San Diego County Fire Authority PRESENTED BY FIRE CHIEF TONY MECHAM Application for Expansion of Latent Powers County Service Area 135 San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission PRESENTED BY FIRE CHIEF TONY MECHAM
OVERVIEW
COUNTY – JCFPD HISTORY 2004 JCFPD participates in the Task Force on Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services. Proposition C passes in favor of a consolidated fire service in the unincorporated area. 2007 JCFPD notifies LAFCO they chose not to be included in Phase 1 of County Fire Citing staffing concerns, JCFPD signs automatic aid agreement with County/CAL FIRE. 2013 With increasing financial difficulties, JCFPD considers consolidation with County Fire, but ultimately decides for continued independence. County of San Diego warns that subsidies will be removed from Independent Fire Districts but continues providing $60,000 operating subsidy and no cost dispatching, fire prevention services and use of County Fire Apparatus.
COUNTY – JCFPD HISTORY 2015 Siting staffing and response difficulties, JCFPD requests assistance from San Diego County Fire. A two year agreement is signed with consolidation as the goal. County agrees to provide a Paramedic Engine in Julian and fund year round operations of the Cuyamaca CAL FIRE Station. County also continues providing $60,000 in subsidy and $45,000 in indirect services. 2017 October 2017, JCFPD votes to stay independent. County of San Diego, in accordance with the terms of the agreement, removes career staffing, all additional support equipment and financial subsidies. District signs Dispatch and Fire Marshall agreement with County for fee 2018 January 1, County-JCFPD agreement terminates, career staffing is removed from the Julian and Cuyamaca Fire Stations close. February, JCFPD contacts County indicating a desire to restore services Citing staffing, response, and financial difficulties, JCFPD votes to consolidate with San Diego County Fire, the paramedic engine is reinstated. June 1, County provides services in accordance with Terms and Conditions.
COUNTY – JCFPD HISTORY The County of San Diego has been supporting and subsidizing the JCFPD for 11 years. Dispatch Services - $21,000 Value Fire Marshall Services - $18,000 Value Operating Subsidy - $60,000 annually Paramedic Fire Engine - $1,250,000 value (Includes Personnel, Apparatus, Equipment and Depreciation) Cuyamaca Amador Agreement - $210,000 value Total 2017 Subsidy $1,559,000
COUNTY ASSESSMENT County Fire has provided management services for the JCFPD since June 5. We have identified several significant issues and challenges facing the District. We are in concurrence with the factual evaluation of the District done by the Board and their subsequent vote for dissolution. Even if the benefit assessment fee is passed in November, we remain concerned with the financial stability of the District.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY FIRE PLAN FOR SERVICE
KEY ELEMENTS OF THE COUNTY PLAN We want the volunteer and reserve firefighters to remain and continue to serve their community. A vote for dissolution is not a vote to eliminate the volunteer firefighters. San Diego County will provide an enhanced level of service. San Diego County will provide for long term sustainability for services in Julian and Cuyamaca. San Diego County will provide services with a reduction in cost to the taxpayer.
ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNANCE San Diego County Fire shall be the successor agency to the District for the purpose of providing structural fire protection and emergency medical services. The District will become part of a regional network which includes 42 Fire/EMS Stations.
COMPREHENSIVE AND REGIONAL SYSTEM San Diego County Fire operates a cooperative, regional, integrated, fire protection system. This system is constantly adopting to changes through the use of data analytics and compliance with our Standards of Cover. Depth of system allows for 5 paramedic fire engines to reach JCFPD within 20 minutes during a significant incident. Standard Response Plan dispatches 4 fire engines to a structure fire and 2 fire engines to a significant medical emergency or traffic collision. Established Response Time Standards for all emergency incidents. Risk assessment to determine allocation of resources. Julian is a 30 minute priority cover station. ISO rated at 3/3X.
RISK ASSESSMENT, MUST COVER County Fire has identified the community of Julian as a must cover community based on a Standards of Cover Risk Assessment. Category Measurement Risk Rank CSA 135 Rank Population 4,100 10 3rd Population Density 96 / sq mi 3 7th Urban Area 8.4% call volume 6th Call Volume 451 5 2nd Medical Call Volume 387 Road Miles 269 miles 1st Facilities 141 The level of risk present in the community of Julian necessitates the presence of a paramedic assessment fire engine in the Community 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.
RESPONSE TIME STANDARDS San Diego County Fire has established response time standards based on the County General Plan for Safety. Urban Regional Category, 5 minute travel time In 2017, 14% of emergency incidents occurred in these areas In 2017, County Fire average travel time was 03:50 in these areas Julian Station 56 Rural Regional Category, 10 minute travel time In 2017, 41% of emergency incidents occurred in these areas In 2017, County Fire average travel time was 07:23 in these areas Outlying Regional Category, 20 minute travel time In 2017, 45% of emergency incidents occurred in these areas In 2017, County Fire average travel time was 10:33 in these areas
RESPONSE TIME STANDARDS The below shows a 5 minute drive time from Fire Station 50
RESPONSE TIME STANDARDS The below shows a 5 minute drive time from Fire Station 56
RESPONSE TIME STANDARDS The below shows a 5 minute drive time from Fire Station 51
RESPONSE TIME STANDARDS The below shows a 5 minute drive time from Fire Station 50, 51, and 56
Photo depicts average daily on duty staffing COUNTY FIRE STAFFING County Fire has committed to providing the following levels of staffing to the community of Julian. Daily Staffing 1 Chief Officer 3-Person Paramedic Engine at Station 56 in Julian, Volunteer Reserve may staff as 4th person 3-Person Basic Life Support Engine at Cuyamaca Fire station #51 Volunteer Reserves may staff supplemental equipment at Station 56 or Station 51 Volunteer Reserve Firefighters Community based support reserve has been established for existing volunteers Comprehensive, regional fire protection system provides surge capacity Includes cooperative resources of 3-person BLS engine at Station 50 Julian Photo depicts average daily on duty staffing
District Property will transfer to the County Fire Authority TRANSFER OF PROPERTY District Property will transfer to the County Fire Authority Julian Fire Station 56 will transfer to the County and continue to be used as a Fire Station. Cuyamaca Fire Station 57 will not be used as a fire station. Due to its condition it may not be suitable for Community Use.
CUYAMACA FIRE STATION JCFPD Cuyamaca Fire Station 57 is not a usable facility and needs to be replaced. CAL FIRE Station 51 is located adjacent to station 57 and is a new 7.9 Million Dollar Fire Station build to essential service standards. County Fire apparatus will be housed at Station 51 to serve Cuyamaca.
FIRE APPARATUS Serviceable JCFPD apparatus will remain within the community. County Fire will provide additional fire apparatus including: County Patrol in Julian County Water Tender in Julian Paramedic Engine in Julian Chief Officer Vehicle in the Battalion
JCFPD VOLUNTEERS AND RESERVES District volunteer and reserve firefighters shall be transitioned in the San Diego County Volunteer Reserve Firefighter Program.
EXPLORER PROGRAM County Fire shall assume and continue support of the Julian-Cuyamaca Explorer Program. Training program will support explorers transitioning to County Reserves upon their 18th Birthday and graduation from high school.
SUPPORT SERVICES San Diego County Fire shall provide support services including dispatch services, information technology, logistics, training, emergency medical services oversight, facilities maintenance, and equipment replacement.
COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION San Diego County Fire shall provide fire prevention services to the District including project review, plan checks, new construction and business inspections, and weed abatement. Community risk reduction includes community preparedness and community education.
COMMUNITY EVENTS County Fire Firefighters and Public Education Bureau will participate in Julian community events and extend existing community programs into the area.
TAX REVENUES & TRANSFER OF PROPERTY TAX The existing District special tax, and fire related ad valorem property tax revenues shall transfer to County Fire. Tax Type Revenue Dissolution Result Property Tax $185,000 Transfers to County Fire Special Tax $105,000 Transfer to County Fire Station Benefit Fee $115,000 County to discontinue the fire station benefit fee Revenue Transfer to County $290,000 County cost for Service $2,060,775 Net County Cost for Proposal $1,770,775 San Diego County will implement no new taxes or fees on the community.
FIRE ADVISORY BOARD The Fire Advisory Board provides feedback on the activities of San Diego County Fire to the Board of Supervisors. The Fire Advisory Board is composed of members from the previous San Diego Rural Fire Protection District and the Pine Valley Fire Protection District. A Julian-Cuyamaca Subcommittee will be established and report to the Fire Advisory Board.
SUMMARY County Fire will retain existing Volunteer and Reserve Firefighters County Fire will increase staffing within both Communities County Fire will lower response times County Fire will provide First Response Paramedic Coverage County Fire will remove the fire station special benefit tax County Fire will impose no new fees for service County Fire will provide Long Term Financial Sustainability County Fire will remain involved in the Community A Julian-Cuyamaca Subcommittee will be formed under the County Fire Authority Advisory Board
QUESTIONS ?