Lake Valley Fire Protection District Response to El Dorado County Grand Jury Report Number Gj-13-12 The Lake Valley

Gareth Harris, doing business as Tamalpais Emergency Services, provided radios and radio equipment to the Lake Valley Fire Protection District while serving first as Fire Marshall and Battalion Chief and later as Chief of the District. The Lake Valley Fire Protection District (“District”) agrees with Finding 1, with the exception that the name of Chief Harris’s business is Tamalpais Emergency Systems.

While serving as Fire Marshall and Battalion Chief, Harris charged the District 5% over the amounts he paid Kenwood for equipment. Although he certainly had out of pocket costs, the Grand Jury had insufficient information to determine those costs. The District agrees with Finding 2.

While serving as Chief, Harris made no profit from the District but charged exactly the sum he paid to Kenwood Communications and to the Board of Equalization. He received no compensation from the District or Kenwood for these sales. The District agrees with Finding 3.

Procuring equipment through Harris and Tamalpais Emergency Services saved Lake Valley Fire District substantial amounts of money. Without Harris’ assistance in these procurements the District would have faced significant financial hardship in its efforts to comply with FCC requirements to upgrade its equipment. Public safety may well have been jeopardized. The District agrees with Finding 4.

While serving as Fire Marshall and Battalion Chief, Harris had no role in making procurement decisions for the District. The District agrees with Finding 5.

The only financial interest Harris may have had in sales to the District after he became Chief were those that might accrue in the future from his continued relationship with Kenwood. These are both speculative and de minimis. The District agrees with Finding 6.

Gareth Harris, acting as Tamalpais Emergency Services, did not violate Government Code § 1090 when he sold radios and equipment to the District. The District agrees with Finding 7 and its Board has reauthorized payment to Tamalpais Emergency Systems in the amount of $6,784.18.