California State University Channel Islands

The CSUCI decision to terminate its contract and establish volunteer fire a departmentappears to have been budget-driven as the new volunteerdepartmentwill cost approximatelyone-quarterofthe $1.2 million contract with the Fire District. CSUCI StaffResponse: Therespondentdisagreeswholly partiallywith the finding. or Records show that the decision to terminatethe contract between CSUCI and the Fire District mutually agreed was upon. A thorough analysis ofthe campus was conducted and concluded thatthe University is at lowrisk for fire. In fact, duringthe past2.5 years therehavebeen no fires reported on I the campus and there have been none reported in the newlydevelopedUniversityGlen housing development. However,thepersonal safety oftheUniversitypopulation is I paramountto the University's administration. Therefore,whileresearching the most effectivemodel, a volunteerfire deparhnent was one suggestion, among several, that was explored. However, researchconfirmedthat the Countyis the agency responsible forthe University's fire safetyand response. Thispoint was ayeed to by all parties duringthe founding ofCSUCI. Currentlythe University is not planning to pursue the option of a volunteer fire department. F-S TheFireDistrictis legallyobligatedto respond to emergencycalls for CSUCIand will respond to the campus site. However, the FireDistrict is not legallyobligated to construct and staff a facility on the campus site. CSUCI StaffResponse: The respondent ayees with the finding. CSUCI staff agree with this finding, and this fact was understoodby all involvedparties when the current site for CalifomiaState UniversityChannel Islands was approvedbythe County. The tremendous benefits broughtby the campus came with a known responsibilitythat the Countywould be accountableforprovidingthe same services as required in otherparts ofthe state. This includes fireprotection and response.

The nearest Fire District station's crew, Station 50 is not always available at the station for response to CSUCI. Ifthe crew is available, the response time from Station SO to CSUCI is a minimum 10-minute drive. Responsetimes havebecome an industry benchmark for EmergencyMedical Services (EMS) (3-5 minutes by the AmericanHeart Association) and fires (5-7 minutesby National Fire ProtectionAssociation). CSUCI StaffResponse: The respondentdisagreeswholly partiallywith the finding. or It is knowledgethat fire departments responsible for broad of common are areas geographyand that one major disaster can quickly drain their local resources and ability to respond. The University looks to the FireDistrictto utilize its own research and expertise determiningthe appropriatelocation for its fire houses, based the in on geographyandpopulations it is responsible for covering. Records indicate that the University'sPublic Safety staffresponds to all campus EMS calls with an average of 1.6 minuteswell below the industry standard responsetime, which can support and benefit the CountyFire Departmentwithregard to public safety issues on campus. In addition, the campus is planning to implement a new 4-lane entrywayto the campus for quicker access, and the Site Authority is contributing $5.6 million to the countyof Ventura, toward the expansion andwidening oflocal roads coming to the campus. This contribution from the Site Authority, coupled with the County's plans to develop LagunaRoad should improve the response times by the Fire District.

Countyresponse requires certain access, waterflow, and fireprotection features requiredby local ordinances fomwhich CSUCI is exemptbecause it is State entity. a I CSUCI StaffResponse: Therespondent agrees with the finding. This statement is correct withregards to the campus. As a State entity, CSUCI was not required to place fireprotection featnres, i.e. sprinklers, in the campus building during renovation. However, CSUCI chose to put them in as an added safetyprecaution. Withregard to UniversityGlen, all Countystandards weremet or exceeded. Indeed, when comparing both the county and citycodes, during theplanmng and construction phases, whenthere difference, the stringent ofthe codes and standards was a more was implemented.

The FireDistrict is obligated by contractwith the CalifomiaDepartment offorestry to protectthewild lands surroundingCSUCI CSUCI StaffResponse: Therespondent agreeswh the finding. The statement in this finding is correct. TheUniversity is not responsible for the wild lands sunoundingthe University- HowevertheUniversity, supportivecommunity as a neighbor, has allowed the CaliforniaDepartment ofForestry and the Ventura County Fire Department, free ofcharge, broad use ofthe campus for drills and training-

A separate 91 1 emergency phone system has been establishedby CSUCI. CSUCI StaffResponse: The respondent ayees with the finding. The statement in this finding is correct. The on-campus 911 system was established in 1999. The system enables on-campus trainedEMTpublic safety officers to respond to medical emergencies with an average response time of 1.6 minutes. Thepublic safety dispatch has a one-touch connectionto the CountyFireDepartment. This allows CSUCI safetypersonnel to respond immediatelywith an EMT trained response unit while County assistanceis dispatched ad enrouteto the scene.

Streets and addresses at the Campus site havebeen renamedby CSUCIwithout referenceto the Countyprocess. CSUCI StaffResponse: Therespondentdisagreeswholly partiallywith the finding- or The street names within the campus havebeen in existence since the site was a state hospital The main road leading from Lewis Road to the heart ofthe campus was changed from "Camarillo" to "UniversityDrive"but did go through an appropriate S 1 process. Thenaming ofall ofthe streets forthe new housing development was done in I conjunctionwith the U.S. Postal Service. One specific purpose ofthispartnership was to avoid duplicationofstreetnames. Maps ofthe areawere provided ftom the Campus Public SafetyUnit to the CountyFireDepartment forposting. In collaborationwith campus safety, units ftom the CountyFireDepartmenthave come to the campus withthe express purpose offamiliarizingthemselveswith theroute and the street locations. While this has not beenproblematic, to allay anyconcem, in the future the CountyFire Departmentwillbethe initialpoint ofcontact for the approval ofanynew street names on the campus or in the UniversityGlenhousing development. F-li Due to state fire coderequirements, new residentialbuildings (except apartments) have fire alarmsbut not sprinkler systems. Apartments are required to haveboth. I CSUCI StaffResponse: The respondent ayees withthe finding. I This statement is correct andthe buildings are in full compliance. All new residential buildings University Glen have fire alarms and all apartmentshaveboth alarms and in sprinklers.

The Ventura County Fire Chiefencouraged CSUCI to provide sprinklers in every structure to limit the need for on-site fire suppression staffing. Thebasic price of sprinklers (approximately one dollar per square foot) forproposedhousing could offset some annual staffing costs for fire fighters. CSUCI StaffResponse: The respondent disagrees wholly partiallywith the finding. or The decisionto provide sprinklers at University Glen is in the oversight ofthe Site Authoritynot the University. Followingall state fire codes, all buildings required to have sprinklers have them and full compliance are in One dollarpersquare footis not an accurate cost estimate for sprinklers. An average estimatewould be between four and five dollars per square foot for sprinklers.

As ofMarch 2003 at the campus sitethere are 100 new apartments, 71 new condos/townhouses, and 36 single-familydwellings. new CSUCI StaffResponse: The respondent agreeswith the finding.

Oldhospital buildingsbeingused by CSUCI have sprinkler and fire alarms and are ofthick concrete construction. CSUCI StaffRe?ponse: The respondent disagreeswholly partiallywith the findings. or Yes, the buildings are ofthick concrete construction. However, manydo not have sprinklers and alarms but they are being installed at or above state fire codes as the buildings remodeled for are use. 6

The SiteAuthority was created to facilitate andprovide for the financing and support ofthe site for nse as a campus for CSUCI. The SiteAuthority is still holding fire protectionmeetings at CSUCI. CSUCI StaffResponse: The respondentdisagreeswholly partiallywith the finding. or TheSiteAuthority and the FinancingAuthorityfacilitate andprovide forthe financing and support ofthe CSUCI campus. Theboard consists ofrepresentatives ofthe CSU Trustees, CountyofVentura, and CityofCamarillo. The Site Authorityincludes certain powers underthe CommunityRedevelopment Lawwithrespectto the use ofspecified tax revenues. The Site Authorityhas held no fireprotection meetings. The University's departmentofPublic Safetyhas been engaging in ongoing discussionswith the County I FireDepartment., including Battalion ChiefGaryHartwho has beenprovidingtechnical I expertise and counsel.

The Site Authorityproposed to develop the CommunityDevelopment Area land forup to 900housing units and up to 350,000 square feet ofresearch and developmeit facilities consistent with the Campus MasterPlan. CSUCI StaffResponse: The respondent ayees with the finding.

There is no hazardousmaterialsprotectionplan at CSUCI and no agreementwith the County for suGh protection. There is no "rescue" equipment for victims ofinhalation from toxic gasses and smoke located at the CSUCI campus site. CSUCI StaffResponse: The respondent disagrees wholly partiallywith the finding. or Accordingto ChiefYoung, several risk assessmentshavebeen conductedthroughout the campuswithregard to hazardous materials. Environmental and SafetyDirector, Bill Kupfer, is a full-time staffmember ofthe campus andhas conducted several trainings for campus personnel. There are specific hazardous materials documents and chemical response plans in place. Forinstance, in chemistrylabs all safetyprocedures are established including correct protective eye gearand eye washunits. The University abidesby all codes andprocedures ofhazardousmaterials. on issues ThePublic Safetyunit has received counsel frompersonnel ofthe Fire District that any generic "rescue" equipment may or maynot be effective. However, as a populationunder the protectionofthe VenturaFireDistrict, the Universityfullyrelies the Ventura on CountyFire Departmentto respondwiththe appropriate equipment andpersonnelthey deem necessary, based on the call dispatched through the campus 911 system.

EMS normallyconstitutes 75% ofthe Fire District's call load. CSUCIPolice Chief indicates that 9 or 10 police officers are EMS certified. CSUCI plans to acquire an Automatic EIectronic Defibrillator(AED). 7 1 I I CSUCI StaffResponse: The respondent agrees with the finding. Atpresent time, 9 officers and 2 dispatchersofthe University'spublic safetyunit are EMTtrained. AnAutomatic ElectronicDefibrillatorhasbeenpurchased. Giventhat 75 percent ofthe calls to the FireDistrict are EMS calls and the Universityhas trained EMT I personneland equipmentinplace, theUniversityshouldnotbe a significantdrain on the local Fire Districtwithregard to EMS services. I F-19 In addition to residents at CSUCI, manystudents andpersonnel at CSUCI are I residents ofVentura County and couldbe affected by substandard fireprotection. I CSUCI StaffResponse: Therespondent ayees with the finding. TheUniversity full agreement this but is confidentthat the fireprotection is in on issue providedbythe VenturaFire District is not substandard. I I I 8 t Conclusions I I While not legallyrequired to respond to the conclusions stated in the grand jury report, I the members ofthe CSUCI stafffeel it is incumbent uponus to provide a general I response to the conclusions, as several ofthem are defamatorytoward the University and/orthe SiteAuthority. The CSUCI staffwantto be clearthatin general we disagree withthe conclusions drawn the report. in I The CSUCI staffvehementlydisagreewiththe conclusions indicated in the F-series as responses. The staffofCSUCI find numerous factual errors and/or false conclusions. All effortshavebeenmade and due diligence doneto ensure that anynew construction is camed out to meet all state standards. This includes all areas relatingto fire safety in the I new and existing structures on the campus as well as in the University Glen Development. I With regards to the ability offire Station 50 to respond in a timely mannerto the campus, the University was not, nor did it expect to be, consulted in the decision to place I I Fire Station 50 at its present location. The Universitydoes expect that ifthere is an I incident affectingthe people or structures on the campus ofCalifomia State University Channel Islands, the fire departmentwill, as is legallyrequired, respond to the site, meetingthe same standards for service required with every otherneighborhood in its jurisdiction. The existence oftrained EMTpersonnel in the University's Public Safetyunit is an additional support to the FireDistrict for on-campus incidents. Thedecisionto open Califomia StateUniversity Channel Islands on the site ofthe former statehospital in Camarillo was fully supportedby the County andthe Board of Supervisors. Among the concessions allowingthe campusto open its doors for thepeople ofVentura County was the acknowledynentthat, as a state entity, the University is exempt from taxes and entitled to County services, including fire protection. As far unfair financial imposition, the University,its students, faculty, and staffwill as an be infusingmillions ofdollars into the County each year. Specifically, the Site Authority ofthe University contributing, agreed, $5.6 million toward the betterment ofthe is as local roads. In addition, the Universityhas donatedpropertyvalued in of$1 excess million so that an elementaryschool can bebuilt on campus acreage. And in a gestureto become a good neighbor, the Universityalso forgave a lease to the Fire Department valued at least at $1.3M in today's dollars. The contribution toward roadwork coupled with the campuspaying for anew 4-lane road entry, as well as the County's plans to develop LagunaRoad, should improve the safety ofthe Ventura Countyresidentsboth on and offthe campus. I 1 I RECOMMENDATIONS I R-l CSUCImake the safetyofits populationits number one priorityand not let cost I considerationsdrive the decisions to be made. CSUCI Staff Response: Safety constitutes fundamentalprinciple the development a in I ofthe Channel Islands site, and therefore,precautionshavebeen implemented the since inception oftheUniversityandrelated developments. This recommendationofthe Grand Jury therefore, yatuitous. is, Public safetyis, and always has been, the highestpriority to the CSUCI administration. This demonstratedbythe fact thatthePublic SafetyUnit the first fully funded is was department on the campus. ChiefYoung's assurance that 11 members ofhis staff are EMT trained and prepared to respond to anyon-campus emergency further exemplifies this commitment. In addition, meetingshavebeenheld with ChiefRobert numerous Roperand others includingthe assi&imentofBattalion ChiefGaryHart to assist us with our emergency planning. The Fire Departmentpersonnel have not expressed to us any doubt in commitmentto safety. our