To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Departmental
SUBJECT:
title
Fire Services Funding
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Receive the staff report on fire service gaps and funding options;
2. Approve staff recommendations for a funding allocation strategy to help address service gaps, with the understanding that the initial impacts to the General Fund will not exceed the estimates provided in the Finical Impact section of this staff report;
3. Approve the formation of an ad hoc committee to work with a fire services working group to implement the funding strategy; and
4. Take other action as necessary.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund
DISCUSSION:
Background
Significant developed and populated areas of the county are located outside of the boundaries of any fire protection district or other local agency responsible for providing structure fire protection services (fire-related districts). Humboldt County General Plan policies also allow for future development in these areas. There are no agencies legally responsible for providing structure fire protection to these areas. For that reason, sustaining the delivery of such services to these areas is challenging and uncertain and identifying a long-term solution is complicated and difficult.
* Fire related districts and volunteer fire companies (VFCs) not associated with districts are commonly dispatched and respond to calls for all risk service within most of these areas. However, they are not responsible for or obligated to provide such service and do not receive funding from property taxes, a special tax, or an assessment to do so.
* The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and, in some cases, firefighting resources from Six Rivers National Forest will also respond to or assist with structural fire protection or medical emergencies in these areas. However, this response is on a vo...
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