Memo to Council - Reports Discussing the Future of SCFA (December 10, 2004)
Interoffice Memo To: City Council
Date: December 10, 2004
From: Council Members Don Eaton & Mike King, South County Fire Authority Directors
Subject: Reports Discussing the Future of South County Fire Authority Background Wednesday evening, the South County Fire Authority Board of Directors met to discuss a report and presentation regarding funding fire services in Belmont. As the two Council representatives on the South County Fire Authority Board, we thought it is important to share this information with the full City Council and the community. Report from Belmont Fire Financial Project Subcommittee The Belmont Fire Financial Project Subcommittee was created in February by the Belmont City Council, sitting as the Belmont Fire Protection District. The subcommittee was asked to study the way fire services are funded in Belmont and how they might be funded in the future. Their report was issued on November 24th and contains a series of recommendations. In summary, the Belmont Subcommittee recommended that:
- The South County Fire Authority should bring a proposed 5 year Fire Suppression Assessment to the voters "as soon as practical".
- The Belmont Fire Protection District should provide a notice to the South County Fire Authority of their intention to withdraw from South County Fire Authority by January 1, 2006.
- The Belmont Fire Protection District should transition to a Contract for Services, assuming acceptable terms, with a neighboring city or other large service provider for fire protection services within the District such as the City of San Mateo or the California Department of Forestry (CDF).
Discussion at South County Fire Authority Board Some of the matters raised by the Belmont Subcommittee report have been discussed by the South County Fire Authority Board over the last few months. Both of us are supportive of efforts to explore opportunities for merging with other Fire Service Agencies or Contracts for Services if such efforts result in maintaining Fire Services for San Carlos. We feel that these options can be explored by both cities through the South County Fire Authority or separately if the Fire Authority is dissolved at some point. In terms of funding, today South County Fire Authority costs are shared equally by Belmont and San Carlos. The Belmont share of South County Fire costs is paid for through a property tax levy (20%) in the unincorporated portion of the Harbor Industrial Area (HIA) and the City of Belmont that flows to the Belmont Fire Protection District. The San Carlos share is paid for from the City’s General Fund. In recent years, the increased cost of Fire Department services has made it difficult for both cities to fully fund the department. Last year, a proposed parcel tax for Fire Services was defeated even though it received a 62% Yes vote (the measure needed a 2/3 vote for passage). The proposed Fire Services Assessment (similar to the ones recently passed in Pacifica and Millbrae) would be subject to a protest hearing process and would need a majority affirmative vote for adoption. San Carlos City Council Review This matter has been scheduled for discussion by the San Carlos City Council during the Council Reports section of the City Council Meeting of January 10th. A memo on the options available to San Carlos regarding membership in the South County Fire Authority and fire services in San Carlos will be prepared for that meeting. We look forward to discussing the matter with the full City Council at that time. Attachments:
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