (October 23, 2006) 41 secs
• City Council Endorsement of Proposed Fire Services Assessment - Mark Weiss, City Manager (September 25, 2006) 4 mins 45 secs
• Report on Proposed Fire Services Assessment - Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager (July 24, 2006) 32 mins 31 secs
• Report on Proposed Fire Services Assessment - Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager (July 10, 2006) 1 hour 18 min 13 secs
• Ratify Proposed 2006-07 Budget for Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department - Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager (June 26, 2006) 3 min 50 secs
• Consideration of Amended & Restated JPA for Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department - Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager (June 12, 2006) 32 min 22 secs

• Report on Proposed Fire Services Assessment - Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager (June 12, 2006) 21 min 41 secs

• Appropriation of $100,000 from General Fund to cover San Carlos share of costs of South County Fire Authority for balance of budget year - Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager (April 24, 2006) 3 min 18 secs
• Consideration of Draft Letter of Agreement for Fire Services in San Carlos - Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager (April 24, 2006) 1 hour 14 mins
• Update on and Discussion of Continuing Fire Services with South County Fire Authority - Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager (March 27, 2006) 1 hour 29 mins
• Report from 2x2 Representatives in San Carlos - Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager (March 13, 2006) 40 min 57 secs
• Report from 2x2 Representatives in San Carlos - Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager (February 27, 2006) 2 hours 20 min 13 secs
• Report from 2x2 Representatives in San Carlos - Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager (February 15, 2006) 2 hours 20 min 11 secs
• Selection of 2x2 Representatives - Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager (January 18, 2006) 1 hour 59 min 34 secs

Agendas - 2x2 Meetings of Fire Board - 2006

• Special Fire Board Meeting - 2x2 Discussions Between San Carlos and Belmont (February 17, 2006) (PDF or FlashPaper , 29K)
• Special Fire Board Meeting - 2x2 Discussions Between San Carlos and Belmont (February 16, 2006) (PDF or FlashPaper , 156K)
• Special Fire Board Meeting - 2x2 Discussions Between San Carlos and Belmont (February 2, 2006) (PDF or FlashPaper , 156K)
• Special Fire Board Meeting - 2x2 Discussions Between San Carlos and Belmont (January 25, 2006) (PDF or FlashPaper , 160K)

Reports to City Council on Fire Service Options for San Carlos - 2005

• Letter to 3 Neighboring Fire Agencies - Detailed Criteria for Proposals for Fire Services (December 5, 2005) (PDF or FlashPaper , 31K)
• City Council Staff Report - Discussion and Adoption of Detailed Proposal Criteria for Fire Service Options for San Carlos (November 28, 2005) (PDF or FlashPaper , 65K)
• City Council Staff Report - Attachment - Comparison of Fire Service Criteria Scenarios (November 28, 2005) (PDF , 8K)
• City Council Staff Report - Discussion of Calendar for Provision of Fire Service (October 24, 2005)
• City Council Staff Report - Discussion of Proposals for Fire Service in San Carlos and Authorize Staff to Obtain Detailed Proposals from Finalist Agencies (October 12, 2005)
• Update on Fire Service Options - Fire Chief Chuc Lowden - January 12, 2005 (FlashPaper or PDF , 21K)

Reports to City Council on Fire Service Options for San Carlos (Videos) - 2005

• Fire Service Options for San Carlos - Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager (November 28, 2005) 57 min 27 secs
• Fire Service Options for San Carlos - Mark Weiss, City Manager (October 24, 2005) 27 secs
• Fire Service Options for San Carlos - Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager (October 12, 2005) 2 hr 29 min 49 secs
• Fire Service Options for San Carlos - Brian Moura, Interim City Manager (September 12, 2005) 29 min 01 sec
• Fire Service Options for San Carlos - Brian Moura, Interim City Manager (August 22, 2005) 9 min 01 sec
• Fire Service Options for San Carlos - Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager & Chuc Lowden, Fire Chief (July 25, 2005) 4 min 59 secs
• Fire Service Options for San Carlos - Fire Chief Chuc Lowden (May 9, 2005) 1 min 55 secs
• Fire Service Options for San Carlos - Council Members Mike King & Don Eaton (April 25, 2005) 3 min 22 secs
• Fire Service Options for San Carlos - Council Members Mike King & Don Eaton (March 14, 2005) 4 min 39 secs
• Fire Service Options for San Carlos - Fire Chief Chuc Lowden (January 24, 2005) 19 min 15 secs

Discussions on Fire Service Options & Withdrawal From South County Fire Authority - 2004

• Video of City Council Discussion & Vote to Withdraw From South County Fire Authority (December 22, 2004) 52 min 20 secs
• Update on South County Fire Authority - Council Member Don Eaton (December 13, 2004)
• Memo to Council - Reports Discussing the Future of South County Fire Authority (December 10, 2004)
• South County Fire Authority - Organizational Review by Chief Chuc Lowden - June 24, 2004 (FlashPaper or Adobe Acrobat PDF , 113K)