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Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

San Mateo County Grand Jury • 2011-2012

The County, San Carlos and Cal Fire, a Missed Opportunity?

Published: June 30, 2012 97 pages Consolidated Report

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⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Findings 18 findings

CAL FIRE is a full-service rural, suburban and urban fire protection agency.

CAL FIRE is a fully integrated part of the County’s fire protection system with 72 fire fighters working effectively with municipal fire departments and fire districts and utilizing the County’s central dispatch system. The CAL FIRE coverage area includes most unincorporated portions of the County and the Coastside Fire District.

From interviews, the Grand Jury learned that there is broad agreement among officials and staff from the County and cities that CAL FIRE has provided effective fire protection services in the areas of San Mateo County it serves.

Differences between work shifts of CAL FIRE and municipal fire departments, and differences in the wage rates and benefits, allow CAL FIRE to offer comparatively less expensive fire services in the Bay Area.

CAL FIRE prices its services by applying a standard 11% overhead cost on top of direct costs.

San Mateo County has contracted with CAL FIRE for services to its unincorporated areas since 1962. The current contract expires on June 30, 2012.

As of October, 2011 the San Mateo County budget deficit stood at $50 million.5

San Carlos requested that the County Board of Supervisors allow San Carlos to obtain fire protection services from CAL FIRE through the County’s contract with CAL FIRE. 5 http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/Attachments/cmo/pdfs/Budget%20&%20Performance/SeptemberRevisions_2011.pdf 6 The issue came before the two-member Finance and Operations Committee (the F&O Committee) on January 18, and February 15, 2011.

From the County staff report of January 18, 2011, adjusted for a budgetary mistake, CAL FIRE could have saved San Carlos between approximately $600,000 and $2.5 million per year.6

F10

From the County staff report of January 18, 2011, in addition to substantial savings for San Carlos, bringing San Carlos under the County contract with CAL FIRE could have saved the County an additional $650,000 per year. Neither the savings to San Carlos or the County were discussed by the F&O Committee on January 18.

F11

From the County staff report of February 15, 2011, “County Fire has a budget reduction target of $218,877 for FY 2011/12 with the goal of eventually eliminating all $1 million in general fund contributions.” (See, Appendix C)

F12

In response to a request from the F&O Committee, CAL FIRE prepared a cost estimate for delivery of fire protection to five County cities (Redwood City, San Carlos, Belmont, Foster City and San Mateo). According to the County staff report of February 15, 2011, the estimated aggregate cost savings to those five cities could be between $1.7 million and $16.8 million per year.

F13

The CAL FIRE service cost estimates and potential savings for the County and the five County cities were not discussed by the Committee members at the February 15, 2011, F&O Committee meeting.

F14

From the audio transcripts of both the January 18 and February 15, 2011 F&O Committee meetings, Supervisor Adrienne Tissier said that the Governor had called for CAL FIRE getting out of the urban fire-fighting business.

F15

The Governor’s January 10, 2011 recommendations on CAL FIRE realignment only applied to State Responsibility Areas and did not apply to contracts with local jurisdictions, such as its contracts with San Mateo County or the Coastside Fire District. There was no suggestion from the Governor that CAL FIRE should curtail delivery of urban fire protection services funded by counties or cities.

F16

Also during the February 15, 2011 F&O Committee meeting, the Supervisors said that the County does not want to be in the fire-fighting business. The Supervisors further said they strongly supported regional fire-protection solutions in the County as a means to reduce redundant administrative and infrastructure costs to the cities.

F17

The Supervisors recommended that Belmont and San Carlos enter into mediation to continue their joint fire department while regionalization alternatives could be explored. From interviews and meeting transcripts, most San Carlos and Belmont officials stated there was little chance for mediation to be successful. The Staff Report states that San Carlos was paying about $6.3 million from its general fund. This is true, but the actual cost for fire services was $7.1 million, which is $800,000 more than cited in the Staff Report. It would, therefore, be more correct to say that the savings to San Carlos was between $1.4 million and $3.3 million. 7

F18

From the letter of the CAL FIRE Acting Director, quoted above, and from interviews with officials from various cities and fire-protection agencies, there is reluctance to consider expanding CAL FIRE’s role in San Mateo County because of opposition by the International Association of Firefighters, Local 2400. Conclusions The Grand Jury concludes as follows:

Recommendations 4

R1

Renew its contract with CAL FIRE by June 30, 2012, unless there is a new compelling fiscal reason to change.
R2

During contract negotiations with CAL Fire, include a provision within the contract that would allow fiscally qualified cities to sub-contract for CAL FIRE services through the County such that the County as well as the cities can benefit.
R3

Until the provision in Recommendation 2 is approved, allow fiscally qualified cities and fire districts in the County to sub-contract services with CAL FIRE under the County’s contract.
R4

View CAL FIRE as a potential component of the regionalization effort. The Grand Jury further recommends to cities and special fire districts in San Mateo County: