CA Fire District Takes Step Toward Consolidation

Dec. 11—East Contra Costa Fire Protection District has agreed to share costs for a study on potential consolidation with Contra Costa Fire Protection District.

The action Wednesday came after a consultant, AP Triton Consulting, which East Contra Costa Fire hired, determined the annexation into ConFire would be "viable" and "cost-effective" after analyzing the district's finances.

"We're recommending you take the next step (a full, in-depth study), which will enhance and result in a more cost-effective organization," AP Triton's Kurt Latipow told the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District board.

In West Contra Costa County, the Rodeo-Hercules Fire District also is expected to consider whether consolidation with Contra Costa Fire is cost-effective and will solve its financial and staffing issues.

Earlier this fall, East Contra Costa Fire Protection District spent $10,000 on the first phase of the study and now has allocated up to $30,000 on Phase 2, which will be a comprehensive financial and operational analysis of an annexation. The three districts will share the total cost of Phase 2, expected to be about $50,000.

East Contra Costa Fire board President Brian Oftedal said the district may hold community town hall forums later, depending on what the report concludes.

An independent rural fire district, East Contra Costa Fire serves 128,000 residents over nearly 350 square miles in Brentwood, Oakley, Bethel Island, Knightsen, Byron, Discovery Bay and Morgan Territory, but has long lacked adequate financial resources.

East Contra Cost Fire has three stations with three firefighters each — half what is recommended for a district of its size. Without adequate resources, the district has leaned heavily on neighboring agencies, which themselves are strained.

Previously served by volunteers and composed of several city and town departments, the rural fire district was created in 2002 and had eight stations at its height that year. Without adequate resources, though, over the years it has had to cut back.

The district is funded almost entirely by property taxes, which were locked in the 1970s with the passage of Proposition 13, restricting the total property tax levy to 1% of a property's assessed value.

Over the years, the district and Brentwood and Oakley have all placed initiatives on the ballot to fund reopening stations, but all parcel tax assessments and utility tax measures have failed.

Consolidation also has been previously considered, but the plan was dropped as it was determined East Contra Costa Fire would burden the other districts. The latest analysis, however, concluded that property taxes have increased at a rate of 8% annually, additional real estate development is anticipated and there is a projected cumulative cash flow for the first six years of a consolidated model of more than $8 million.

The consultant also noted additional sources of revenue to fund operations should be explored, including pursuing the possibility of acquiring a portion of the monies that will become available through the recently passed Measure X countywide half-cent sales tax.

Phase 2 of the study is expected to take about five months to complete, while the Local Agency Formation Commission, which has the power to approve such consolidations, would take another six months to complete its analysis before any annexation could begin, he said.

East Contra Costa Fire Chief Brian Helmick said the initial consolidation study showed that with existing revenue, the district could add two stations in two years, though it would not be sustainable indefinitely.

"I think this is the most responsible move we can make," East Contra Costa Fire Director Adam Langrow said of the resolution to further study consolidation.

Director Joe Young also applauded the initial report, which he said demonstrates that the two districts can consolidate and exist with beneficial results. The district still needs to know the long-term effects, but those will be addressed in the final phase of the study, he said.

"I think this the right thing to do," Young said as he motioned to approve the resolution. "I think we need to move forward with this."

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