Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District Application For Dissolution

Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District Application For Dissolution into County Service Area 135 Presented By: Board Members Jack Shelver, Aida Tucker, and Kirsten Starlin

OVERVIEW OF JCFPD § Started as the Julian and Cuyamaca Volunteer Fire Companies in 1970, these combined in 1984 to form the Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District (JCFPD) § Serves over 52, 000 acres on rural and outlying land use, with a small village core. The District provides: § Structural Fire Protection § Public Safety First Aid § Intermittent Basic Life Support (BLS) § Service is provided from 2 Fire Stations § 12 Vehicles in the Fleet § Service is provided by Volunteer Firefighters

CHALLENGES FACING THE JCFPD § Increasing demand for service § Incident activity has increased 12. 5% over the past six years *. § Increased requirements and regulation of fire protection agencies § Difficulty maintaining consistent staffing to serve the community 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. § Apparatus and facility capital replacement § Limited financial resources § Budget reserves have decreased year over year § Reserve firefighter retention has decreased year over year

JCFPD’s DECISION § In 2015, the JCFPD Board went to San Diego County Fire for assistance, the result of this meeting was a 2 year agreement for paramedic staffing with the understanding the District would work towards dissolution. § In late 2017, facing pressure from members of the community, the JCFPD Board voted not to continue the dissolution process. § On January 2 nd, 2018 a shed fire started on a Julian property and spread to the vegetation. No qualified Fire Engine Drivers were on duty and only two personnel in a support vehicle responded. § This event reopened discussions within the Board of Directors who ultimately voted to dissolve the District and to join County Fire.

OVERSIGHT AND COMPLIANCE The District has struggled to maintain legal compliance and safety standards for first responders from California Regulations and Federal Regulations. § Firefighter Training Standards § The JCFPD Academy is 182 hours deficient compared to State training standards § Hazmat Training Standards § Confined Space Training Standards § Standards for the provision of pre-hospital care § Eight members were found to have expired EMS certifications § Minimum Standards for First Aid and CPR certification § Incident Command System Awareness Training Standards § Respiratory Protection Program Standards § Personal Protective Equipment Standards § Proper training records have not been maintained

STAFFING CHALLENGES Volunteer / Reserve participation has continued to be inconsistent, in the last 6 months: § 21 days with no EMT’s § 48 days with no Engine Driver § 21 days with no Chief Officer Most days staffing consists of 1 -2 reserve firefighters staffing a rescue squad with no fire suppression capability.

FACILITY CONCERNS § A review of Cuyamaca Fire Station 57 by County Building Officials identified serious and significant issues with the fire station. § Building is not habitable § Building is not structurally sound § Questionable if the building could be repaired § Julian Fire Station 56 although new requires nearly $250, 000 in essential services upgrades. § § Fire Sprinklers in Apparatus Bay Exhaust Removal System Emergency Generator Paving and Concrete

APPARATUS CONCERNS § A review of the fleet by State and County Commercial Vehicle Inspectors Revealed § Mechanical Issues with all 12 District Vehicles § 2 Vehicles with safety concerns that were placed out of service § 2 Vehicles out of service due to an accident that could not be inspected properly § No fiscal strategy exists for vehicle replacement § The District has already expended 75% of the budget for vehicle repairs this FY

FINANCIAL CONCERNS § Current Budget is not structurally balanced § District is operating with reserve funds, financial reserves have been reduced year over year § The District financial auditor has expressed concerns about the financial viability of the Department § Budget should have allocation for capital replacement of apparatus or equipment § Inadequate budget for fleet maintenance

CITIZENS INITIATIVE – BENEFIT FEE INCREASE A Citizen’s Initiative to raise the benefit fee received by JCFPD has been proposed by a local group and is on the November Ballot. This was not supported by the District and no clear plan has been identified for how the funds will be allocated. CITIZEN’S INITIATIVE PLAN ANALYSIS Citizen’s Initiative Expected Additional Revenue $345, 000 2 Person Career ALS Staffing at the Julian Station, Personnel Costs Increased Workers Comp Expense Meet RPP and PPE minimum requirements Current Deficit $424, 000 $42, 000 $35, 000 $30, 500 Funding Gap $186, 500 The Board of Director’s decision to join San Diego County Fire provides an increased level of service at no increased cost to the taxpayers. A vote for the Citizen’s initiative is not a vote for independence, it is a vote for an increase in the Benefit Assessment Fee.

SUMMARY § The Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District Board of Directors has voted to dissolve and join San Diego County Fire to provide the best possible services to our community. § A majority of the Board of Directors has been satisfied with the level of service provided by the San Diego County Fire Engine in 2016 and 2017. § The service of the JCFPD Volunteers and Reserves is much appreciated but they shouldn’t have to protect these communities alone and under this plan they won’t have to.