REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 13, 2023
FROM
DAN MUNSEY, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
SUBJECT
Title
Introduction of Proposed Ordinance Regarding Amendment to Fiscal Year 2023-24 Adopted Annual San Bernardino County Fire Protection District Fee Ordinance
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District:
1. Conduct a public hearing on the proposed ordinance amending Ordinance No. FPD 23-02 and establishing fees for the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District as detailed in the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Fee Schedule (Attachment A).
2. Make alterations, if necessary, to the proposed ordinance.
3. Approve introduction of proposed ordinance.
• An ordinance of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District to amend Ordinance No. FPD 23-02 and to establish fire service fees, fire suppression, emergency response and cost recovery fees, ambulance service and subscription fees.
4. SCHEDULE ORDINANCE FOR FINAL ADOPTION ON TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2023, on the Consent Calendar.
(Presenter: Dan Munsey, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, 387-5779)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (SBCFPD) fees, as listed in the fee schedule (Attachment A), are projected to generate approximately $24.2 million in revenue for 2023-24 to recover the cost of providing services. This amount includes approximately $8.9 million in anticipated revenue from ambulance operations, although the fees for those services are established and approved by the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency. Net impact on revenue from the various recommended changes included in the proposed amended fee ordinance is expected to be negligible. Appropriation and revenue related to the fees are included in the 2023-24 recommended budget for SBCFPD.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The SBCFPD fee ordinance is submitted annually to the Board of Directors (Board) for approval. On April 11, 2023 (Item No. 66), the Board conducted a public hearing on SBCFPD’s proposed ordinance that would repeal Ordinance No. FPD 22-01 and scheduled the ordinance for final adoption on April 25, 2023. On April 25, 2023 (Item No. 76), the Board adopted Ordinance No. FPD 23-02 that, effective July 1, 2023, repeals Ordinance FPD 22-01, which are the fees for Fiscal Year 2022-23, and establishes fire service fees, fire suppression, emergency response and cost recovery fees, ambulance service and subscription fees for Fiscal Year 2023-24. Attachment A to Ordinance No. FPD 23-02 included the fees for Fiscal Year 2023-24.
It was subsequently discovered that Attachment A to Ordinance No. FPD 23-02 inadvertently listed eight employee classification hourly fees for Fiscal Year 2023-24 in Section H incorrectly due to a miscalculation of productive hours. As a result, SBCFPD desires to revise the eight fees due to updated calculation of productive hours, resulting in decreases ranging from 33.4% to 43.1% on classifications adopted by the Board on April 25, 2023 (Item No. 76), as part of the 2023-24 SBCFPD Fee Ordinance.
In order to correct the eight fees identified in Attachment A to Ordinance No. FPD 23-02, this item recommends conducting a public hearing to introduce a proposed ordinance that amends Ordinance No. FPD 23-02 to establish fees for SBCFPD as detailed in the attached Fiscal Year 2023-24 Fee Schedule (Attachment A) to the proposed ordinance. In addition, Attachment A, Section H, includes the deletion of an extra dollar symbol, removal of the phrase “Community Safety” from the title of “Deputy Fire Marshal” to be consistent with the employee classification title, and the inclusion of the Deputy Fire Marshal rate of $174.43 under both “Community Safety/Fire Prevention” and “Hazardous Materials” headings.
All other fees reflected in Ordinance No. FPD 23-02 remain the same and are included in Attachment A to the proposed ordinance. As a result, this item incorporates by reference the information provided to the Board on April 11, 2023 (Item No. 66) and April 25, 2023 (Item No. 76), regarding the summary of changes associated with the fees for Fiscal Year 2023-24.
SBCFPD ensures that the recommended fee amounts comply with Proposition 26. Proposition 26 generally requires fees not to be higher than the cost of the activity and/or service provided unless an exception applies as indicated in the proposition.
The proposed ordinance will take effect 30 days from date of adoption, which will be July 27, 2023.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Scott Runyan, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 18, 2023; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on May 22, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on May 23, 2023.