The City of Oakley will likely agree to Adopt a Resolution tonight that will allow for an application process to begin for three open seats that will represent the City on the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board of Directors.
According to the Staff Report, there are three seats available and it is proposed that one appointee serve a term of 1 year and two of the appointees serve 2- year terms. The current board has a makeup of 9 members: 4 from Brentwood, 3 from Oakley and 2 from the unincorporated County area, each residing within the District—that likely won’t change.
While some may say this post is premature prior to Council approval, however, it coincides with the ECCFPD meeting last month which had much discussion towards an appointed Board. What is unclear is when the application process can begin. If the City approves this tonight, can the process begin tomorrow or will it need to wait until the next ECCFPD meeting?
While an elected board would have been my first choice, but I can’t blame the District for not wanting to spending the nearly $300k on a two-step election so making it an appointment process was the next best choice. While I am for the appointments, there will be a huge learning curve and this is no easy task to take on.
Just because new folks make up the ECCFPD Board, it does not mean the District will be any better off because the same problems that have plagued the board for the last few years as the revenue has dropped significantly as the District’s primary source of funding is from property taxes .
Whoever applies for this job, they had better get ready to roll up their sleeves and get dirty to find a long-term solution. It should be noted, Brentwood will likely hear a nearly identical item at their next Council Meeting on July 24, 2012.
Below is the information in the Staff Report
SUBJECT: Resolution calling for applications for appointments to Represent the City of Oakley on the Board of Directors of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District
Background and Analysis
The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) was established in 2002 with the consolidation of the Bethel Island, East Diablo and Oakley-Knightsen Fire Protection Districts. The District serves the cities of Oakley and Brentwood, as well as the unincorporated areas of the County, including Bethel Island, Byron, Discovery Bay and Knightsen. Pursuant to the Fire Protection District Law of 1987, the District operates as an independent public agency and the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors initially served as the District’s governing board.
The California Health and Safety Code (“Code”) § 13837 authorizes appointment of directors to a Fire District Board by the governing boards of local agencies within the District boundaries. In late 2009, under authority of this State Code, the Cities of Oakley and Brentwood, the County and the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (“District”) consented to local governance of the District. The newly-formed Board of Directors included 9 members: 4 from Brentwood, 3 from Oakley and 2 from the unincorporated County area, each residing within the District. The County solicited applications and appointed members of the general public for its two Board seats; however, the Cities appointed Councilmembers with the intent that the Board would eventually be separately elected.
The financial condition of the District is dire, especially with the failure of the Measure S parcel tax; therefore, the estimated $300,000 cost of the process to move to a separately elected Board is deemed to be too expensive. The option exists for the Cities to appoint members of the general public and avoid the expense of the separately-elected Board.
The attached resolution sets forth the process of soliciting applications for the appointments, reviewing the applications and presenting the finalists to the City Council for an interview prior to the Council making the final appointments. There are three seats available and it is proposed that one appointee serve a term of 1 year and two of the appointees serve 2- year terms.
Fiscal Impact
The solicitation of applications would likely cost less than $500, plus some additional staff time to prepare the solicitations and forward the applications via staff report(s) to the Council. It is important to remember that the local governance does not change the funding structure of the District. The District will continue to receive approximately 6% of the 1% property tax levy on all Oakley property within the District. The City does not assume any financial or legal obligations of the locally-governed District Board. The Board members are NOT compensated for their service.
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution calling for applications to represent the City on the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board of Directors.
- A formal solicitation for applications will be prepared and published on the City’s website, in City-sponsored social media, in the weekly Oakley Outreach email blast, on the Civic Center Marquee and in the Oakley Press.
- Each candidate will be required to fill out a formal Candidate Application, which shall be submitted before 5:00p.m. on August 10, 2012.
- All applications will be forwarded to each City Councilmember who will independently review and rank all applications.
- City Staff will compile the City Councilmember rankings and submit at least 6 of the top ranked candidates to the City Council and invite for interviews to be held in late August or early September.
- It is expected that the 3 appointments will be made by the City Council at its September 11, 2012 regular Council member.
- One appointee shall serve a 1-year term and two appointees will serve 2-year terms. Notwithstanding, the appointed terms, the appointees serve at the will and pleasure of the City Council.
- Any subsequent vacancies will be filled by the City Council within 60 days after a vacancy occurs.
Other items of Interest:
3.3 – Approval of Downtown Plaza Parcel Map
For those interested in the Downtown improvements, there is a new map.
3.4 – Parking Restriction on Coral Bell Way, Silver Bell Way, Hibiscus Way and Myrtle Lane. The thought is that by limiting parking to periods of 2 hours or less Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 4:00PM, high school students would no longer park in the neighborhood. Staff estimates signage for this parking restriction to be $1,000.
4.1: Public Hearing for Chip-It Recycling
This would have been a very interesting discussion, but it appears it has been postponed until August.
4.2: Approval of a Vesting Tentative Map on Oakley Road ad Knarlwood Road
This essentially approves 7.14 acres which is currently an open field to be divided into 7-single family residential lots entitled “The Estates at Vineyard Acres Subdivision 9285.
For the full City Council Agenda, you can visit the City of Oakley Website.
