ABSTRACT: In an effort to elucidate the recent past, present and projected future of the Carmel Fire Department’s situation, the remarks of Carmel Professional Firefighter Mitch Kastros at the Special City Council Meeting on 25 March 2009 are transcribed.
City of Carmel-by-the-Sea
Special City Council Meeting
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Council Chambers
East side of Monte Verde Street between Ocean and Seventh Avenues
IV. Orders of Council
B. Receive report and provide policy direction regarding contracting fire protection services to the City of Monterey.
"Mayor McCloud, Council Members, Citizens of Carmel."
"My name is Mitch Kastros and I have been a member of the Carmel Fire Department for over 34 years. I am here today to express my support for the proposed merger of our department with Monterey Fire. This process has been in place for several years now and the Council and City Administration have had many opportunities to discuss and learn about the structure and benefits of this proposal. At the operational level, Carmel Fire has been under the direction of Chief Andrew Miller and we have made tremendous progress in enhancing the levels of service to our community."
"In December of 2008, Pacific Grove Fire Department merged with Monterey Fire and instantly started paying dividends to the community. In the new department’s second day of operation, there was a structure fire which was quickly and safely mitigated through the system. And speaking to several members of the former Pacific Grove Fire Department, all are extremely happy with the system and the fact that a better service is indeed being provided. Those members of the previous Monterey Fire Department echo the same message and also feel morale has improved as a result. The citizens of Pacific Grove are also pleased."
"Since the Monterey-Pacific Grove merger, Carmel Fire has been using the Monterey Fire training standards to develop the three new Carmel firefighters hired in February. Not only is this helping the new firefighters, the veteran members of the Department are becoming more polished beyond the solid program Division Chief David Brown implemented at the time of our current contract with Pacific Grove. This is yet another example of the steady progression of our Fire Department during the past several years."
"The merger of Carmel Fire with Monterey will guarantee a better, more efficient, safer, and more economical service to the community. For those of you concerned about the possibility of losing the local connection with your Fire Department that will not happen under this system. The same faces you see now will be the ones you see after the merger only we’ll have a lot more help and get it a lot faster."
"The City has been extremely supportive of the leads for the community through the Fire Department. The contract with Pacific Grove, the recent hiring of the three new full-time firefighters and the new fire engine to be delivered soon are all examples of this."
"Approving the merger of Monterey Fire Department will complete the delivery to our community the proper levels of service it deserves for the protection of life and property. Thank you very much."
(Source: Archived Videos, Special City Council Meeting, March 25, 2009, 43:32 - 46:04)
NOTE: At the end of the City Council Meeting on 7 April 2009, Mayor Sue McCloud announced a Special City Council Meeting on the Carmel Fire Department scheduled for Thursday, April 30, 2009.
Showing posts with label Fire Department Consolidation Feasibility Analysis for the Cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove and Carmel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fire Department Consolidation Feasibility Analysis for the Cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove and Carmel. Show all posts
Friday, April 10, 2009
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Elucidation of Carmel Fire Department Situation (Part I)
ABSTRACT: In an effort to elucidate the recent past, present and projected future of the Carmel Fire Department’s situation, the remarks of Carmel Professional Firefighters August Beacham (Part I) and Mitch Kastros (Part II) at the Special City Council Meeting on 25 March 2009 are transcribed. August Beacham’s remarks appear below and Mitch Kastros’s remarks will appear tomorrow.
City of Carmel-by-the-Sea
Special City Council Meeting
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Council Chambers
East side of Monte Verde Street between Ocean and Seventh Avenues
IV. Orders of Council
B. Receive report and provide policy direction regarding contracting fire protection services to the City of Monterey.
"Honorable Mayor, Members of the Council. My name is August Beacham. I’m the President of the Carmel Professional Firefighters."
"Five years ago, you and City Administrator Rich Guillen had the foresight to bring in Chief Miller to assist Chief Rawson with the restructuring of the Carmel Fire Department. It’s been an amazing five years. At the time morale was at an all time low, equipment was in disrepair, and the basic infrastructure was falling apart, the hydrants being a case in point There was little accountability or structure. Under the leadership of Chiefs Rawson and Miller, the Carmel Fire Department has undergone an amazing transformation. Currently, I cannot think of a time in my 22 years here at Carmel Fire that morale has never been higher. We are more productive and better trained. We are excited to come to work and serve the citizens of Carmel-by-the-Sea."
"There are some concerns that merging with the City of Monterey Fire Department will take away the hometown firefighters and replace them with people that do not know the unusual characteristics that make Carmel unique. Fortunately that’s not the case, under the proposed contract with Monterey, Carmel Firefighters can stay in Carmel. Also, there shouldn’t be any concern with Monterey Firefighters coming in to cover our station or to cover our shifts; many of those Monterey Firefighters started their careers as paid calls with the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea. We already have a close working relationship with the firefighters there. Many of you have noticed their engines and truck parked around Carmel; that’s because we’re already conducting joint training exercises with them and the Monterey Duty Chiefs have been responding to our major calls as the incident commander for some time and the system has been working very well."
"On the subject of training, the training division at Monterey Fire is exemplary. Division Chief Roth provides excellent training and educational opportunities that we have not had in the past at Carmel Fire. As firefighter technology advances the amount of training and expertise required of firefighters also increases. The professional training provided by Monterey Fire ensures that firefighters in Carmel are prepared to handle any emergency that is dealt to us."
"Merging with Monterey also ensures sustainability of the Carmel Fire Department. Twenty years ago, we had over forty volunteers firefighters from which to hire from; today the volunteer ranks has dwindled to single digits as training requirements and changing demographics have put pressure on the training program. Monterey Fire can provide a large pool of qualified firefighters with which to fill vacancies. This system also ensures that all firefighters meet the standards for the positions that they fill."
"Carmel Fire is a unique department in a unique village; the citizens know and recognize us. We, the local firefighters, work well within this system and will continue to do so under the proposed arrangement with Monterey. The professional firefighters have voted unanimously for the proposed MOU with Monterey and support this proposed contract for services."
"Five years ago I was ready to leave Carmel Fire Department for elsewhere. Today, I have never been more proud to be a firefighter for the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Let us continue to proudly serve the citizens of Carmel by voting for the contract for services."
(Source: Archived Videos, Special City Council Meeting, March 25, 2009, 40:00 – 43:23)
City of Carmel-by-the-Sea
Special City Council Meeting
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Council Chambers
East side of Monte Verde Street between Ocean and Seventh Avenues
IV. Orders of Council
B. Receive report and provide policy direction regarding contracting fire protection services to the City of Monterey.
"Honorable Mayor, Members of the Council. My name is August Beacham. I’m the President of the Carmel Professional Firefighters."
"Five years ago, you and City Administrator Rich Guillen had the foresight to bring in Chief Miller to assist Chief Rawson with the restructuring of the Carmel Fire Department. It’s been an amazing five years. At the time morale was at an all time low, equipment was in disrepair, and the basic infrastructure was falling apart, the hydrants being a case in point There was little accountability or structure. Under the leadership of Chiefs Rawson and Miller, the Carmel Fire Department has undergone an amazing transformation. Currently, I cannot think of a time in my 22 years here at Carmel Fire that morale has never been higher. We are more productive and better trained. We are excited to come to work and serve the citizens of Carmel-by-the-Sea."
"There are some concerns that merging with the City of Monterey Fire Department will take away the hometown firefighters and replace them with people that do not know the unusual characteristics that make Carmel unique. Fortunately that’s not the case, under the proposed contract with Monterey, Carmel Firefighters can stay in Carmel. Also, there shouldn’t be any concern with Monterey Firefighters coming in to cover our station or to cover our shifts; many of those Monterey Firefighters started their careers as paid calls with the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea. We already have a close working relationship with the firefighters there. Many of you have noticed their engines and truck parked around Carmel; that’s because we’re already conducting joint training exercises with them and the Monterey Duty Chiefs have been responding to our major calls as the incident commander for some time and the system has been working very well."
"On the subject of training, the training division at Monterey Fire is exemplary. Division Chief Roth provides excellent training and educational opportunities that we have not had in the past at Carmel Fire. As firefighter technology advances the amount of training and expertise required of firefighters also increases. The professional training provided by Monterey Fire ensures that firefighters in Carmel are prepared to handle any emergency that is dealt to us."
"Merging with Monterey also ensures sustainability of the Carmel Fire Department. Twenty years ago, we had over forty volunteers firefighters from which to hire from; today the volunteer ranks has dwindled to single digits as training requirements and changing demographics have put pressure on the training program. Monterey Fire can provide a large pool of qualified firefighters with which to fill vacancies. This system also ensures that all firefighters meet the standards for the positions that they fill."
"Carmel Fire is a unique department in a unique village; the citizens know and recognize us. We, the local firefighters, work well within this system and will continue to do so under the proposed arrangement with Monterey. The professional firefighters have voted unanimously for the proposed MOU with Monterey and support this proposed contract for services."
"Five years ago I was ready to leave Carmel Fire Department for elsewhere. Today, I have never been more proud to be a firefighter for the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Let us continue to proudly serve the citizens of Carmel by voting for the contract for services."
(Source: Archived Videos, Special City Council Meeting, March 25, 2009, 40:00 – 43:23)
Monday, November 03, 2008
Two Noteworthy Agenda Items NOT on the November 4, 2008 City Council Agenda
ABSTRACT: Two noteworthy agenda items not on the November 4, 2008 City Council Agenda, which should have been placed on the City Council Agenda, are presented, namely the City’s long-term fire protection plan for meeting state and federal laws, regulations and standards, involving staffing levels, training, and methods of operation, et cetera, and the Forest Theatre Schematic Design. BACKGROUND and COMMENTS on the status of the Carmel Fire Department and the Forest Theatre design process are presented.
• Carmel Fire Department
BACKGROUND: Citing NFPA 1710, OSHA’s Standard of 2-in-2-out, the Citygate Associates Fire Consolidation Feasibility Study, and the City’s own internal study (Public Safety Team Report February 2003), Public Safety Director George E. Rawson and Fire Chief Andrew Miller argued for an increase in the Carmel-by-the-Sea firefighter staffing from six firefighters to nine firefighters “in order to achieve constant engine staffing requirements, in accordance with current response standards” at the City Council Meeting on September 2008. After deliberation, the City Council “directed staff to explore the hiring of the three firefighters, without eliminating CRFA or damaging the identity of the Carmel Fire Department.”
COMMENT:
Unfortunately for Carmelites, Public Safety Director George Rawson and Fire Chief Andrew Miller have failed to provide timely leadership on a long-term fire protection plan. For example, one aspect of a long-term fire protection plan is staffing levels. And while the Citygate Associates Fire Consolidation Feasibility Study’s Final Report was completed June 12, 2007, over 15 months elapsed between the completion of the Final Report and the City Council meeting at which the Public Safety Director and Fire Chief presented their recommendation of increasing staffing levels by three additional firefighters, as recommended by Citygate Associates, LLC. Moreover, the City was derelict in prematurely withdrawing from consolidation talks with the Cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove in January 2008 and in failing to place the consolidation issue on City Council Agendas for the purpose of educating and informing Carmelites about the Carmel Fire Department situation, especially given the fact that the City's contracts with Monterey and Pacific Grove Fire Departments will be terminated in mid-December 2008 when the Monterey and Pacific Grove Fire Departments new contract takes effect.
(Sources: MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA September 9, 2008 and AGENDA PACKET Regular Meeting Tuesday, September 9, 2008)
NOTE: View Firefighter standards on staffing. NFPA 1710 Video
Duration: 08:42
• Forest Theatre Schematic Design
BACKGROUND: In reaction to public outcry regarding theatre architect Richard McCann’s Forest Theatre Pre-Design, the City held a workshop at the Forest Theatre on June 19, 2008. And while it was understood that the public’s suggestions would be incorporated into the next phase of the design, the intent of the budgeted $65,000 for the Schematic Design and the timeline for public presentation of the Schematic Design were not addressed.
COMMENT:
Again, unfortunately for Carmelites, the City was derelict in not placing the Forest Theater Pre-Design on a City Council Agenda many months prior to the completion of the Pre-Design Study, dated May 7, 2007, for the purpose of educating and informing Carmelites about the intentions of the Forest Theatre Foundation and the content of the Pre-Design (Richard McCann’s Pre-Design presentation was at the Special City Council Meeting, May 20, 2008). Moreover, a competent city administrator would have, under Announcements from the City Administrator, given regular progress reports on the Schematic Design at City Council meetings. Finally, the City has yet to inform Carmelites as to the placing of the Schematic Design on a Public Hearing on an upcoming City Council Agenda.
• Carmel Fire Department
BACKGROUND: Citing NFPA 1710, OSHA’s Standard of 2-in-2-out, the Citygate Associates Fire Consolidation Feasibility Study, and the City’s own internal study (Public Safety Team Report February 2003), Public Safety Director George E. Rawson and Fire Chief Andrew Miller argued for an increase in the Carmel-by-the-Sea firefighter staffing from six firefighters to nine firefighters “in order to achieve constant engine staffing requirements, in accordance with current response standards” at the City Council Meeting on September 2008. After deliberation, the City Council “directed staff to explore the hiring of the three firefighters, without eliminating CRFA or damaging the identity of the Carmel Fire Department.”
COMMENT:
Unfortunately for Carmelites, Public Safety Director George Rawson and Fire Chief Andrew Miller have failed to provide timely leadership on a long-term fire protection plan. For example, one aspect of a long-term fire protection plan is staffing levels. And while the Citygate Associates Fire Consolidation Feasibility Study’s Final Report was completed June 12, 2007, over 15 months elapsed between the completion of the Final Report and the City Council meeting at which the Public Safety Director and Fire Chief presented their recommendation of increasing staffing levels by three additional firefighters, as recommended by Citygate Associates, LLC. Moreover, the City was derelict in prematurely withdrawing from consolidation talks with the Cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove in January 2008 and in failing to place the consolidation issue on City Council Agendas for the purpose of educating and informing Carmelites about the Carmel Fire Department situation, especially given the fact that the City's contracts with Monterey and Pacific Grove Fire Departments will be terminated in mid-December 2008 when the Monterey and Pacific Grove Fire Departments new contract takes effect.
(Sources: MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA September 9, 2008 and AGENDA PACKET Regular Meeting Tuesday, September 9, 2008)
NOTE: View Firefighter standards on staffing. NFPA 1710 Video
Duration: 08:42
• Forest Theatre Schematic Design
BACKGROUND: In reaction to public outcry regarding theatre architect Richard McCann’s Forest Theatre Pre-Design, the City held a workshop at the Forest Theatre on June 19, 2008. And while it was understood that the public’s suggestions would be incorporated into the next phase of the design, the intent of the budgeted $65,000 for the Schematic Design and the timeline for public presentation of the Schematic Design were not addressed.
COMMENT:
Again, unfortunately for Carmelites, the City was derelict in not placing the Forest Theater Pre-Design on a City Council Agenda many months prior to the completion of the Pre-Design Study, dated May 7, 2007, for the purpose of educating and informing Carmelites about the intentions of the Forest Theatre Foundation and the content of the Pre-Design (Richard McCann’s Pre-Design presentation was at the Special City Council Meeting, May 20, 2008). Moreover, a competent city administrator would have, under Announcements from the City Administrator, given regular progress reports on the Schematic Design at City Council meetings. Finally, the City has yet to inform Carmelites as to the placing of the Schematic Design on a Public Hearing on an upcoming City Council Agenda.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Campaign Season Politicization of the Carmel Fire Department
ABSTRACT: The Carmel Fire Department was an issue at the Candidates’ Forum hosted by the Carmel Residents Association on Thursday, February 21, 2008. Statements of Mayor Sue McCloud, City Council Member Ken Talmage and City Council Member Karen Sharp are presented, as reported in The Carmel Pine Cone (March 7, 2008). COMMENTS are made, including statements by August Beacham, Engineer and President of the Carmel Firefighters Union, and the Union, as reported in The Carmel Pine Cone (February 29, 2008), and Questions are asked of Carmelites.
The Carmel Fire Department was an issue at the Candidates’ Forum hosted by the Carmel Residents Association on Thursday, February 21, 2008. According to The Carmel Pine Cone (March 7, 2008), Mayor Sue McCloud, City Council Members Ken Talmage and Karen Sharp agreed that the Carmel Fire Department “works as is and needs no changes.” Moreover, each stated, as follows:
“We are staffed the way we should be,” stated Mayor Sue McCloud.
The Fire Consolidation Study “had serious flaws in its financial analysis,” stated City Council Member Ken Talmage.
The Fire Department is “only outpaced by the Police Department in spending,” stated City Council Member Karen Sharp.
COMMENTS:
• Mayor McCloud thinks the Carmel Fire Department is “staffed the way” it should be, even though August Beacham, Engineer and President of the Carmel Firefighters Union and the Union, stated in The Carmel Pine Cone of February 29, 2008, as follows:
“We are understaffed and underfunded, and have been for some time,” said August Beacham.
“The city has gotten used to this $110,000, thinking it’s normal.” (The city contracts with Pacific Grove for chief services and an administrative coordinator and for supervisors from Monterey during emergencies for $110,000/year.)
“They have gotten used to the ambulance taking up the slack, even though their own study in February 2003 said that was temporary at best,” said August Beacham.
Choosing to continue with the status quo “means the city is willing to accept all of the risks, including personal liability, and is willing to compromise the safety of the citizens, by having an improperly structured emergency response system,” according to the Union.
Question: Are Carmelites to believe the expert, veteran firefighters with years of training and experience or the non-expert who thinks she knows more about fire issues than professional firefighters?
• City Council Member Ken Talmage now thinks the Fire Consolidation Feasibility Study has “serious flaws in its financial analysis.” Yet, at an earlier City Council meeting, Talmage stated that merging the Carmel Fire Department with Monterey and Pacific Grove Fire Departments would cost the city an additional $400,000/year as the City was underfunding the Carmel Fire Department. Apparently, Talmage failed to detect the “serious flaws” in the Study’s financial analysis at his earlier reading of the Study. Irrespective of Talmage’s opinion, the crux of the issue is, as follows: if the City Council of Carmel-by-the-Sea decides to merge the Carmel Fire Department with the Monterey and Pacific Grove Fire Departments, then the Monterey and Pacific Grove Fire Departments would surely demand as a condition of merger that Carmel-by-the-Sea pay an additional approximately $400,000 annually, based on the Fire Consolidation Feasibility Study.
Question: Are Carmelites to trust the Carmel Firefighters who not only want to merge the Carmel Fire Department with Monterey and Pacific Grove Fire Departments, but who feel the status quo means the City “is willing to compromise the safety of the citizens” or a City Council Member who doesn’t trust the judgment of the Carmel Firefighters?
• Another important issue it that the City Council has a record of contracting with consultants to perform studies and then failing to implement the recommendations of the studies. A wiser use of taxpayer monies would be to either stop wasting taxpayer monies on unimplemented studies or start funding and implementing studies’ recommendations.
• City Council Member Karen Sharp stated that the Fire Department is “only outpaced by the Police Department in spending.” The issue is not the relative budget amounts for the Police Department and Fire Department, rather the issue is whether or not elected and appointed city officials trust the judgment of professionals, such as the Carmel Firefighters and the Fire Consolidation Feasibility Study consultants, and act on the recommendations of the professionals.
• Interestingly, Mayor Sue McCloud and her appointed City Council Members Ken Talmage and Karen Sharp are in agreement that no changes are needed in the Carmel Fire Department.
Question: Are Carmelites better off trusting the opinions of a mayor and two city council members eager to win an election in April 2008 or the professional judgments of veteran firefighters?
The Carmel Fire Department was an issue at the Candidates’ Forum hosted by the Carmel Residents Association on Thursday, February 21, 2008. According to The Carmel Pine Cone (March 7, 2008), Mayor Sue McCloud, City Council Members Ken Talmage and Karen Sharp agreed that the Carmel Fire Department “works as is and needs no changes.” Moreover, each stated, as follows:
“We are staffed the way we should be,” stated Mayor Sue McCloud.
The Fire Consolidation Study “had serious flaws in its financial analysis,” stated City Council Member Ken Talmage.
The Fire Department is “only outpaced by the Police Department in spending,” stated City Council Member Karen Sharp.
COMMENTS:
• Mayor McCloud thinks the Carmel Fire Department is “staffed the way” it should be, even though August Beacham, Engineer and President of the Carmel Firefighters Union and the Union, stated in The Carmel Pine Cone of February 29, 2008, as follows:
“We are understaffed and underfunded, and have been for some time,” said August Beacham.
“The city has gotten used to this $110,000, thinking it’s normal.” (The city contracts with Pacific Grove for chief services and an administrative coordinator and for supervisors from Monterey during emergencies for $110,000/year.)
“They have gotten used to the ambulance taking up the slack, even though their own study in February 2003 said that was temporary at best,” said August Beacham.
Choosing to continue with the status quo “means the city is willing to accept all of the risks, including personal liability, and is willing to compromise the safety of the citizens, by having an improperly structured emergency response system,” according to the Union.
Question: Are Carmelites to believe the expert, veteran firefighters with years of training and experience or the non-expert who thinks she knows more about fire issues than professional firefighters?
• City Council Member Ken Talmage now thinks the Fire Consolidation Feasibility Study has “serious flaws in its financial analysis.” Yet, at an earlier City Council meeting, Talmage stated that merging the Carmel Fire Department with Monterey and Pacific Grove Fire Departments would cost the city an additional $400,000/year as the City was underfunding the Carmel Fire Department. Apparently, Talmage failed to detect the “serious flaws” in the Study’s financial analysis at his earlier reading of the Study. Irrespective of Talmage’s opinion, the crux of the issue is, as follows: if the City Council of Carmel-by-the-Sea decides to merge the Carmel Fire Department with the Monterey and Pacific Grove Fire Departments, then the Monterey and Pacific Grove Fire Departments would surely demand as a condition of merger that Carmel-by-the-Sea pay an additional approximately $400,000 annually, based on the Fire Consolidation Feasibility Study.
Question: Are Carmelites to trust the Carmel Firefighters who not only want to merge the Carmel Fire Department with Monterey and Pacific Grove Fire Departments, but who feel the status quo means the City “is willing to compromise the safety of the citizens” or a City Council Member who doesn’t trust the judgment of the Carmel Firefighters?
• Another important issue it that the City Council has a record of contracting with consultants to perform studies and then failing to implement the recommendations of the studies. A wiser use of taxpayer monies would be to either stop wasting taxpayer monies on unimplemented studies or start funding and implementing studies’ recommendations.
• City Council Member Karen Sharp stated that the Fire Department is “only outpaced by the Police Department in spending.” The issue is not the relative budget amounts for the Police Department and Fire Department, rather the issue is whether or not elected and appointed city officials trust the judgment of professionals, such as the Carmel Firefighters and the Fire Consolidation Feasibility Study consultants, and act on the recommendations of the professionals.
• Interestingly, Mayor Sue McCloud and her appointed City Council Members Ken Talmage and Karen Sharp are in agreement that no changes are needed in the Carmel Fire Department.
Question: Are Carmelites better off trusting the opinions of a mayor and two city council members eager to win an election in April 2008 or the professional judgments of veteran firefighters?
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Comments & Questions: CITYGATE ASSOCIATES “FIRE DEPARTMENT CONSOLIDATION FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS FOR THE CITIES OF MONTEREY, PACIFIC GROVE AND CARMEL”
I. Citygate Associates found that Carmel-by-the-Sea, compared to the Monterey and Pacific Grove fire departments, has “the most ‘fragile’ line firefighter staffing situation and, regardless of consolidation, should strive to add a 3rd full-time firefighter to the engine every day to staff this unit more effectively and at a level comparable to its neighboring fire departments." The additional cost was determined to be $400,000/year to the City.
For FY 2007/08, budgeted Fire expenditures are $1,678,154; not only is this expenditure $59,892 less than Fire expenditures for the preceding fiscal year, it should be $400,000 more for a total Fire expenditure budget of $2,078,154 for FY 2007/08, according to Citygate Associates.
Reference:
Expenditures:
Fire--------------FY------------Police
$ 1,455,521---- 2005-06----$ 2,208,606
$ 1,738,046---- 2006-07----$ 2,495,500
$ 1,678,154---- 2007-08----$ 2,673,132
$ 1,750,950---- 2008-09----$ 2,775,686
$ 1,823,150---- 2009-10----$ 2,866,712
Total Expenditures:
FY 2005-06 $ 11,585,933
FY 2006-07 $ 12,673,147
FY 2007-08 $ 13,094,894
FY 2008-09 $ 13,057,685
FY 2009-10 $ 13,468,207
(Source: City of Carmel-by-the-Sea, General Fund Budget Summary - Revenues and Expenditures, FY 2005-06 Thru FY 2009-10)
Questions: Why has the City Council of Carmel-by-the-Sea under funded the City’s Fire Department? Why did it take a consultant to tell the City Administration and City Council that the City should have a “3rd full-time firefighter to the engine every day to staff this unit more effectively and at a level comparable to its neighboring fire departments?”
II. One Citygate Associates recommendation regards CalPERS; specifically Carmel “should pay off their CalPERS side fund obligation by issue bonds at a lower interest rate than is being charged by CalPERS,” regardless of whether the City decides to consolidate fire operations with the cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove.
Question: With a City Administrator and a Finance Manager, now Administrative Services Director, why did it take a consultant to tell them that the city “should pay off their CalPERS side fund obligation by issue bonds at a lower interest rate?”
III. Citygate Associates found that the “fiscal, legal and operational changes in the fire service make small departments no longer viable in providing fully effective emergency services.”
Questions: Could the same claim be made of a small city’s small police department? In other words, if fire service consolidation is in the best interests of Carmelites, then shouldn’t the city examine potential police department consolidation with other cities? Otherwise, the city’s Police Department budget will continue to grow and be the city’s largest expenditure, increasing from 19.1% of total actual FY 2005-06 expenditures to 21.3% of total proposed FY 2009-10 expenditures. Note: During the same time period, the Fire Department increased from 12.6% of actual FY 2005-06 expenditures to 13.5% of proposed FY 2009-10 expenditures.
IV. Citygate Associates recommends that “Carmel, Pacific Grove and Monterey strongly consider forming a Fire Services Joint Powers Authority;” a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) is an institution permitted under California State Government Code Section 6500-6536 whereby two or more public authorities can operate collectively.
For more information regarding Joint Powers Authority in California, click on Post title above or copy, paste and click
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=gov&group=06001-07000&file=6500-6536
V. Do the members of the Carmel-by-the-Sea Fire Department agree with Citygate Associates Finding #21? “Far more important than fiscal considerations are the operational advantages of consolidation and the creation of a fire department that is sized to provide effective service throughout the three-city area well into the foreseeable future.” Additionally, do the Fire Department members agree with the following statement by Citygate Associates? “There is clear recognition that neither operationally nor with appropriate cost effectiveness can Carmel maintain its own fire headquarters function basically from now on.”
For FY 2007/08, budgeted Fire expenditures are $1,678,154; not only is this expenditure $59,892 less than Fire expenditures for the preceding fiscal year, it should be $400,000 more for a total Fire expenditure budget of $2,078,154 for FY 2007/08, according to Citygate Associates.
Reference:
Expenditures:
Fire--------------FY------------Police
$ 1,455,521---- 2005-06----$ 2,208,606
$ 1,738,046---- 2006-07----$ 2,495,500
$ 1,678,154---- 2007-08----$ 2,673,132
$ 1,750,950---- 2008-09----$ 2,775,686
$ 1,823,150---- 2009-10----$ 2,866,712
Total Expenditures:
FY 2005-06 $ 11,585,933
FY 2006-07 $ 12,673,147
FY 2007-08 $ 13,094,894
FY 2008-09 $ 13,057,685
FY 2009-10 $ 13,468,207
(Source: City of Carmel-by-the-Sea, General Fund Budget Summary - Revenues and Expenditures, FY 2005-06 Thru FY 2009-10)
Questions: Why has the City Council of Carmel-by-the-Sea under funded the City’s Fire Department? Why did it take a consultant to tell the City Administration and City Council that the City should have a “3rd full-time firefighter to the engine every day to staff this unit more effectively and at a level comparable to its neighboring fire departments?”
II. One Citygate Associates recommendation regards CalPERS; specifically Carmel “should pay off their CalPERS side fund obligation by issue bonds at a lower interest rate than is being charged by CalPERS,” regardless of whether the City decides to consolidate fire operations with the cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove.
Question: With a City Administrator and a Finance Manager, now Administrative Services Director, why did it take a consultant to tell them that the city “should pay off their CalPERS side fund obligation by issue bonds at a lower interest rate?”
III. Citygate Associates found that the “fiscal, legal and operational changes in the fire service make small departments no longer viable in providing fully effective emergency services.”
Questions: Could the same claim be made of a small city’s small police department? In other words, if fire service consolidation is in the best interests of Carmelites, then shouldn’t the city examine potential police department consolidation with other cities? Otherwise, the city’s Police Department budget will continue to grow and be the city’s largest expenditure, increasing from 19.1% of total actual FY 2005-06 expenditures to 21.3% of total proposed FY 2009-10 expenditures. Note: During the same time period, the Fire Department increased from 12.6% of actual FY 2005-06 expenditures to 13.5% of proposed FY 2009-10 expenditures.
IV. Citygate Associates recommends that “Carmel, Pacific Grove and Monterey strongly consider forming a Fire Services Joint Powers Authority;” a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) is an institution permitted under California State Government Code Section 6500-6536 whereby two or more public authorities can operate collectively.
For more information regarding Joint Powers Authority in California, click on Post title above or copy, paste and click
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=gov&group=06001-07000&file=6500-6536
V. Do the members of the Carmel-by-the-Sea Fire Department agree with Citygate Associates Finding #21? “Far more important than fiscal considerations are the operational advantages of consolidation and the creation of a fire department that is sized to provide effective service throughout the three-city area well into the foreseeable future.” Additionally, do the Fire Department members agree with the following statement by Citygate Associates? “There is clear recognition that neither operationally nor with appropriate cost effectiveness can Carmel maintain its own fire headquarters function basically from now on.”
Friday, August 31, 2007
The Future of Carmel-by-the-Sea’s Fire Department? FIRE DEPARTMENT CONSOLIDATION FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS FOR THE CITIES MONTEREY, PACIFIC GROVE & CARMEL
• ABSTRACT: The cities of Monterey, Pacific Grove and Carmel-by-the-Sea retained CITYGATE ASSOCIATES, LLC, “to conduct a high level assessment of the feasibility to fully or partially consolidate their fire agencies.” The analysis includes Findings #1 – 21 and Recommendations #1-3. Regardless of consolidation or no consolidation, CITYGATE recommends that the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea add a “3rd full-time firefighter to the engine every day to staff this unit more effectively and at a level comparable to its neighboring fire departments.” The additional cost would be $400,000/year to the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Since small fire departments are “no longer viable in providing fully effective emergency services,” CITYGATE recommends that “Carmel, Pacific Grove and Monterey strongly consider forming a Fire Services Joint Powers Authority...merge the fire management teams of the three cities...and conduct long range planning necessary to actually merge the operating portions” of the fire departments.
FIRE DEPARTMENT CONSOLIDATION FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS FOR THE CITIES OF MONTEREY, PACIFIC GROVE AND CARMEL
Final Report
June 12, 2007
CITYGATE ASSOCIATES, LLC
MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS
FOLSOM (SACRAMENTO), CA.
The cities of Monterey, Pacific Grove and Carmel-by-the-Sea retained Citygate Associates, LLC, “to conduct a high level assessment of the feasibility to fully or partially consolidate their fire agencies.”
Citygate views this “three city fire consolidation as a very cost effective way to improve the coordination, command, and control of fire services.”
FINDINGS #1 – #21:
Finding # 1: The availability of volunteers in communities like those on the Monterey Peninsula is rapidly diminishing and is not likely to provide an effective long-term solution to the need for readily available and trained firefighters.
Finding #2: Today’s regulations, responsibilities and competencies mean that a minimum command staff of seven chief officers – one fire chief, an assistant chief, three shift supervising chiefs, a training officer and a fire marshal, supported by clerical staff and inspectors can manage a five-station department. This represents a significant reduction from the number required in each city to separately administer that city’s fire department.
Finding #3: Given the current fire station spacing and topography, there is not an opportunity in a consolidation to re-locate or share fire stations, thus lowering the number of firefighters on-duty.
Finding #4: Given the considerable sharing that already exists at the operational levels, the three cultures have already taken many of the needed steps to operate more as one department.
Finding #5: Among all three agencies, the equipment and special training exists to a substantial degree to handle the risks present in the combined department area.
Finding #6: The three cultures understand the need to discuss in a positive format a consolidation and know if the technical details can be solved without harming the three cities’ services, that in the long run, a consolidated department has more positives than negatives.
Finding #7: Due to revenue limitations in all three cities, none of the departments has an adequately staffed fire prevention and public education function.
Finding #8: Due to city size and revenue limitations, even Monterey does not have the needed compliment of chief officers for a small department and should add a full-time fire marshal position. Given residency and increasing technical requirements on chief officers, both Carmel and Pacific Grove will have trouble replacing and maintaining a well-trained and adequately sized chief officer team.
Finding #9: A consolidation of the headquarters functions of the three cities would provide enough personnel that could more effectively handle both the field command and the specialty assignments than is presently done by each city separately or through the current contract arrangement.
Finding #10: If a full consolidation occurred, there are enough office support (clerical) positions to adequately support the combined command and fire prevention functions. Over the long-term, if Carmel and Pacific Grove could agree to one consolidated headquarters office location in a three-department consolidation, perhaps one half to one of the office support positions could be transferred away.
Finding #11: A consolidation of headquarters positions would not only save significant money for all three cities, but there would be a significant increase in supervision and program effectiveness by combining for the common benefit the existing headquarters staff.
Finding #12: The difference in retirement rates paid by the three cities is largely due to a difference in side fund obligation. If the cities decide to merge all or part of their fire departments, the disparate impact of this side fund obligation can be relieved by Carmel and Monterey funding this through a bond issue as Pacific Grove has already done.
Finding #13: A merger of either all employees or even simply a merger of headquarters units of the three cities will necessitate consideration with the employees of how to combine the different benefit structures. This is a “meet and confer” obligation for each city and may result in all of the cities agreeing to a higher benefit than they now provide in one or more of the benefit categories.
Finding #14: While combining or merging benefits from each of the cities could represent an added cost, once we compared the combination of salary and benefits for each category, we found that the added cost is not likely to be an overall significant number.
Finding #15: Carmel experiences a lower total cost for its 6 full-time fire safety personnel than do Monterey or Pacific Grove for their combined 63 line staff. The apparent difference as well between Monterey and Pacific Grove is partially due to a difference in the way each agency funds benefits, so that the actual difference to employees may depend on the tax status of each employee.
Finding #16: A merger of line and/or headquarters fire personnel will require some adjustment in cost for each city. However, as this report illustrates in a later section, the total cost of at least a single headquarters unit will be less than what is spent in combination by all three cities and represent a savings to each city even if the salaries and benefits paid to headquarters personnel is at the level of the highest paying city.
Finding #17: Without the reduction of personnel, there would little savings and the salaries and benefits for line personnel of the merged fire department would likely be that of the highest paying agency at the time of merger.
Finding #18: While there will be little, if any dollar cost savings from line merger, the three cities can expect an improvement in operational response to emergencies, employee retention and promotion opportunities.
Finding #19: Merged headquarters functions will save $1,300,000 at current salary and benefits compared to the staffing level that will be needed if each agency operates a separate fire department. In addition to the cost savings, the operational improvements argue in favor of merging all of the headquarters functions into a single unit.
Finding #20: A cost formula can be devised which will result is significant cost savings to each city. The more critical issue is the perception of “fairness” that each city has for the formulas.
Finding #21: Far more important than fiscal considerations are the operational advantages of consolidation and the creation of a fire department that is sized to provide effective service throughout the three-city area well into the foreseeable future.
RECOMMENDATIONS #1 - #3
Recommendation #1: The best-fit governance model for this consolidation effort would be Joint Powers Authority. The JPA Board’s powers would be limited in the JPA agreement so that the Board could not unilaterally impose costs on the cities without their advice and co-ratification.
Recommendation #2: Regardless of whether the three cities consolidate fire operations, Carmel and Monterey should pay off their CalPERS side fund obligation by issue bonds at a lower interest rate than is being charged by CalPERS.
Recommendation #3: Merge the fire management teams of the three cities to provide an immediate improvement in management support services and the structure to conduct the long range planning necessary to actually merge the operating portion of the three city fire services.
For the complete CITYGATE Feasibility Study, click on Post title above or copy, paste and click http://www.monterey.org/fire/news/feasibilitystudy.pdf
NOTES:
•The Citygate Associates, LLC Executive Summary includes Findings #2, #3, #4, #9, #16, #17, #18, #19 and Recommendations #1, #2, #3, inclusive. (Bold-type above)
• The report notes that all three cities have a “long and proud tradition of providing fire services.” It notes Carmel’s “early reliance upon, and continued participate of,” volunteer firefighters, which is increasingly problematic.
• “Of the departments reviewed in this study, Carmel has the most 'fragile' line firefighter staffing situation and, regardless of consolidation, should strive to add a 3rd full-time firefighter to the engine every day to staff this unit more effectively and at a level comparable to its neighboring fire departments;” Added cost would be $400,000/year to the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
• “Carmel has no management staff members of its own and likely would have trouble, given its size and fiscal situation, in recruiting several chief officers.”
• Carmel has limited clerical support positions, given the size of the department and the fiscal situation.
• As for Fire Prevention services, “all three fire departments are individually thin. Carmel contracts out new fire construction issues.”
• Carmel contracts with Pacific Grove for chief officer assistance and is working on contracting with Monterey for daily incident command coverage.
• The main drawback to headquarters consolidation of these three fire departments is “geography and road network.”
• “There is clear recognition that neither operationally nor with appropriate cost effectiveness can Carmel maintain its own fire headquarters function basically from now on.”
• Using 2006/07 salaries and benefits, Carmel “experiences a lower cost for fire safety personnel.”
• Estimated saving to the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea, $357,530.
• “The fiscal, legal and operational changes in the fire service make small departments no longer viable in providing fully effective emergency services.”
• Citygate recommends that “Carmel, Pacific Grove and Monterey strongly consider forming a Fire Services Joint Powers Authority...Merge the fire management teams of the three cities...and conduct long range planning necessary to actually merge the operating portions” of the fire departments.
REFERENCE:
M I N U T E S
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF MONTEREY
MONDAY, June 18, 2007
6:00 – 8:00 P.M.
Monterey Conference Center, Ferrante Room
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA
City Council Special Meeting Minutes June 18, 2007
1. Report and Discussion on Fire Department Consolidation Feasibility Study for the Cities of Carmel, Monterey, and Pacific Grove (Fire)
Pacific Grove Fire Chief Miller introduced the staff report, giving a brief history of the shared services agreements between the cities. Dwane Milnes, Citygate Associates, presented the results of the Fire Department Consolidation Feasibility Analysis. Stewart Gary, Citygate Associates, presented additional details of the report.
Mr. Gary and Mr. Milnes answered the City Councils’ questions with regard to advantages and difficulties of consolidation.
Mayor Della Sala opened the floor for public comments. Charles Carter, Monterey, said that Monterey would be the biggest loser in a consolidation situation. John Fischer, Pacific Grove, raised questions regarding specialized equipment and risks. Char Carter, Monterey, questioned bringing three bureaucracies together and said that she does not believe in regional government.
August Beecham, Carmel Fire Department, agreed with the findings in the report and encouraged the Councils to continue the study. David Potter, Monterey Fire Division Chief, spoke in support of continuing to study the consolidation, noting the increasing number of calls and saying that each of the departments could do a better job by working together. Having no further requests to speak, Mayor Della Sala closed public comment on the item.
Monterey City Manager Meurer clarified that fire-fighting efforts are already a regional team effort without the benefits of a consolidated headquarters. He said that it is important to manage the risks. On question, Mr. Milnes explained the side fund obligations for each city. Mayor Della Sala clarified that no reduction in the number of fire stations is anticipated in a merged department. Pacific Grove Councilmember Bennett clarified that she anticipates that Pacific Grove paid volunteers would continue to serve.
Carmel Mayor McCloud thanked the City of Monterey for arranging the meeting. She noted that major metropolitan areas such as San Jose have only one fire department. Monterey Mayor Della Sala summarized the information that was presented, saying that this is an opportunity for a sustainable model for the future, and that it would be adaptable to changes.
Pacific Grove Mayor Cort thanked the Councils for coming together to collaborate. He said that he was proud to see Pacific Grove’s fire truck on Alvarado during the recent fire.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Councils, Mayor Della Sala adjourned the meeting at 7:59 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted, Approved,
_____________________________ ___________________________
Bonnie L. Gawf, City Clerk Chuck Della Sala, Mayor
(Source: http://www.monterey.org/ccncl/minutes/2007/070618mspjt.pdf)
FIRE DEPARTMENT CONSOLIDATION FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS FOR THE CITIES OF MONTEREY, PACIFIC GROVE AND CARMEL
Final Report
June 12, 2007
CITYGATE ASSOCIATES, LLC
MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS
FOLSOM (SACRAMENTO), CA.
The cities of Monterey, Pacific Grove and Carmel-by-the-Sea retained Citygate Associates, LLC, “to conduct a high level assessment of the feasibility to fully or partially consolidate their fire agencies.”
Citygate views this “three city fire consolidation as a very cost effective way to improve the coordination, command, and control of fire services.”
FINDINGS #1 – #21:
Finding # 1: The availability of volunteers in communities like those on the Monterey Peninsula is rapidly diminishing and is not likely to provide an effective long-term solution to the need for readily available and trained firefighters.
Finding #2: Today’s regulations, responsibilities and competencies mean that a minimum command staff of seven chief officers – one fire chief, an assistant chief, three shift supervising chiefs, a training officer and a fire marshal, supported by clerical staff and inspectors can manage a five-station department. This represents a significant reduction from the number required in each city to separately administer that city’s fire department.
Finding #3: Given the current fire station spacing and topography, there is not an opportunity in a consolidation to re-locate or share fire stations, thus lowering the number of firefighters on-duty.
Finding #4: Given the considerable sharing that already exists at the operational levels, the three cultures have already taken many of the needed steps to operate more as one department.
Finding #5: Among all three agencies, the equipment and special training exists to a substantial degree to handle the risks present in the combined department area.
Finding #6: The three cultures understand the need to discuss in a positive format a consolidation and know if the technical details can be solved without harming the three cities’ services, that in the long run, a consolidated department has more positives than negatives.
Finding #7: Due to revenue limitations in all three cities, none of the departments has an adequately staffed fire prevention and public education function.
Finding #8: Due to city size and revenue limitations, even Monterey does not have the needed compliment of chief officers for a small department and should add a full-time fire marshal position. Given residency and increasing technical requirements on chief officers, both Carmel and Pacific Grove will have trouble replacing and maintaining a well-trained and adequately sized chief officer team.
Finding #9: A consolidation of the headquarters functions of the three cities would provide enough personnel that could more effectively handle both the field command and the specialty assignments than is presently done by each city separately or through the current contract arrangement.
Finding #10: If a full consolidation occurred, there are enough office support (clerical) positions to adequately support the combined command and fire prevention functions. Over the long-term, if Carmel and Pacific Grove could agree to one consolidated headquarters office location in a three-department consolidation, perhaps one half to one of the office support positions could be transferred away.
Finding #11: A consolidation of headquarters positions would not only save significant money for all three cities, but there would be a significant increase in supervision and program effectiveness by combining for the common benefit the existing headquarters staff.
Finding #12: The difference in retirement rates paid by the three cities is largely due to a difference in side fund obligation. If the cities decide to merge all or part of their fire departments, the disparate impact of this side fund obligation can be relieved by Carmel and Monterey funding this through a bond issue as Pacific Grove has already done.
Finding #13: A merger of either all employees or even simply a merger of headquarters units of the three cities will necessitate consideration with the employees of how to combine the different benefit structures. This is a “meet and confer” obligation for each city and may result in all of the cities agreeing to a higher benefit than they now provide in one or more of the benefit categories.
Finding #14: While combining or merging benefits from each of the cities could represent an added cost, once we compared the combination of salary and benefits for each category, we found that the added cost is not likely to be an overall significant number.
Finding #15: Carmel experiences a lower total cost for its 6 full-time fire safety personnel than do Monterey or Pacific Grove for their combined 63 line staff. The apparent difference as well between Monterey and Pacific Grove is partially due to a difference in the way each agency funds benefits, so that the actual difference to employees may depend on the tax status of each employee.
Finding #16: A merger of line and/or headquarters fire personnel will require some adjustment in cost for each city. However, as this report illustrates in a later section, the total cost of at least a single headquarters unit will be less than what is spent in combination by all three cities and represent a savings to each city even if the salaries and benefits paid to headquarters personnel is at the level of the highest paying city.
Finding #17: Without the reduction of personnel, there would little savings and the salaries and benefits for line personnel of the merged fire department would likely be that of the highest paying agency at the time of merger.
Finding #18: While there will be little, if any dollar cost savings from line merger, the three cities can expect an improvement in operational response to emergencies, employee retention and promotion opportunities.
Finding #19: Merged headquarters functions will save $1,300,000 at current salary and benefits compared to the staffing level that will be needed if each agency operates a separate fire department. In addition to the cost savings, the operational improvements argue in favor of merging all of the headquarters functions into a single unit.
Finding #20: A cost formula can be devised which will result is significant cost savings to each city. The more critical issue is the perception of “fairness” that each city has for the formulas.
Finding #21: Far more important than fiscal considerations are the operational advantages of consolidation and the creation of a fire department that is sized to provide effective service throughout the three-city area well into the foreseeable future.
RECOMMENDATIONS #1 - #3
Recommendation #1: The best-fit governance model for this consolidation effort would be Joint Powers Authority. The JPA Board’s powers would be limited in the JPA agreement so that the Board could not unilaterally impose costs on the cities without their advice and co-ratification.
Recommendation #2: Regardless of whether the three cities consolidate fire operations, Carmel and Monterey should pay off their CalPERS side fund obligation by issue bonds at a lower interest rate than is being charged by CalPERS.
Recommendation #3: Merge the fire management teams of the three cities to provide an immediate improvement in management support services and the structure to conduct the long range planning necessary to actually merge the operating portion of the three city fire services.
For the complete CITYGATE Feasibility Study, click on Post title above or copy, paste and click http://www.monterey.org/fire/news/feasibilitystudy.pdf
NOTES:
•The Citygate Associates, LLC Executive Summary includes Findings #2, #3, #4, #9, #16, #17, #18, #19 and Recommendations #1, #2, #3, inclusive. (Bold-type above)
• The report notes that all three cities have a “long and proud tradition of providing fire services.” It notes Carmel’s “early reliance upon, and continued participate of,” volunteer firefighters, which is increasingly problematic.
• “Of the departments reviewed in this study, Carmel has the most 'fragile' line firefighter staffing situation and, regardless of consolidation, should strive to add a 3rd full-time firefighter to the engine every day to staff this unit more effectively and at a level comparable to its neighboring fire departments;” Added cost would be $400,000/year to the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
• “Carmel has no management staff members of its own and likely would have trouble, given its size and fiscal situation, in recruiting several chief officers.”
• Carmel has limited clerical support positions, given the size of the department and the fiscal situation.
• As for Fire Prevention services, “all three fire departments are individually thin. Carmel contracts out new fire construction issues.”
• Carmel contracts with Pacific Grove for chief officer assistance and is working on contracting with Monterey for daily incident command coverage.
• The main drawback to headquarters consolidation of these three fire departments is “geography and road network.”
• “There is clear recognition that neither operationally nor with appropriate cost effectiveness can Carmel maintain its own fire headquarters function basically from now on.”
• Using 2006/07 salaries and benefits, Carmel “experiences a lower cost for fire safety personnel.”
• Estimated saving to the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea, $357,530.
• “The fiscal, legal and operational changes in the fire service make small departments no longer viable in providing fully effective emergency services.”
• Citygate recommends that “Carmel, Pacific Grove and Monterey strongly consider forming a Fire Services Joint Powers Authority...Merge the fire management teams of the three cities...and conduct long range planning necessary to actually merge the operating portions” of the fire departments.
REFERENCE:
M I N U T E S
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF MONTEREY
MONDAY, June 18, 2007
6:00 – 8:00 P.M.
Monterey Conference Center, Ferrante Room
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA
City Council Special Meeting Minutes June 18, 2007
1. Report and Discussion on Fire Department Consolidation Feasibility Study for the Cities of Carmel, Monterey, and Pacific Grove (Fire)
Pacific Grove Fire Chief Miller introduced the staff report, giving a brief history of the shared services agreements between the cities. Dwane Milnes, Citygate Associates, presented the results of the Fire Department Consolidation Feasibility Analysis. Stewart Gary, Citygate Associates, presented additional details of the report.
Mr. Gary and Mr. Milnes answered the City Councils’ questions with regard to advantages and difficulties of consolidation.
Mayor Della Sala opened the floor for public comments. Charles Carter, Monterey, said that Monterey would be the biggest loser in a consolidation situation. John Fischer, Pacific Grove, raised questions regarding specialized equipment and risks. Char Carter, Monterey, questioned bringing three bureaucracies together and said that she does not believe in regional government.
August Beecham, Carmel Fire Department, agreed with the findings in the report and encouraged the Councils to continue the study. David Potter, Monterey Fire Division Chief, spoke in support of continuing to study the consolidation, noting the increasing number of calls and saying that each of the departments could do a better job by working together. Having no further requests to speak, Mayor Della Sala closed public comment on the item.
Monterey City Manager Meurer clarified that fire-fighting efforts are already a regional team effort without the benefits of a consolidated headquarters. He said that it is important to manage the risks. On question, Mr. Milnes explained the side fund obligations for each city. Mayor Della Sala clarified that no reduction in the number of fire stations is anticipated in a merged department. Pacific Grove Councilmember Bennett clarified that she anticipates that Pacific Grove paid volunteers would continue to serve.
Carmel Mayor McCloud thanked the City of Monterey for arranging the meeting. She noted that major metropolitan areas such as San Jose have only one fire department. Monterey Mayor Della Sala summarized the information that was presented, saying that this is an opportunity for a sustainable model for the future, and that it would be adaptable to changes.
Pacific Grove Mayor Cort thanked the Councils for coming together to collaborate. He said that he was proud to see Pacific Grove’s fire truck on Alvarado during the recent fire.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Councils, Mayor Della Sala adjourned the meeting at 7:59 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted, Approved,
_____________________________ ___________________________
Bonnie L. Gawf, City Clerk Chuck Della Sala, Mayor
(Source: http://www.monterey.org/ccncl/minutes/2007/070618mspjt.pdf)
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