To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Resolution Authorizing Execution of Cooperative Fire Programs - Fire Protection Reimbursement Agreement No. 1CA06882 with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Regarding the Provision of Consolidated Fire Dispatch Services in Humboldt County for an Amount Not to Exceed $1,578,540.00
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Waive the requirements of the Humboldt County Nuclear-Free Ordinance with regard to Cooperative Fire Programs - Fire Protection Reimbursement Agreement No. 1CA06882 with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection;
2. Adopt the attached resolution which authorizes the County Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof, to execute Cooperative Fire Programs - Fire Protection Reimbursement Agreement No. 1CA06882 with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection regarding the provision of fire dispatch services within Humboldt County in an amount not exceed $1,578,540.00 for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027, and any amendments thereto, along with any and all other certifications, agreements and documents required or deemed necessary or appropriate for the County of Humboldt to accept and secure its obligations thereunder;
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return one (1) fully executed certified copy of the attached Resolution to the County Administrative Office for submission to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection; and
4. Direct the Human Resources Director, or a designee thereof, to provide the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection with any and all necessary certificates of insurance.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommended actions support the following areas of the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Plan:
Area of Focus: Safe & Healthy Communities
Strategic Plan Category: 1001 -Support and sustain partnerships between public safety and partner agencies to enhance public safety in our communities
DISCUSSION:
For many years, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (“CalFIRE”) has provided year-round 9-1-1 emergency dispatch services in support of the local fire protection districts within Humboldt County. Cooperative Fire Programs - Fire Protection Reimbursement Agreement No. 1CA06882 renews those services for an additional three (3) years and funds 3.0 full-time equivalent (“FTE”) communications operators at the CalFIRE emergency command center located in Fortuna.
The cost of dispatch services is an increase of 36% of the prior agreement. This is due to increasing state staffing from 2.33 FTE to 3.0 FTE and increases in pay due to state-negotiated salary and benefits. In 2020, the County of Humboldt issued a request for proposals for dispatch services (Bid No. MBT-2020-01) and CalFIRE was the only agency to respond. The County of Humboldt continues to evaluate other options to decrease costs while maintaining the quality of dispatch services for local fire. Therefore, while the state’s standard fire protection reimbursement agreements include a one-year notice requirement to exit the contract, Cooperative Fire Programs - Fire Protection Reimbursement Agreement No. 1CA06882 includes a side letter from the Humboldt-Del Norte CalFIRE Unit Chief addressed to the Deputy Director of CalFIRE’s Cooperative Fire Program stating that he is supportive of the County of Humboldt being able to exit the contract with six (6) months advance notice (Attachment 3). While this is not an amendment to the contract itself, as that would require CalFIRE to amend all of its state contracts with local jurisdictions for dispatch, CalFIRE staff have indicated that it is generally open to making this accommodation with such a letter from local units. Staff will return to your Board should a viable alternative arise.
Accordingly, staff recommends that the Board adopt the attached resolution which authorizes the County Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof, to execute Cooperative Fire Programs - Fire Protection Reimbursement Agreement No. 1CA06882 with CalFIRE regarding the provision of fire dispatch services within Humboldt County for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027, and any amendments thereto, along with any and all other certifications, agreements and documents required or deemed necessary or appropriate for the County of Humboldt to accept and secure its obligations thereunder. It should be noted that the Board must waive the requirements of the Humboldt County Nuclear-Free Ordinance in order to adopt the attached resolution, since CalFIRE will not modify Cooperative Fire Programs - Fire Protection Reimbursement Agreement No. 1CA06882 to incorporate the requirements thereof. Cooperative Fire Programs - Fire Protection Reimbursement Agreement No. 1CA06882 comes to your Board after the start date thereof due to inadvertent delays that occurred during the contract development process.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund, Measure Z (1100-889)
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1100-281, 1100-197) |
FY24-25 |
FY25-26 Projected* |
FY26-27 Projected* |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$500,726.00 |
$525,763.00 |
$552,051.00 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$500,726.00 |
$525,763.00 |
$552,051.00 |
|
Funding Sources (1100-281, 1100-197) |
FY24-25 |
FY25-26 Projected* |
FY26-27 Projected* |
|
General Fund |
$275,400.00 |
$289,170.00 |
$303,628.00 |
|
General Fund - Measure Z |
$225,326.00 |
$236,593.00 |
$248,423.00 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$500,726.00 |
$525,763.00 |
$552,051.00 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
Cooperative Fire Programs - Fire Protection Reimbursement Agreement No. 1CA06882 with CalFIRE has a maximum amount payable of $1,578,540.00 for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027, which equates to an increase of approximately $156,000.00 annually from the prior year’s cost.
Funding for the attached agreement has been budgeted in the Forester and Warden budget unit (1100-281) and the Humboldt County Fire Chiefs’ Association Measure Z budget unit (1100-197-3229) for Fiscal Year 2024-25 and will be included in subsequent years. Approximately 55% of the total costs associated with Cooperative Fire Programs - Fire Protection Reimbursement Agreement No. 1CA06882 with CalFIRE ($868,197, or an average total of $289,399 annually) will be covered by the General Fund. The remaining 45% of the costs, which total $710,342 (or $236,781 annually), will be the responsibility of the Humboldt County Fire Chiefs’ Association, which is being funded by Measure Z.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Cooperative Fire Programs - Fire Protection Reimbursement Agreement No. 1CA06882 with CalFIRE is managed by the County Administrative Office - Management & Budget Team.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Local fire departments
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Your Board could choose to not to adopt the attached resolution which authorizes the County Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof, to execute Cooperative Fire Programs - Fire Protection Reimbursement Agreement No. 1CA06882 with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection regarding the provision of fire dispatch services within Humboldt County. This alternative is not recommended as CalFIRE is the only agency currently able to provide these essential services for local fire departments.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Dispatch services agreement with CalFIRE
2. Side letter with CalFIRE regarding 6-month opt out
3. Resolution authorizing the CAO to execute the dispatch services agreement
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: June 15, 2021
File No.: 21-706