Staff Report 11/04/2020 Item 5.1Adoption of Charter for Fire and EMS Agency Ad Hoc Committee and Provision of Staff Direction for Further Municipal Service Review and Sphere Amendment Proposal Work

Analysis

At its September meeting, the Commission was presented with sphere of influence recommendations for fire and emergency medical service agencies in the County by the Fire Services Working Group (FSWG), an advisory body to the County Board of Supervisors ad hoc committee studying fire service issues.  

At its October meeting, the Commission considered a staff report that analyzed the FSWG proposals along with direct agency requests and current and future staff recommendations regarding sphere amendments.  The Commission determined that it would be appropriate to establish an ad hoc committee to evaluate sphere of influence amendment proposals in consultation with the fire service agency community, and to make recommendations to the Commission as a whole.  

The Commission does not have an adopted policy regarding establishment of ad hoc committees. (Staff will prepare a draft policy and refer it to the Policy Committee for review.)  

On advice of legal counsel, staff has prepared a draft “charter” for the ad hoc committee, indicating the scope of the committee’s review, and the agencies and parties that the committee could consult with (Attachment 1). State law also directs that an ad hoc committee of a legislative body be time-limited.  

Staff requests that the Commission review the draft charter, direct amendments as appropriate, and designate a timeframe for the committee’s work.

In addition, the Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District (formerly the Geyserville Fire Protection District) and the Cloverdale Fire Protection District have requested that efforts to complete a Municipal Service Review (“MSR”) for the North County Region be exempted from the ad hoc committee review process (Attachment 2).

In particular, the agencies request that the MSR be completed within sixty days and that the report include a sphere of influence amendment proposal for the Region.

Staff is seeking direction from the Commission regarding this request, and is also seeking direction regarding additional MSR work involving these agencies:

Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District

• Portions of County Service Area 40 – Fire Services, including territories served by:
  • Lakeville Volunteer Fire Company
  • San Antonio Volunteer Fire Company
  • Wilmar Volunteer Fire Company
  • Two Rock Volunteer Fire Company
• North Sonoma Coast Fire Protection District 

Staff recommends that subsequent to the completion of the MSR for Region 6 (North County), MSRs be prepared for Rancho Adobe and the CSA territories, then North Sonoma Coast FPD. These MSRs would not include sphere of influence amendment recommendations pending the work of the Fire and EMS Agency Ad Hoc Committee.

Recommendation 

Staff requests that the Commission consider adoption of a “charter” for a Fire and EMS Services Ad Hoc Committee, delineating the scope of activities and timeframe of operation.

Staff further requests that the Commission provide direction with regard to further Municipal Service Review and sphere of influence amendment work, and in particular work for Region 6 (north county) 

Attachments 

1. Draft “Charter” for Fire and EMS Agency Ad Hoc Committee
2. Letter dated October 23, 2020 from Northern Sonoma and Cloverdale Fire Protection Districts