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Fire authority blames voters for parcel tax failure

April 19, 2014

five cities fire1By JOSH FRIEDMAN

After 60 percent of voters rejected a parcel tax initiative for firefighting services, the Five Cities Fire Authority (FCFA) took to Facebook to blame its fiscal woes on South County property owners.

On Friday, the votes were tallied. Property owners in Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach and Oceano voted 59.6 percent against the $1 million-a-year property assessment measure and 40.3 percent in favor of it.

The FCFA said the ballot initiative would increase services, but the fire authority is now saying that voters cost six firefighters their jobs.

“Today, property owners in the Five Cities voted overwhelmingly to eliminate six firefighter positions and stated their preference to have fewer personnel respond to fires, accidents and calls for medical aid,” the FCFA wrote on its Facebook page. “It is hard to understand how fewer firefighters, older engines and worn equipment comprises a formula for success.”

Attached to the Facebook post, the FCFA placed a photo of a fireman battling a fire from the roof of a burning house.

“I think he’s worth $10 an hour,” the FCFA wrote.

In 2010, the FCFA formed when Arroyo Grande, Gover Beach and Oceano chose to consolidate their fire departments into one. The consolidation of the agencies was supposed to be a cost saving move.

But, the FCFA budget rose from $3.4 million to $4.3 million in its first two years of operation.

In 2012, the FCFA applied for a FEMA grant, which it received, and used the one-time funds to hire the six firefighters. The funds expire later this year.

Critics of the agency called the ballot measure a bailout for its decision to hire the firefighters without future funding secured.

Fire Chief Mike Hubert said funds from the assessment would go toward equipment, apparatus and dispatch services, as well as to staffing costs. Hubert told CalCoastNews before the vote that, although he’d like to keep the firefighters, they are classified as additional personnel, not necessary for the FCFA to function.

“At least the community got additional personnel for that period of time,” Hubert said.

The FCFA may, again, apply for the FEMA grant in order to retain the firefighters. “That’s not guaranteed to work, though,” Hubert said.

Had the parcel tax passed, property owners in the area would have received a $66 annual assessment. The assessment could increase four percent annually because of a cost of living adjustment built into it.

A three-member board, which governs the FCFA, now must sort out the agency’s financial troubles as it prepares a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The board consists of a representative from the Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach city councils, as well as one from the Oceano Community Services District board.

Arroyo Grande Councilman Joe Costello, Grover Beach Councilman Bill Nichols and Oceano CSD director Karen White currently comprise the FCFA board.

 


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“Today, property owners in the Five Cities voted overwhelmingly to eliminate six firefighter positions and stated their preference to have fewer personnel respond to fires, accidents and calls for medical aid,” the FCFA wrote on its Facebook page. “It is hard to understand how fewer firefighters, older engines and worn equipment comprises a formula for success.”


Wrong the choice to have fewer firemen has been made by paying firemen too much and funding to generous of a retirement system. If firemen made just 80% of their current pay and worked until age 65 then the fire departments all across California would have plenty of money for more people. Don’t blame this on the citizens unwillingness to pay more so more fire personnel can live the life of luxury and retire at age 55 with the best pensions in the state while the citizens struggle to pay their own bills and save for their own retirement.


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Working until they are 65 is not an option. People need to stop putting these types of jobs in line with sales or a desk job. Firemen and police officers jobs are physically demanding. Let me ask you this… Would you rather have a 25 year old have the responsibility of pulling you out of a burning house or someone who is 65? Or have a 65 year old responding to an emergency at your child’s school where someone is shooting or a physically fit 30 year? The average lifespans for these positions are usually 5-10 years after retirement. I would like to make sure these jobs are paid well. Money and job security can be a better incentive to make sure these people do their job. They are not going to risk a 95k job a year to steal 20 bucks out of your dead relatives pocket. Pay people 7 bucks an hour and watch stuff like that happen. Why do you think most retail places say employee theft is the biggest problem. I tell you why…. I don’t feel like climbing up a hillside in 100 degree heat In a heavy outfit, cutting brush to fight a fire.


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What a crock, I know several retired firemen, they are the healthiest men I know. At age 65 they would not be pulling you out of a burning building, but with their vast experience, which we financed, they would be great leaders.


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You telling me a 60 year old firemen can not wash the fire trucks, do maintenance on hydrants, perform safety inspections at businesses and I am sure there are plenty of other jobs that are not at the same level as fighting a house fire or such.


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The OCSD infrastructure is in such a degraded state that, even having the best (and most expensive) fire-fighting service in the world would not make a difference if a fire broke out.


When the hydrants are far overdue for annual maintenance (especially, exercising the valves), there is absolutely no guarantee that, if a fire crew was to attempt to access the hydrant’s water it would actually be able to do so…indeed, the valve-access may simply break.


This leaves OCSD rate-payers at risk for their lives should a fire break out, and the firefighters at risk for simply trying to access a hydrant…all thanks to the lack of oversight by the OCSD and placing at a priority the maintenance of its fire-fighting infrastructure, and there is no amount of pay for firefighters which can address that fundamental issue.


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Letter to FCFA Board on April 4, 2014: “One fact is clear, if this measure fails, the responsibility for funding of the FCFA’s budget continues and lies with the JPA partners: The Cities of Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach and the District of Oceano. The responsibility is clearly stated in the Joint Powers Agreement: “From and after the funding effective date each Jurisdiction shall pay for the ongoing costs of the Five Cities Fire Authority according to the following formula to be calculated annually when the budget is prepared.” (Exhibit B Page 19) What this means is that if this vote fails, it will not be the responsibility of the citizens if they vote No. It is the contractual responsibility of the JPA partners to address the issue in the budget they have condoned and approved in the past — the existing budget — that includes the SAFER grant funding. Further, there has been no resolution by any of the JPA powers to not continue the existing budget as now implemented.” The Treasury function and Administration of the FCFA budget rests with the City of Arroyo Grande. The present Board should resign and be replaced by the Mayors of AG and Grover and the Chair of OCSD. A Cal Fire comparison should be made and a new strategy devised if the FCFA continues to exist under its continued JPA.


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Why does the fire department respond when the police are already at the scene. Police are trained first responders and taught to stabilize the victim until the ambulance arrives.

I wonder if the union tells their members to “use your siren as often as possible so the voters hear how often we go to calls (even if they’re bogus…)”


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Numerous reasons, which include:


(1) Manpower. Cardiac arrest requires four or more personnel to provide adequate care. Heavy patients or those falling behind toilets and furniture require extra personnel to lift. Entrapment/entanglement requires heavy rescue equipment and manpower.

(2) Multiple patients. Multiple injuries.

(3) Fire suppression and hazard mitigation (i.e., downed wires, sheared hydrant, vehicle fire, fuel leaks, etc.)

(4) Higher level of care. In most areas police are not licensed EMTs, they are only trained in basic first aid. Big difference. Further, the F.D. usually provides ALS (paramedic) care. Basic first aid cannot “stabilize” or address the needs of most moderate to major distress patients, whether that be trauma or illness.

(5) Manpower (again). ALS or BLS personnel often escort patients to the hospital, providing further care en route. This would take police officers out of service.


I’m not saying it can’t work other ways, because it does for many communities across the nation. But on the west coast communities most often prefer high standards of care.


Sirens are a complaint? I’m sorry, but you drive a 40,000 pound apparatus without a siren and instigate or get involved in a wreck (even not your fault) and you’ll discover what the first thing out of the other person’s mouth is (or their attorney). I’m using my siren, even on “bogus” calls, though I can’t imagine how one could determine that before arriving.


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Great post, Kevin.


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Eh. Seems to be disputed by some, but with no counter argument. Oh, that’s right… some vote down just “because”.


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I guess bogus calls are when I’ve seen 2 police units and 2 fire trucks (or more) at a scene where the single victim has non life threatening injuries, which are more than half the calls fire trucks respond to. Seems like these calls could be split out during the original 911 call. Otherwise it’s kind of like sending a long ladder fire truck to a single story street side house fire. (My fire terminology may be wrong, since I don’t do the job, but I know what I’ve seen…)


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OK FCFA, it’s time to put your nose to the grindstone and come up with a plan that ISN’T simply an attempt to grow the already overly inflated, inefficient bureaucracy.

We have ALL had to adapt to the tougher financial times, and it’s time for you to do the same.


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The blame for the failure of this TAX lies with Chief Hubert and the FCFA – no one else. Poor attempt to tax all property owners with a never ending tax that does nothing but increase every year – forever. An attempt to continue to squander taxpayer money for an government operation which is poorly managed and couldn’t even live up to its initial promise of saving money. Poor attempt to shove this tax down property owners throats and not even allow the opposition to have a fair say about it. Just another case of if you don’t give us what we want ( money) the sky will fall and everything and everyone will suffer.

I have not read the Facebook comments, but it too sounds like a poor attempt by a bunch of spoiled government (firefighter) employees to threaten or intimidate the public. Seems sometimes these government employees forget who they work for – they certainly don’t work for their union organization – they work for the taxpayer – and the taxpayer gets the final say, as it should be.

This was a poorly designed, written and thought out attempt to fleece local property owners of their hard earned money. It was clear that Chief Hubert, FCFA and the leadership from each of the communities attempted to railroad this tax through – heck, the cities even voted numerous times by using their property assessment numbers, even though they pay no taxes on said parcels – talk about a low and underhanded attempt to steal an election. It’s always easy ( or so they thought) to take other peoples money and spend/squander it.

I am very glad this tax assessment failed – it should have failed given the way they attempted to do it and the potential future repercussions of it. I am a strong supporter of the fire/emergency services operations. I spent 35 years of my life working for fire departments – but this DESERVED to fail, it only surprises me it did not fail by a larger margin.


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So are you thinking the percentage this tax failed by would have been much higher if you removed the votes on parcels that pay no property taxes, such as those owned by governmental bodies? Does this include religious bodies, they pay no taxes right and are they other organizations that pay no property taxes and should all of them have their voted removed from the final count?


I did vote NO on this for many of the reasons you and others listed, and I would be interested to a tally of final votes broken into some categories.


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That is not what I meant – I believed the percentage the tax initiative lost by would have been by a larger margin given the circumstances and history of FCFA and its inability to control costs. I did not mean to imply that the reason the loss was by a lesser percentage was due to the communities voting their parcels without paying taxes on those parcels – that was/is just unacceptable in my opinion. If you are not required to pay taxes on the parcels – why should you be allowed to vote for an increase/decrease ( as if that ever happens) in taxes. AND yes – that includes religious bodies and charitable organizations, etc. if they pay no property assessment taxes.


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Churches, schools and the County, city’s and CSD properties were all getting assessed in this benefit assessment district. The School District and County abstained from voting their properties. But, your city council’s AG, GB and OCSD voted their combined (nearly) $5,000 worth of weighted assessments in the affirmative for the assessment.


The “Yes” vote was heavier than it should have been because of this. Public agencies should stay out of it altogether — the thumb on the scale arrogance clearly backfired. How much public money, that could have gone to a higher level of service or sinking funds for equipment, was spent pursuing this loser?


With the nature of the public vote, the statistics can further be easily tabulated (I’m sure FCFA will be using the data) to see who/what communities/types of properties constituted the votes. Which community had the lowest turn out? Did out of area property owners overwhelmingly voted one way or another? Is this the right thing to do? I have heard from people who did not participate due to fear of retaliation. One even suggested FCFA would let their property burn if he’d voted “no.”


That’s an extreme point of view. I believe the good folks who work at FCFA will not be vindictive in what has happened here — and also believe not all were on board with the pursuit. These fine FCFA personnel have all taken an oath to protect and serve and will continue to with integrity.


The Facebook posting was a truly unfortunate misstep by a volunteer (who ironically lives outside the FCFA boundary and is served by Cal Fire).


What will FCFA do now?


I am of the opinion new representation is necessary. There was too much buy in from the current representatives. Objectivity was lost long ago.


Cal Fire (Plan B) is an option that should be seriously considered at this point. Although I heard one member of the FCFA Board say “there is no Plan B.”


“Plan B” should have been “Plan A” all along.


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I was involved when Pismo Beach switched to Cal Fire (and the attempt to revert back to a separate Fire Department because of the cost). There are positives associated with contracting with Cal Fire; there are also some negatives. Once the switch is made it is a one way street … there is no going back. Cal Fire is not the all-encompassing answer. A very thourough evaluation needs to be made (something that I am not sure the current FCFA has the capability of making). Cal Fire may be the answer and then again, it may not be the best thing for the citizens of the Five Cities.


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That’s a fair statement Mitch, but to suggest that Pismo Beach, the wealthiest community per capita in the County can’t go back to its own company, I would disagree. Cal Fire may not be the answer, but without a quote FCFA will never know. It is likely that because Cal Fire is all around FCFA they can meet or beat the basic needs of the jurisdiction. But there’s only one way to find out, FCFA must do its due diligence.


Templeton recently obtained a Cal Fire quote and opted for retaining its fire company. But, they had all cards on the table when they made their decision.


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With all due respect, Julie,I did the financial and operational analysis and to end the contract with Cal Fire and to find the staff qualified staf to replace it was too expensive and somewhat undoable because qualified captains and engineers are not just sitting around waiting to be hired by a new department organization once the old department is disbanded.


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Interesting. Understandable. You must also know that Pismo was approached to join the FCFA…if it had penciled I’m sure they would have.


Did you do the analysis for OCSD before they joined FCFA? I am pretty sure you were gone by that time. While OCSD has enjoyed a higher level of service, they clearly cannot afford it. From what I can tell it appears the other communities are subsidizing that higher level of service. The cost is too great when spread over the whole district, the draw from admin. is killing sewer and water. Water is a cool million in the hole. The “found” $440K FEMA reimbursements from 2005, that came in 2012 are nearly gone, there are no reserves to speak of.


OCSD needs someone to lead them out of this mismanagement rabbit hole they’ve fallen in. Have you applied for the IGM spot? I encourage you to do so. They are not likely to hire you, but your history would be very valuable. They are operating without a rudder right now and could really use some guidance.


Clearly FCFA could use some new management as well.


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I would assist OCSD on a volunteer basis, but I am not interested in a job.


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Call To Action: A good first step is for Ms. Mary Lucey to step down from her position in the OCSD for the good of the community.


When I talked to her she assurred myself and others that the rate increase would solve the districts financial problems.


General Managers have come and gone, Julie proved that she was right on the pending financial problems.


Now it is time for Ms Lucey to accept a major part for the financial collapse in the district.


Ms Lucey will go into denial, not want to give up her power position, blame others. Her record and the facts paint a clear picture of an individual who needs to accept major responsibilty for the current financial conditions in the OCSD.


Sometimes, it takes a lot of courage to do the right thing.

It appears to be her whole life, and that makes this situation even more difficult for her and unstable .


I can only hope that the other directors and her friends will help her find a new direction that will enable new leadership, with new fresh ideas to turn things around for the community.


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The Next Oceano CSD ” Expert” General Manager-


” Will be a Highly Paid Average person, from Out of Town, that Nobody Knows ! ”


It is time for a true citizen volunteer like a Mitch C or others, that we all know have offered their services, to be considered to help turn the district around and save

the OCSD from a path of self destruction!


Having someone “Independent”, and telling the Directors the truth, will help them make the tough decisions that are way past due.


If it was up to the Ratepayers, we would have Mitch C on fast dial !


I’m sure the Directors at The Sanitation District said they will never Fine Us, The FCFA told themselves we will get this Tax Increase with this rigged election process, and those Districts and Cities that went into Bankruptcy, said it will never happen to them !


Wake Up OCSD, before it is to Late and you take the hard working ratepayers down with You !


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We have a problem all across local government. The time has come to bring all salaries, benefits, and pensions in line with current revenue levels.

Then we will have the resources to adequately staff and provide public works projects without running to the taxpayers with a New Tax, Fee, or Bond !


When things were going well, promises were made that cannot be fullfilled in this very slow growth economy. Comparing salary studies provides little benefit to local taxpayers. The key for local officals is to build a budget on what “our” communities can afford for traditional essential services. Many programs need to be reduced or eliminated.


As for myself, I will be watching the Oceano CSD directors this week on how much they will be spending on an Interim Director in this small district that has wasted a lot of ratepayers funds and failed to provide the infrastructure improvements and prudent budget management that we were all promised when they increased water rates 5% a year, for five years= 25% increase, and now find themselves even deeper in debt !


Did they get the message, that we are not going to tolerate anymore government waste, the Sanitation Tax is not going to pass, the Grover Beach Road Tax will not pass, The SLO Sales Tax and Pension Bailout is a No Vote, Pismo Beach Sales Tax is a Non Starter, Oceano is Not going to pass a Infrastructure Bond, to cover your past mistakes, and last for my friends in Arroyo Grande it is past time to rescind the current Local Sales Tax !


If you lack the courage to Balance The Budget, get out of the way, Because We Will Do It For You !


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I’m glad it failed, too, both for fiscal and feasibility issues.


There is no way firefighters can dependably serve their customers if the firefighting infrastructure is degraded to the point of imminent failure if a fire emergency should occur and the firefighters had to access water via the OCSD hydrants.


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To FCFA umm hey morons you already answered your own question. You ask……why didn’t the voters give us what we want? Well remember the consolidation? Remember promises of saving money? Then costs went up? Well the voters aren’t stupid and don’t want to get burnt twice. They tried to save money and instead in two short years they were paying more than before they consolidated. If I lived there I would first be FURIOUS at the fact that it cost more. Second I would be FURIOUS at your attitude that they should tax themselves for your employ. Get the F**K over yourselfs.


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Would someone please share the Facebook page address? Does the page belong to the authority or labor? Who is responsible for the remarks? They should be removed.


The remarks indicate a severe retributive attitude. One has to wonder if the person making the remark intends to retaliate against voters by hampering service levels. FCFA belongs to the People, not those running the authority on the People’s behalf. The remarks destroy credibility that the parcel tax was in the best interest of the People from the outset. Any public servant who thinks this way definitely SHOULD NOT get more money in their budget. The previous election deadline blunder furthers the impression that leadership at FCFA is inept.


Costello and Nichols are at the top of my list for replacement. Nichols is out of touch and ran South Sanitary District into the ground with his good-ol-boy buddy Ferrara. I sure hope the voters see fit to replace Costello and Ferrara this year.


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Kevin do you have anyone who is willing to run against Ferrara? I have said for years he needs to go, mostly after the south county sanitation fiasco.And maybe then we can get a new city manager who is not a butt kisser, and this city will start being run more efficiently.


No body wants to run against him because if they lose there will be hell to pay from him.


He is to forceful in my mind and he might be loosening up in the last couple of years, but he a “my way or the highway” kind of mayor in my mind.It is time for new blood in AG and I would run but I would not know what I was doing.


Go to Five Cities Fire on facebook I believe that is where you will find them. I too do not like the comments that were made. I feel the city did not plan enough in advance for the services we would need and I think that is why it was voted down.


Same thing with the police dept, we voted no and then the city found the money to fix it and purchase the building next door.


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Remember it was Ferrara and Costello that first brought Caren Ray in through the back door.


I will help anyone that wants to run against Ferrara or Costello. Worries about retribution should cause personal reflection on the value and duties of citizenship. In other words: stand up and prevail.


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Forceful? Like the great Wizzard of Oz indeed. Come out from hiding from behind his screen, (the great cronie force field) and he is a just another of the counties lopdick politicians who need to be put to pasture.


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https://www.facebook.com/FiveCitiesFire


Looks like the post mentioned in this CCN story was deleted. There’s a post re. parcel tax back on Mar.31 from 2 people: “$66.00 from each homeowner can get more safety personnel to these fires. please send in your vote” and “You’re absolutely right! $66 is a drop in the bucket, or one less family trip to the movies. Your life and safety is PRICELESS!!


And on Feb 4, FCFA posted a link to a KEYT story : http://www.keyt.com/news/five-cities-fire-to-send-out-ballot-measure-to-raise-funds-to-keep-up-staff-equipment/24290898 FCFA posted a comment re. the KEYT link: ” …the story details local efforts to raise revenue to provide resources for the fire department. Only property owners in AG, GB or Oceano will be asked to pay a small yearly fee for the benefit of fire protection.”


What I’m wondering is who maintains the FCFA Facebook page. Check it out. They have numerous photos of many accidents and fires that they’ve responded to, showing firefighters in action. It’s really good P.R. but who’s going to these various locations, taking these hundreds of photos? A volunteer or spouse? I doubt it. Is it one of the paid firefighters? What’s his/her job title? Media Specialist II?


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Did anybody happen to copy the contents of the apparently-deleted post?


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I am truly surprised that 40% voted for the measure … I thought that it would be far less If the reporting is correct, the firefighters are behaving like spoiled brats. I have been involved in the morphing of three departments from volunteer to paid. As volunteers the fire departments were all about their communities, as a paid department the firefighters became all about themselves.


It is time to review how fire departments are staffed and what their role should be. The vast, vast majority of calls are response to medical calls. Since they cannot transport they rely on the ambulance service and are basically super numerie at the scene. Why are fout individuals dispatched in a million dollar vehicle that cannot transport a patient to a hospital when a vehicle with two paramedics costing several hundred thousand dollars is more than adequate? Why do we pay firefighters to sleep … we don’t pay our police departments in that manner … if they are being paid they should be awake and WORKING.


We are taxed enough already … it is time for competent management to take control of what we pay for. It has been reported that now that the tax has been defeated the Five Cities Fire Authoity will reapply for their grant … shouldn’t this have been done before the issue was ever brought to the voters? The Five Cities Fire Authority does not need more money, it needs better management.


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Most work days are either 8-10 hours. It’s true that for the most part firefighters will sleep during one third of there employment. After their normal work period they are usually out driving around town getting ice cream or just getting fresh air while at the same time putting additional wear and tear on the equipment. Why do they respond to medical calls? At times when there is a serious condition like a non-responsive person who needs CPR and other life saving needs it is justified, But at times the dispatcher knows that some calls are not life threatening like the lift assists at the senior housing. But the real reason is that there is a financial kick back to the cities from the ambulance company because the FD is determined to be the first responders. I think that at one time I heard the kick back was $465 per call.

I believe that the service provided will not be affected because all of the FD have worked together to provide mutual aid to each department.


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“Driving around getting icecream”?


It depends on the FD and the firefighters. In Santa Barbara’s Mission Canyon, the firefighters there were very proactive in fire preparedness, and served as a community outpost in an area that had no other.


They would, every day, drive through their precinct. It was usually about the same time every day, so it was easy for homeowners to hike it up to the road and wave them down if they had an issue.


If your weed-abatement measures were not cutting the mustard, they had zero problem with hiking up to your front door and asking you what the deal was.


There were several older residents, and if they had trouble keeping up with weed abatement and brush clearance, the firefighters would attempt to find volunteer resources to do the work and disposal.


Finally, their station was the site for bus pick-up for SB High. Mission Canyon was the first pick-up for the route, and sometimes it was cold, dark, rainy, or any combination of the above. The firefighters would always bring the kids in to wait out of the rain, and often provided hot cocoa for them while they were waiting.


We didn’t have any other local gathering place, and the fire station served as a community resource in the event of emergency. It was the last outpost for Mission Canyon before the mountain wilds. If there was trouble, the fire station was the closest site for dispatch.


So, although fire safety and firefighting are primary duties, there is a lot else that firefighters do to improve community safety. It varies from station site to station site, meeting the unique problems for each community, but they are often the 24/7 rescue services that are closest to the scene, and have the most knowledge of the eccentricities of the area.


When they are “driving around,” it is usually for a purpose, not because they chose a fire truck for a joy ride.


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Sorry, Mary but I have written up numerous firefighter for doing just that … taking a fire engine to the beach to girl watch.


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Then there is something wrong with those doing the recruiting and those doing the supervision.


After the horror of the John Ryan Mason disaster, I don’t have a lot of confidence in the local attitude towards firefighting requirements and supervision.


But, when you coddle and coverup for an employee’s nearly killing another man, you really can only reasonably expect the worst.


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When they are cruising it’s everyone except the Chief. Each truck has at least 1 firefighter, 1 engineer (driver) and a Captain (supervisor). They are all in on it and have been for years. It’s just the culture of the job. What else do they have to do with all of their spare time while everyone else is working?


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It’s not wise to bite the hand that feeds you.


As far as public relations is concerned this effort to villify the voters earns the FCFA an “F” and its going to take years to repair the damage.


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If I was one of the ratepayers, I would be furious…even if I had voted FOR the issue.


Really? The people spoke. How DARE they blame it on the voters.


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