SOLANO COUNTY GRAND JURY

Transcription

1 Agenda Item 9 CORDELIA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 2155 CORDELIA ROAD, FAIRFIELD, CA ' " July 12, 2016 Honorable Robert C Fracchia, Presiding Judge Hall ofj ustice Department 25, Room Union Avenue Fairfield, CA The Honorable Judge Fracchia, RE: Response to Grand Jury Report on June 22, Cordelia Fire Protection District Pursuant to Penal Code section , the Board of Directors of the Cordelia Fire Protection District responds to the following findings and recommendations contained in the Grand Jury Report regarding the Cordelia Fire Protection District. IV Finding 1 It appeared that members of the board did not have a full working knowledge of the budget, and in particular, what was contained within each line item. Response to Finding 1 Board of Directors: The Board of Directors partially agrees with the finding but points out that two of the Directors had recently joined the board, approximately two months prior to the interviews, and were not yet fully familiar with the budget. The evidence does not support the finding oflack of knowledge by the Grand Jury. Additionally, the Grand Jury used Solano County descriptions of budget items rather than the district descriptions. Finally the largest item in the report, the Capital Facilities Fees- $70,992 listed by the Grand Jury, as a subject of inquiry, is not one of the 85 Cordelia Fire Protection District budget line items. The correct description should have been Building Use Fees. As a result, the Grand Jury used an incorrect description to question board members, which likely resulted in their inability to answer the question. 1

2 SOLANO COUNTY GRAND JURY CORDELIA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT FIRE DEPARTMENT

3 I. SUMMARY CORDELIA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT The Solano County Grand Jury elected to look into the Cordelia Fire Protection District (Fire District) because of questions asked by residents regarding the closing of the community center, its conversion into sleeping quarters for the firefighters and the loss of revenue the center had generated. Also questioned was the process to become members of the Board of Directors of the Fire District. The Grand Jury looked into the issues of staffing, budgeting, equipment, station maintenance and Measure I-Special Tax. The Grand Jury found the Fire District communicates minimally with its citizens, has significant deferred maintenance issues, has equipment that needs replacement and is facing difficult decisions in order to remain in existence. II. INTRODUCTION The Fire District currently has two fire stations. The Main Station, Station #31, is located at 2155 Cordelia Road, Fairfield. The Secondary is Station #29, located in Green Valley at 1624 Rockville Road, Fairfield. The Fire District covers 56 square miles of varied topography ranging from the Suisun Marsh, the Suisun Valley and the mountain range separating Napa and Solano Counties. These areas present unique fire protection opportunities and one of the most challenging areas is the Green Valley and Rockville Hills regions. 2

4 III. METHODOLOGY Reviewed: Cordelia Fire Protection District Mission Statement Cordelia Fire Protection District General Board Policies Cordelia Fire Protection District Board Member Qualifications Cordelia Fire Protection District Ordinance No Special Tax Procedures Agendas and minutes of Board Meetings of August 11, 2015, September 8, 2015, October 13, 2015, November 17, 2015 Comprehensive Budget Report for , , , , Toured and Photographed: Interviewed: Station #31 Station #29 Members of the Board of Directors Fire Protection District Management and Staff A representative of Solano County Registrar of Voters IV. STATEMENT OF FACTS The Cordelia Fire Protection District (Fire District) five-member Board of Directors is the governing body responsible for setting all department policies and procedures and overseeing the budget. Since the Cordelia Fire Protection District is mainly a volunteer organization, the Board of Directors serves without remuneration. They currently serve a term of four years and may also be appointed to the Board if no one has applied to run for the position in a general election. Members of the Fire District Board of Directors stated there has not been a lot of interest in becoming a Director in the district. Four of the five current Board members have been appointed in recent years. Board vacancy information appears to be minimally disseminated e.g. local grocery store, local café and community bulletin boards. Three of the board positions are expected to be on the November 2016 ballot. 3

5 During the course of the Grand Jury s interviews with members of the Board of Directors, it was apparent the directors did not have a clear understanding or working knowledge of budget line items they are tasked to manage. Personnel: The current paid staff for the Fire District includes the following: Fire Chief, Battalion Chief and two Driver-Operators. There are currently 45 volunteers who receive a $20.00 stipend per shift. The staffing for the Fire District varies from day to day, with a range of three to eight members on duty at any one time. The Fire District responds to approximately 750 calls per year and approximately 60% of those calls are for medical aid. At the time of this report, there were five Paramedics working in the Fire District. Paramedics are advanced providers and highly educated in topics such as anatomy, physiology, cardiology, medications and medical procedures. The other members of the department are qualified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). Normally, first responders are EMTs, because the Fire District may not have a Paramedic on duty. Personnel vary daily. A minimum of three full-time staff members are needed to staff at least one station. The second station is staffed if more personnel are available. The paid staff is EMT certified and required to live within a 25 minute response time. Approximately 45 volunteers, five of which are paramedics, supplement the staffing at the stations. It was reported they are fortunate to have a total of eight individuals to split between both stations. Realistically, it is more likely to have three to five personnel to divide between both stations. Volunteers are assigned one 24 hour shift per week. They travel from as far away as Sacramento for the experience in firefighting in the hopes of gaining a full-time, paid position outside of the district. Volunteers are not required to live within the Fire District but come here for training and make up the bulk of the staffing needs. The Fire District would be unable to function without these volunteers. The district relies upon the mutual aid program in the county for assistance for their medical and fire calls due to short staffing. 4

6 Equipment: The Fire District s current equipment consists of: Two type-1 fire engines, generally used for structure fires but can be used for any type of emergency One type-3 brush truck, generally used for vegetation-type fires but can also be used for any type of emergency Two type-5 brush trucks, generally used for vegetation-type fires but can also be used for any type of emergency One water tender (carries 4,000 gallons of water) One utility vehicle with safety trailer Four SUVs used as Command vehicles and other administrative duties The two type-1 fire engines are 1994 and 2009 model vehicles. The Grand Jury was informed the 1994 fire engine is in need of replacement due to escalating maintenance costs. The type-3 fire engine and the water tender are 1990 model vehicles. The fiscal year maintenance equipment costs were $72, which comprises 8% of the annual budget. Facilities: Station #31, the main station, is located at 2155 Cordelia Road Fairfield The station was built in the early 1900 s without sleeping quarters. As the district transitioned into full-time positions, trailers were acquired to serve as sleeping quarters. They are Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trailers from the Loma Prieta Earthquake in These trailers are now condemned due to black mold and can no longer be used. A portion of Station #31 has been used as a community center and rented out for social events. This practice has been discontinued to allow the district to utilize the space as sleeping quarters. This has resulted in a loss of revenue to the district. Partitions have been installed in the hall as well as a shower in the men s restroom. Restrooms have been upgraded to provide handicap access. The reception office and Chief s office have been modified for American Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. 5

7 The apparatus bay was added years ago. All of the vehicles as well as other equipment, (i.e., hoses, saws, rakes, tools, etc.) are housed in the apparatus bay. Firefighters open the bay doors for ventilation. The area is too small to allow firefighters to tilt the engine cab forward to work on the engines necessitating moving the engines outside for maintenance. The weight room is a converted engine bay. It is also used as the turnout and gear areas and contains the medical locker closet that has a combination lock on the door. The medical supply closet contains all of the medical equipment and supplies. For security reasons, only the fulltime Paramedics have the combination to the lock. The Chief even had to call to get the combination so Grand Jury could inspect the locker. Supplies did not appear to be in any particular order nor were they labeled. All of their office equipment, shelves, room dividers and personal lockers are received from Solano County surplus warehouse. The Grand Jury observed what appears to be a lack of accountability for hand tools as they are not marked with county stickers or etched with department number. The training area in the front office has been moved so they now have an education /training room with computers and training manuals for a study area. Miscellaneous deficiencies observed were: Numerous metal milk crates used for equipment storage. Only one of the two air conditioners is in working order. Rear and side access doors to the hall have at least 1½ inch gap under doors. (see photo 1,3,6 and 8). The Grand Jury has received copies of the maintenance logs for equipment, apparatus, tools and medical logs. The Fire District Board has deferred for many years necessary maintenance on the facility resulting in the station being minimally habitable. The station itself is in need of a new roof. The outer walls, as well as the foundation, are in need of repair, (See Photographs 4,5,7 and 9 through 14 ) The district has enough land to build a new facility on site to eliminate these major problems. 6

8 Station # 29, located in Green Valley, at 1624 Rockville Road, Fairfield. The Station # 29 building is leased from the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FFSUSD) which is currently evaluating future uses for the property. The facility has suffered from deferred maintenance and is in need of replacement. Until the FFSUSD resolves the issue of the land use, the Fire District is in a holding pattern and is unable to plan maintenance or replacement issues. Deficiencies noted were: The roof is in need of replacement There is major dry rot throughout the structure. The bay doors do not close properly and are not large enough to accommodate modern fire equipment Sleeping quarters are insufficient; they are a single room with no dividers and accommodate only two people. The kitchen facilities are barely adequate; the sink is leaking and the cabinets are in disrepair There is no ADA Compliant entry into the building A trailer used for housing firefighters was being replaced at the time of the Grand Jury s reinspection. Meal preparation, training room, exercise room and fitness equipment are located at Station #31. See pictures 15 through 22 for noted deficiencies. Budget: The Grand Jury reviewed the budget for the District and interviewed the directors regarding their understanding of the budget. None of the directors appeared to have a comprehensive understanding of the budget or the components within the budget. They were unable to explain what is included in the categories of: Medical/dental supplies- $10,149 Special department expenses-$43,919 Reimbursable expenses -$41,582 Capital facilities fees - $70,992 7

9 The directors also could not explain the rationale for the increases in costs for these and other items in the comprehensive budget reports. Several directors indicated a lot of institutional knowledge concerning the budget was lost with the retirement of the former fire chief. Income and Expenses Fiscal Years Year Expenses $659,070 $689,600 $841,386 $778,639 $889,254 Revenue $650,840 $692,994 $877,230 $763,863 $920,587 Loss/gain ($8,230) $3,394 $35,844 ($14,776) $31,333 When Cal-Fire, the state firefighting agency, requires assistance to deal with fire emergencies within the state, volunteers are assigned to what are referred to as strike teams and are paid by the state through the district. In and the district benefitted from significant income from other governmental agencies from the volunteers working on strike teams. Without this outside reimbursement the district would have been operating at a deficit in both of those years. The Grand Jury was told most fire departments participating in strike teams are full time paid staff. When a firefighter from a full time paid department is out on a strike team, it is either a scheduled duty day or an off day for that firefighter. If it is an off day, overtime would apply.for the highest paid fire department Cal-Fire reimbursement probably still does not fully cover their actual costs. Lower paid departments or those using volunteers (such as Cordelia FD) generate positive revenue for these activities. 8

10 Salary and Retirement Expenses Fiscal Years Year Uncompounded % increase Salaries 136, , , , , Retirement costs 66,685 89,237 83,883 88,621 96, The above chart shows that salaries and retirement costs are a significant portion of the district s costs and can only be expected to consume a greater part of the budget in the years to come. While salaries may be controlled in the future, the increasing retirement cost has the potential to add to deficits in the future which may not be able to be controlled. Measure I Special Parcel Tax: Measure I, a special parcel tax passed in 2002, provides approximately 40% of the revenue for the Fire District. Income from fiscal year was $368, Measure I limits the tax that can be levied based on the description of property and its rate may only be adjusted annually using the consumer price index for the preceding year not to exceed 2% per year. Due to the recession, the inflation factor was adjusted to only 1% for 2009, 0% for 2010, 1.5% for 2011, 2%, for 2012, 2% for 2013, 1.5% for 2014 and 2% for This results in an uncompounded increase of 9 % over the last five years, significantly less than the increased costs experienced by the District. Maintenance and Deferred Maintenance: Building Maintenance Building maintenance has averaged 3.2% of the budget over the five-year period. Due to budgetary restrictions and the lease concerns at Station #29, they have performed a minimal amount of maintenance in both fire stations which reflects the current condition of the stations. 9

11 Equipment Maintenance Equipment maintenance has increased from 5.19% of the budget in to 8.19% in Year Equipment Maintenance cost $34,250 $51,110 $68,628 $44,203 $72,843 Maintenance costs continue to rise due to the advancing age of the equipment. The Grand Jury was informed replacement costs for a used type-1 fire engine is estimated at $450,000; $600,000 for a new type-1. V. Findings and Recommendations Finding 1 It appeared that members of the board did not have a full-working knowledge of the budget and, in particular, what was contained within each line item. Recommendation 1 The members of the board of directors meet with the Fire District s accountants and gain a comprehensive understanding of the budget and all of its components. Finding 2 The District does not have adequate income to sustain itself as a viable entity. Recommendation 2 2A. The Fire District considers merging with another fire agency (e.g. City of Fairfield, Montezuma Fire District, or City of Suisun City) to effectively service the citizens of the Cordelia Fire District. 10

12 2B. The Fire District consider developing a plan seeking approval of a bond measure to address the increasing costs to operate the district, including replacement of both stations (#29 and #31) and to provide for replacement equipment. Finding 3 Community outreach is minimal at present. Recommendation 3 The Board of Directors need to develop a robust plan to inform and involve the community regarding the current state of the Fire District, the need for additional funding, opportunities to serve on the Board of Directors, and the options open for the Fire District to remain a viable entity. Required responses: Board of Directors, Cordelia Fire Protection District Courtesy copy: Clerk, Solano County Board of Supervisors 11

13 #1 Gap under the door Station #31 #2 Old sleeping quarters at Station# 31 12

14 #3 Exterior of Station #31 #4 sleeping quarters Station #31 13

15 # 5 Cracks in foundation at Station 31 # 6 Station #31 exit door 14

16 #7 Dry rot window sills station #31 #8 Chained exit door #31 15

17 #9 Community meeting room Station 31 #10 same 16

18 #11 Ceiling panels above restrooms 31 #12 same 17

19 #13 Structural damage Station #31 #14 Electrical problems Station # 31 18

20 #15 Station # 29 damaged door far right #16 Roofing overhang 29 19

21 #17 Dry rot station 29 #18 same 20

22 #19 Station # 29 damaged door #20 Roof Station #29 21

23 #21 Aparatus room utility equipment Station #29 # 22 Roof Station # 29 22

24 CORDELIA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 2155 CORDELIA ROAD, FAIRFIELD, CA ' ' ' Recommendation 1 The members of the board of directors meet with the Fire District's accountants and gain a comprehensive understanding of the budget and all of it components. Response to Recommendation 1 Board of Directors: The recommendation has already been implemented by the Board of Directors, prior to the publishing of the Grand Jury Report. The board had already done a comprehensive review of the budget line items in the preparation of the budget and received a report from an independent auditor concerning the District's financial statements. The district has also established a new Budget Policy, presented to the board, at a regular board meeting, on May 10, 2016, concerning preparation and review of the budget. This was prior to the Grand Jury Report. The district will continue to monitor the line items in the budget and make changes as necessary and is working to make the budget easier to understand. Finding2 The District does not have adequate income to sustain itself as a viable entity. Response to Finding 2 Board of Directors: The Board of Directors partially agrees with the finding. It should be pointed out using the 5 years data in the Grand Jury Report; the end result is that the district is $4 7,565 under budget. The district also feels that the current system of funding fire service via special districts is dysfunctional. This is not unique to this district. The district is able to continue to operate at this time, but a tipping point may be reached in the future. Recommendation 2 2A The Fire District considers merging with another fire agency (e.g. City of Fairfield, Montezuma Fire District, or City of Suisun City) to effectively service the citizens of the Cordelia Fire District. 2 \JlT\M\J\T rnrn~l la l="ir!:' rnm

25 CORDELIA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 2155 CORDELIA ROAD, FAIRFIELD, CA ' ' Response to Recommendation 2A Board of Directors: The recommendation has already been implemented by the district to the extent it can by law. It should be noted that the Grand Jury Report (Solano County Emergency Services a Patchwork of Protection), the Grand Jury Report (Suisun Fire Protection District) have all recommended consolidation. Finally the Grand Jury Report (Fire Protection Communication Consolidation) in Finding 1 stated, "Studies done over the past thirty years have recommended consolidation of fire agency resources". The Cordelia Fire Protection District continues to agree with these findings and has supported the consolidation of fire districts in Solano County. To be successful, any plan must be beneficial to all parties and address financing challenges as well. The District has no authority to initiate a consolidation on its own. The Solano County Board of Supervisors and/or LAFCO should initiate this action. 2B The Fire District consider developing a plan seeking approval of a bond measure to address the increasing costs to operate the district, including replacement of both station (#29 and #31) and to provide for replacement equipment. Response to Recommendation 2B Board of Directors: The recommendation has been implemented in that the District has already started to consider the use of a bond measure, as well as other financial options for capital needs. Station #29 crew quarters are being replaced with a new portable building but other replacements or improvements are not likely until the status of the land is finalized in a sale of old Falls School site by the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District. Replacement crew quarters are also needed at Station 31. Crews are currently housed in temporary quarters, in the fire hall, as noted in the Grand Jury report. One Type 1 engine is also in need of replacement and there are other needs in the foreseeable future. These needs are in excess of $2 million. The district does not have the resources to service a debt of that magnitude at this time. Furthermore, merely stating the need for a bond measure does not address the likelihood of the successful passage of a bond measure nor the additional expense to the District to conduct a survey to determine whether there is community support to justify the cost of placing a measure before the voters. 3 '\1\1\1\l\1\rr-nJ:Jont:"llAI:"lQl=' rnm

26 CORDELIA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 2155 CORDELIA ROAD, FAIRFIELD, CA Finding 3 Community outreach is minimal at present. Response to Finding 3 Board of Directors: The Board of Directors partially agrees with the finding. While community outreach can always be expanded, the Grand Jury failed to note the present district community outreach. The district has a website and a Face book page and it has been a longtime partner with the Green Valley Landowners Association in getting information out to the community. Recommendation 3 The Board of Directors need to develop a robust plan to inform and involve the community regarding the current state of the Fire District, the need for additional Funding, opportunities to serve on the Board of Directors, and the options open for the Fire District to remain a viable entity. Response to Recommendation 3 Board of Directors: The recommendation requires further analysis of other options for community outreach within the next 6 months. The Board of Directors will continue to comply with the law as it relates to openings on the board and consider publication in a local paper of future openings. The board will strive to enhance direct communications with the public and increase contact with local organizations in the district like the Green Valley Landowners Association and any other organizations that may be formed. 4

27 CORDELIA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 2155 CORDELIA ROAD, FAIRFIELD, CA ' an ' /t:~'l'<.- ~. ~ Carl Hakenen, Board Member ~c:lk!k. o~ Brent Kerlin, Board Member cc: Solano County Board of Supervisors Attn.: Erin Hannigan, Chairwoman 675 Texas St., Suite 6500 Fairfield, CA LAFCO Attn.: Dr john Sanderson, Chair 675 Texas St. Suite 6700 Fairfield, CA \lllv\ivi.frr.rnl':'l IAr;;"fJ:;>J:;" rnm