For the third time in six years, voters serviced by the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District will have a say on whether or not they want to improve their fire service.
To raise funds, voters are being asked to tax themselves on utilities such as telecommunications, electricity, gas, and cable television.
Unlike the two previous ballot measures which included all residents of the District voting, this November, only residents within the City of Brentwood and City of Oakley will vote on whether or not to improve services in their respective cities. The idea here is to increase response times in the two largest cities and bringing the fire district to a six-station model–something the District has not had since 2012.
In June of 2016, ECCFPD battled this two alarm fire on Sycamore Drive in Brentwood which destroyed a home.
For Brentwood, “Measure Z” would raise $6.1 million in additional funds to re-open Station 54 (downtown) and add a third station. Station 54 could re-open by July of 2017 with the third station to be constructed by July 2018 on Shady Willow.
In Oakley, “Measure E” would raise $2.3 million in new funds to open a second station in the Summer Lakes area off E. Cypress Road.
Both Measures have an “advisory measure” attached which asks voters if the funds raised through a User Utility Tax should go to restore and enhance fire and emergency medical response services.
The sticking point with the UUT is some voters do not like the fact this new revenue will go into the general fund. While that concern is a fair one, neither Brentwood or Oakley’s city council is foolish enough to use the funds anywhere else than what was promised to the voters–consider it “political suicide” because members of both councils would be recalled or voted out in the next election. What people need to remember is by doing it into the general fund, it can pass on a 50% + 1 versus a 2/3 majority.
Still, more importantly than a line item on a budget spread sheet is the fact that combined, both Brentwood and Oakley have more than 100,000 residents who are currently being serviced by two fire engines.
For some perspective, when Station 52 in Brentwood is on a call, its 60,000 Brentwood residents will get service from an engine outside of Brentwood. It could come from Oakley, Knightsen (closes in June), or Discovery Bay based availability–or even Antioch or Pittsburg. For Oakley, its 40,000 residents are in an identical situation when Engine 93 is on a call, service is coming from another city. If both engines are busy, do residents really want to continue the next engine coming all the way from Discovery Bay for help? We would hope not.
That is not acceptable service as both cities have seen major growth in the last 3-years.
For the most part, residents of East Contra Costa have been lucky based on the availability of engines during major incidents, but at some point, playing Russian Roulette does not end very well and people will get hurt and more homes will be lost. Meanwhile, insurance rates will increase.
Quite frankly, an 8-minute average response time and a District left uncovered for hours at a time is just not cutting it and downright scary. But keep in mind some parts of the District exceed 14-minutes for a response. Some calls even go unanswered by East Contra Costa Fire.
The voters of Brentwood and Oakley would be wise not to fall for such silly campaign rhetoric of phony reallocation plans, fake bond plans and unrealistic solutions that at best will take more than a decade to come to fruition. Between today and a decade from now, that is a lot of loved ones who could be lost and a lot of property destroyed.
East Contra Costa need a solution immediately for the safety of the community.
Both Measure Z (Brentwood) and Measure E (Oakley) are not sexy measures, nor are they our first choice of how to raise revenue for a struggling fire District. However, they are a must given the current landscape of the District. The advisory measures accompanying both measures are no brainers and should also be supported.
It’s time for East Contra Costa residents to make fire service a priority once and for all and support both Measure Z and Measure E.
Brentwood
Measure Z: Yes
UTILITY USERS TAX. To maintain and enhance essential City services, such as fire and emergency medical response, shall an Ordinance be adopted to enact a utility users tax on telecommunications, electricity, gas, and cable television phasing in over two years (3% in 2017 and an additional 3% in 2018, for a total of 6%) to ultimately raise ongoing funding of approximately $6.1 million each year?
Measure A:
ADVISORY VOTE ONLY.
If Measure Z passes, should the revenues raised be used to restore and enhance fire, emergency medical response, and other public safety services in the City of Brentwood?
Oakley:
Measure E: Yes
UTILITY USERS TAX.
To maintain and enhance essential City services, such as fire protection and emergency medical response services, shall an Ordinance be adopted to enact a three and one-half percent (3.5%) utility users tax on electricity, water, sewer, gas, and cable television to raise approximately two million dollars on an annual basis?
Measure G:
ADVISORY VOTE ONLY.
If Measure E passes, should the revenues raised be used to restore and enhance fire and emergency medical response services in the City of Oakley?
