Santa Cruz County Grand Jury • 2015-2016

Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury 2014­2015 Response Packet Santa Cruz County Fire Protection Districts

Published: September 24, 2015 11 pages
Ver PDF original

Findings and Recommendations 8 findings

F1
The consolidation of Fire and Emergency Medical System dispatch services ​ at the Santa Cruz Regional 911 center and mutual aid agreements between districts have created an efficient virtual single service district for those services in the entire county. x AGREE ​ PARTIALLY DISAGREE ­ explain disputed portion below ​ ​ DISAGREE ­ explain below ​ ​ Response explanation (required for responses other than “Agree”): Board vote 4­2 Agree
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Shared services between fire districts have improved response times, ​ training, and services across the county. AGREE ​ x PARTIALLY DISAGREE ­ explain disputed portion below ​ ​ DISAGREE ­ explain below ​ ​ Response explanation (required for responses other than “Agree”): Board voted 4­2 to partially disagree. Shared services in training, fleet maintenance, computer services and joint purchasing have created efficiencies within the specific discipline for those districts who participate in such programs. Automatic and Mutual Aid agreements do provide improved response times for those who participate in such agreements between agencies.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
Aptos/La Selva Fire Protection District and Central Fire Protection District ​ did not take advantage of the opportunity to pursue consolidation when the Aptos Fire Chief retired in 2014. x AGREE ​ PARTIALLY DISAGREE ­ explain disputed portion below ​ ​ DISAGREE ­ explain below ​ ​ Response explanation (required for responses other than “Agree”): Board of Directors voted 5­1 to agree.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Aptos/La Selva Fire Protection District and Central Fire Protection ​ District should work together to merge and form a Mid­County Fire Protection District. HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED ​ HAS NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED BUT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE FUTURE ​ ­ indicate timeframe below REQUIRES FURTHER ANALYSIS ­ explain scope and timeframe below (not to ​ ​ exceed six months) x WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED ­ explain below ​ ​ Response summary, timeframe or explanation: The Board of Directors voted 6­0: will not be implemented. The feasibility of merging, consolidating or other enhanced models of governance has been studied several times since the publishing of the 1973 Sierra Report. Most of the proposed efficiencies highlighted in the Sierra Report have been implemented. Additional studies such as the 1986 ­ Hughes, Heiss report; 1992 ­ Mid County Consolidation Feasibility Study; 1993 ­ Ralph Anderson Report; 1994 ­ addendum to the Ralph Anderson Report and the extensive joint exploration in 2000 by the Aptos and Central Fire Boards have not resulted in a consolidation. In no era has consultant conclusions affected a governance determination suggesting the two Districts can provide enhanced services or significant savings as the product of a consolidation. Extensive study has consistently concluded that the greatest economic savings results from Fire Station closure. Station distribution and response times are in line with or exceed our Standards of Coverage response time policy. Modest savings may be recognized through shrinking Administrative Staff but as the Cooperative Prevention model has highlighted – agencies are running at minimal levels and combining staff would only allow status quo service levels. The concern for abdication of local control will inhibit further analysis until such a time as system distress or as yet unrealized significant benefit is demonstrated by the dissolution of independent Districts established by law to serve their community. Lastly, in the 14’­15’ Grand Jury report it was observed on that “bigger is not automatically better” as well as “local leadership and community involvement and support are important factors which must be taken into consideration”. This sage advice is universal in its application.
F4
The differences in pay scales and benefits between Aptos/La Selva Fire ​ Protection District and Central Fire Protection District are issues that must be addressed prior to consolidation. x AGREE ​ PARTIALLY DISAGREE ­ explain disputed portion below ​ ​ DISAGREE ­ explain below ​ ​ Response explanation (required for responses other than “Agree”): Board of Directors voted 4­2 to agree.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Aptos/La Selva Fire Protection District and Central Fire Protection ​ District should work together to merge and form a Mid­County Fire Protection District. HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED ​ HAS NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED BUT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE FUTURE ​ ­ indicate timeframe below REQUIRES FURTHER ANALYSIS ­ explain scope and timeframe below (not to ​ ​ exceed six months) x WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED ­ explain below ​ ​ Response summary, timeframe or explanation: The Board of Directors voted 6­0: will not be implemented. The feasibility of merging, consolidating or other enhanced models of governance has been studied several times since the publishing of the 1973 Sierra Report. Most of the proposed efficiencies highlighted in the Sierra Report have been implemented. Additional studies such as the 1986 ­ Hughes, Heiss report; 1992 ­ Mid County Consolidation Feasibility Study; 1993 ­ Ralph Anderson Report; 1994 ­ addendum to the Ralph Anderson Report and the extensive joint exploration in 2000 by the Aptos and Central Fire Boards have not resulted in a consolidation. In no era has consultant conclusions affected a governance determination suggesting the two Districts can provide enhanced services or significant savings as the product of a consolidation. Extensive study has consistently concluded that the greatest economic savings results from Fire Station closure. Station distribution and response times are in line with or exceed our Standards of Coverage response time policy. Modest savings may be recognized through shrinking Administrative Staff but as the Cooperative Prevention model has highlighted – agencies are running at minimal levels and combining staff would only allow status quo service levels. The concern for abdication of local control will inhibit further analysis until such a time as system distress or as yet unrealized significant benefit is demonstrated by the dissolution of independent Districts established by law to serve their community. Lastly, in the 14’­15’ Grand Jury report it was observed on that “bigger is not automatically better” as well as “local leadership and community involvement and support are important factors which must be taken into consideration”. This sage advice is universal in its application.
F5
Aptos/La Selva Fire Protection District and Central Fire Protection District ​ have a common problem resulting from excessive and unreasonable Public Records Act requests. These requests have negatively impacted the daily administration, budgets and operations of the districts. x AGREE ​ PARTIALLY DISAGREE ­ explain disputed portion below ​ ​ DISAGREE ­ explain below ​ ​ Response explanation (required for responses other than “Agree”): Board of Directors voted 6­0 to agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
The lack of enforced policies and procedures regarding conflicts of interest ​ and board member interactions in district operations, has interfered with the ability of the Aptos/La Selva Fire Protection District and Central Fire Protection District to consider further shared services or consolidation. AGREE ​ x PARTIALLY DISAGREE ­ explain disputed portion below ​ ​ DISAGREE ­ explain below ​ ​ Response explanation (required for responses other than “Agree”): The Board of Directors voted 4­2 to partially disagree. The Board of Directors of the Central Fire Protection District do not believe there has been any enforcement issues with policy and procedure regarding conflict of interest of Board Member interactions in District Operations within the Central Fire District. Current operational functions and services such as Fleet Maintenance, Information Technology has continued to functioned with minimal effect. In support of this observation is correspondence from the Grand Jury Foreperson indicating the belief that the issue does not lay with Central Fire District. The disruptive behavior caused by Board Member interference does inhibit further consideration. ​
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Central Fire Protection District should adopt and enforce clear ​ and comprehensive conflict of interest regulations for Board Members. HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED ​ x HAS NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED BUT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE ​ FUTURE ­ indicate timeframe below ​ REQUIRES FURTHER ANALYSIS ­ explain scope and timeframe below (not to ​ ​ exceed six months) WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED ­ explain below ​ ​ Response summary, timeframe or explanation: The Board of Directors voted 6­0 “Has not been implemented but will be implemented in the near future. The Board of Directors is reviewing updated language to the Board of Directors by­laws at its August 2015 Board meeting with scheduled ratification at the September 2015 Board meeting.
F7
The joint Aptos/La Selva Fire Protection District and Central Fire Protection ​ District Cooperative Fire Prevention Program is successful and could benefit the county if made permanent. AGREE ​ x PARTIALLY DISAGREE ­ explain disputed portion below ​ ​ DISAGREE ­ explain below ​ ​ Response explanation (required for responses other than “Agree”): To date the CPP has been successful in identifying organizational practices and procedures needed to streamline joint operations. The agencies continue to address those organizational differences. The program was never intended to serve County residents other than in those served by the two fire districts. A much larger organization including a different governance model would be required to expand services to the whole county. In addition the economic capacity to fund increased service levels and lack of service expectation of smaller agencies makes it unlikely they would become users of such a proposed model. Board of Directors voted 6­0 to partially disagree
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The governing bodies of Aptos/La Selva Fire Protection District ​ and Central Fire Protection District should adopt the three year plan for the Cooperative Fire Prevention Program. HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED ​ HAS NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED BUT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE FUTURE ​ ­ indicate timeframe below x REQUIRES FURTHER ANALYSIS ­ explain scope and timeframe below (not to ​ ​ exceed six months) WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED ­ explain below ​ ​ Response summary, timeframe or explanation: The Board of Directors voted 4­2: Requires further analysis. ​ This study has not been completed and requires ratification of a memorandum of understanding. Both agencies need agreement of financial terms and further evaluation on integration of policy and practices is ongoing. This process will take a minimum of 3­6 months to complete.
F8
Expansion of the Central Fire Protection District’s fleet services department ​ is needed to allow a larger number of districts to contract with this service. x AGREE ​ PARTIALLY DISAGREE ­ explain disputed portion below ​ ​ DISAGREE ­ explain below ​ ​ Response explanation (required for responses other than “Agree”): The Board of Directors voted 6­0 to agree.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Central Fire Protection District should explore expansion of its ​ fleet maintenance services to support contracts with a greater number of local fire districts. x HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED ​ HAS NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED BUT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE FUTURE ​ ­ indicate timeframe below REQUIRES FURTHER ANALYSIS ­ explain scope and timeframe below (not to ​ ​ exceed six months) WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED ­ explain below ​ ​ Response summary, timeframe or explanation: The Board of Directors has voted 6­0 to agree.

No Responses Found 2

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

Ben Lomond Fire Protection District Fire District
Boulder Creek Fire Protection District Fire District