Public and Support Services Committee Back - Ron Brooks, Victor Edinburgh, Kenneth Taylor-Chair

Recommendations 12

• R07-72
  REVAMP THE PAY SCALES AND BENEFITS TO BETTER RETAIN DISPATCHERS. THIS WILL ALSO HELP IN RECRUITING EMPLOYEES.
• R07-73
  ACT PROMPTLY TO IMPLEMENT THE STUDY OF THE COMM CENTER.
• R07-74
  INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THIS UNIQUE AND VALUABLE DEPARTMENT. Support Services Center, Hazardous Material Division, and Sewell Training Center BACKGROUND There are three County Fire Centers located at the San Bernardino International Airport (SBIA) on approximately 10 acres leased from the airport authority. The facility consists of a mixture of old original hangars and temporary manufactured buildings. The Support Service Center provides three support activities: Vehicle Services (repair and outfitting of all fire engines and support vehicles), Warehouse Services and Facilities Maintenance. The Hazardous Materials Center is responsible for routine inspections, operating household hazardous waste collection facilities and responds to citizen complaints about hazardous waste problems. This operation is recognized by the state and federal government as a leader in household hazardous waste management. The Sewell Training Center, in conjunction with Crafton Hills College, has 11 weeks of classwork encompassing all aspects of real-life firefighting techniques that includes 480 hours of field training. The Center provides three fire academies per year. FINDINGS The SBIA Joint Powers Authority consists of representatives from the cities of Loma Linda, Colton, Highland, San Bernardino, and the County of San Bernardino. The SBIA Authority has notified the County that they are not renewing the lease they have had with County Fire since 1995. The lease called for 10 years, plus two three-year options. The last three-year option will expire in 2011. According to SBIA, “with the closure of Rialto Airport, we are placing some aircraft oriented business on our site. In 2011, we may need to acquire the County Fire facilities space for our SBIA use for aircraft placement and aviation use.” In addition, SBIA reported, “County Fire is considered non-aviation and consequently, the FAA (who have oversight on leases at the airport) will not support a lease renewal.” SBIA is uncertain whether another of their off-airport sites will be available to relocate the three centers. In the County Fire Business Plan for 2006-07, Goal Six recommends the following steps to complete the facilities relocation: “(a) Perform a needs assessment and space allocation study; (b) Research available real estate based on space allocation study; (c) Estimate project cost and identify potential revenue sources to fund relocation of a facility; and (d) Present recommendations to Board of Supervisors for viable options.” County Fire is involved in a reorganization of 36 fire districts into four regions. The application is before LAFCO (Local Agency Formation Commission) and should be completed this year. LAFCO informs the Grand Jury that with some minor adjustments, it should be before the Board of Supervisors sometime this fall. RECOMMENDATIONS
• R07-75
  EXPLORE WITH SAN BERNARDINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON ALTERNATE OFF-AIRPORT RELOCATION SITES.
• R07-76
  EXECUTE 2006-07 BUSINESS PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RELOCATION OF THREE COUNTY FIRE COMMUNICATION CENTERS AND PRESENT RECOMMENDATIONS TO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
• R07-77
  COMPLETE THE REORGANIZATION OF THE 36 COUNTY FIRE DISTRICTS THAT IS BEFORE LAFCO. LAND USE SERVICES
• R07-78
  MAKE AN EFFORT TO NOTIFY AREA UNIVERSITIES THAT THE COUNTY HAS A SERIOUS NEED FOR PLANNERS; IT SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER OFFERING GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO QUALIFIED STUDENTS IN EXCHANGE FOR MULTIYEAR COMMITMENTS TO THE COUNTY WITH FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT AS AN ULTIMATE GOAL.
• R07-79
  WHEN A LAND USE PERMIT IS PULLED, REQUIRE PRE-INSPECTION BEFORE THE WORK BEGINS ON LARGE AND SMALL DEVELOPMENTS. INFORM ALL LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OF CODES AND LAWS REGARDING PROTECTED PLANTS AND TREES. THESE AGENCIES ARE REQUIRED TO ENFORCE THESE ORDINANCES AND COLLABORATE ON ENFORCEMENT WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
• R07-80
  THE EXISTING TECHNOLOGY OF AERIAL PHOTOS/GPS BE USED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT. REGISTRAR OF VOTERS
• R07-81
  UPGRADE THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL IN THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS WAREHOUSE TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT 78 DEGREES.
• R07-82
  UPGRADE BALLOT-COUNTING SCANNERS.
• R07-83
  DURING THE ELECTION PROCESS: (1) PREVENT THE VOTING MACHINES FROM RUNNING OUT OF PRINT PAPER AND MALFUNCTIONING; (2) ASSURE THAT THERE WILL BE NO SHORTAGE OF PAPER BALLOTS COUNTY-WIDE; (3) OFFER YEAR-ROUND TRAINING; AND, (4) ACTIVATE THE SECURITY SYSTEM. 66