Santa Cruz County Grand Jury • 2015-2016

Santa Cruz County Fire Protection Districts Response Times, Mutual Aid, and Consolidation

Published: June 25, 2015 44 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 12 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.
Related Recommendations (2)
R6
Branciforte Fire Protection District should negotiate with Scotts Valley Fire Protection District for the provision of managerial oversight of administration and operations by Scotts Valley. (F1, F2, F9, F10)
R7
The four fire protection districts in the San Lorenzo Valley should further align their policies and procedures in anticipation of future consolidation. (F1, F2, F11)
F2
Shared services between fire districts have improved response times, training, and services across the county. 12
Related Recommendations (2)
R6
Branciforte Fire Protection District should negotiate with Scotts Valley Fire Protection District for the provision of managerial oversight of administration and operations by Scotts Valley. (F1, F2, F9, F10)
R7
The four fire protection districts in the San Lorenzo Valley should further align their policies and procedures in anticipation of future consolidation. (F1, F2, F11)
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.
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. (F1­F4, F7)
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.
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. (F1­F4, F7)
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.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Aptos/La Selva Fire Protection District should create policies for receiving and responding to PRA requests. (F5) 13
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.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
Aptos/La Selva Fire Protection District and Central Fire Protection District should work together to merge and form a Mid­County Fire Protection District. (F1­F4, F7)
R4
Central Fire Protection District should adopt and enforce clear and comprehensive conflict of interest regulations for Board Members. (F6)
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.
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. (F7)
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.
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. (F8)
F9
Branciforte Fire Protection District’s lack of a tangible reserve or funds to pay their Fire Chief leaves them vulnerable to insolvency, which would leave Branciforte residents without a fire district.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
Branciforte Fire Protection District should negotiate with Scotts Valley Fire Protection District for the provision of managerial oversight of administration and operations by Scotts Valley. (F1, F2, F9, F10)
F10
Scotts Valley Fire Protection District is the most logical partner for consolidation or shared services with Branciforte Fire Protection District.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
Branciforte Fire Protection District should negotiate with Scotts Valley Fire Protection District for the provision of managerial oversight of administration and operations by Scotts Valley. (F1, F2, F9, F10)
F11
The differences in policies and procedures of the four fire protection districts in the San Lorenzo Valley inhibit future consolidation.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
The four fire protection districts in the San Lorenzo Valley should further align their policies and procedures in anticipation of future consolidation. (F1, F2, F11)
F12
The continued success of Santa Cruz Regional 911 is dependant upon the successful replacement of the Computer Aided Dispatch software.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
Santa Cruz Regional 911 should replace the Computer Aided Dispatch software prior to the 2017/18 fiscal year. (F12)

Commendations 1

No Responses Found 6

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
Branciforte Fire Protection District Fire District
Felton Fire Protection District Fire District
Scotts Valley Fire Protection District Fire District
Zayante Fire Protection District Fire District