REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
July 14, 2020
FROM
DAN MUNSEY, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
SUBJECT
Title v
Agreement with the Colorado River Indian Tribes for Fire Protection and Basic Life Support Services to the Community of Big River
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, approve agreement with the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) wherein CRIT will provide fire protection and basic life support services to the unincorporated community of Big River for a term of 5 years, commencing July 14, 2020 through June 30, 2025, in the compensation amount of $50,000 per year with the option to revise annually after the initial year based on the increased costs of providing service.
(Presenter: Dan Munsey, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, 387-5779)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
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.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as the cost of this agreement will be funded through a savings from the elimination of San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (SBCFPD) Paid-Call Firefighters used previously to provide service for the unincorporated community of Big River.
In accordance with this agreement, SBCFPD will compensate CRIT for the cost of providing fire protection and basic life support services in the amount of $50,000 for the first year of the agreement. Through future amendments approved by both parties, this amount may be increased in subsequent years based on CRIT’s personnel costs and other factors. Appropriation for this agreement is included in SBCFPD’s 2020-21 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The unincorporated community of Big River, which is located immediately adjacent to the California/Arizona state line, currently receives fire protection and basic life support services provided by SBCFPD’s Paid-Call Firefighters from Station #17 in Big River. In nearby Parker, Arizona, the CRIT Fire Department has the requisite resources and experience needed to provide these services for the Big River community. Since contracting with CRIT to provide fire protection and basic life support services for Big River would be more cost effective and improve response times, it is recommended that CRIT now service this area in lieu of the continued use of SBCFPD Paid-Call Firefighters from the aforementioned fire station.
Per California Government Code section 55632, SBCFPD is authorized to contract with any neighboring local agency, including CRIT, for the furnishing of fire protection services. In addition, Government Code section 6500 et seq. authorizes SBCFPD and CRIT to enter into an agreement to jointly exercise any powers common to them.
This agreement is necessary to sustain a local intergovernmental partnership established for the purpose of providing efficient fire protection and basic life support services to the residents and visitors in the unincorporated area of Big River.
The agreement may be cancelled as follows:
• Written notice by one party to the other party upon one-year notice of cancellation.
• SBCFPD has the option to terminate if the parties cannot agree on the amount of additional costs proposed by CRIT.
The agreement also authorizes each Fire Chief to approve the Annual Operating Plan and any amendments to the Plan.
SBCFPD currently subleases Station #17 from Big River Development Enterprises, an entity of CRIT, pursuant to Agreement No. 11-48 approved by the Board of Directors (Board) on February 8, 2011 (Item No. 49). SBCFPD will return back to the Board with a recommendation concerning this sublease.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Scott Runyan, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 6, 2020; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on July 6, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on July 7, 2020.