Our Fire & Emergency Medical Services Future is in your hands!
The Marinwood Fire Department as you know it may cease to exist. READ ON!
Marinwood and Upper Lucas Valley (ULV) receive the bulk of their fire protection and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) from the Marinwood Fire Department (MFD). The MFD is effective, in part, because of its relationship with the City of San Rafael, including Joint Powers Agreements (JPA). This relationship is now in jeopardy and, consequently, so is the level of service on which we depend.
1979> The MFD began providing service to the Mont Marin area in exchange for dispatch services and automatic aid support from San Rafael. These services are vital to Marinwood and ULV in the event of a fire or large-scale emergency.
1994> Upon closure of one of its northern fire stations, San Rafael compensated the MFD for fire service in portions of the areas south of Lucas Valley Road and east of Highway 101. This agreement supported a 3rd firefighter on duty each day.
2005> San Rafael cancelled the 1994 JPA. Our fee for $391,810 was rejected by San Rafael and was reduced to $150,000 for one year. Negotiations continue to determine if there is an equitable arrangement which will result in continued cooperation between the two communities in providing these vital services. We now have a one-year, reduced-fee agreement which will expire June 30, 2006.
Marinwood and ULV residents each pay a property tax surcharge for our current levels of fire protection. In 2004 Marinwood residents voted to raise the surcharge ceiling from $0.12 to $0.18 per sq. ft. of improved property owned. While the MCSD (Marinwood Community Services District) expected to increase the charge over time, you are already paying the maximum allowed surcharge to fund EMS and Fire services in tough financial times. ULV pays 26% of the MFD Budget.
How will this affect our community?
At risk is Marinwood?s ability to offer the same level of fire protection and EMS. Without an effective alliance with the city of San Rafael, the MCSD will be compelled to reduce its level of services and/or further raise the sq. ft. tax surcharges each homeowner pays annually.
What is being done to resolve this?
In support of ongoing negotiations with San Rafael, the MCSD Board of
Directors appointed a public outreach team to:
Evaluate fire service options with the objective of sustaining our current level of service at an affordable cost.
Measure community tolerance for reduced service, increased costs or the loss of the MFD as an independent fire department.
What are our fire service options?
Options reviewed but determined not to meet the cost or service objectives were:
Consolidation with Novato Fire Protection District
Consolidation with the Marin County Fire Department
The team negotiating with San Rafael and the public outreach team chartered to evaluate our alternatives concluded that one of the following three options is likely to become the basis of our future fire protection and EMS. Each depends on the outcome of the current negotiations with San Rafael. They are:
a. Remain independent without a San Rafael JPA.
b. Consolidate with the San Rafael Fire Department.
c. Remain an independent Fire Department with a sustainable San Rafael JPA.
What can you do to help?
The Marinwood Community Services District needs your input. Every other week, over the next 6 to 8 weeks, you will receive a flyer like this one which will explain the impact of the three possible options for our fire service as of July 1, 2006.
Each flyer will contain a brief analysis of each alternative and will compare their impact on our EMS and fire service levels and the cost per household of providing those services. This mailer compares the 2005 JPA to Option a. independence without a San Rafael JPA. (see reverse)
Before we distribute the last flyer we will announce a public meeting at the Marinwood Community Center which we hope many of you will attend to voice your opinions and preferences about the future of our community?s EMS and fire service. YOUR OPINIONS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Find further details on our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) sheet at www.marinwood.org. Still have questions? Contact our Fire Chief, Tom Roach or MCSD Manager Tom Horne.
Tom Roach 479-0122 troach@marinwood.org Tom Horne 479-0775 thorne@marinwood.org
Marinwood FD current level of service
2005 JPA with San Rafael expires 6/30/2006
MFD Staff Level
1 Engine Company with 3 persons/day
The Marinwood and ULV Standard of Cover is:
Medical aid: a fire engine with 3 personnel to your location in 8 minutes
Fire: the first engine arriving with 3 personnel in 8 minutes and a total of 15 personnel to your location in 12 minutes.
12 of 15 personnel from the SRFD
Services available through San Rafael JPA
Dispatch: Provided by SR
Radio frequencies: MFD & SR share
Training: Available from San Rafael
Equipment: Same as San Rafael?s
Regulatory Reporting: Provided by SR
2005/06 Budget with 2005 JPA
45% of CSD property tax to FD$548,000
$0.18 a sq. foot fire tax $578,000
San Rafael JPA $150,000
ULV/Other Contracts $411,000
Total MFD Revenue 2005/06 $1,687,000
Total MFD Budget 2005/06 $1,687,000
2005/06 MFD Budget Deficit $0
Independent MFD without any JPA
MFD Staff Level
1 Engine Company with 2 or 3 persons/day
The MFD may be unable to meet current standards without an agreement with SR.
The Marinwood and ULV Standard of Cover is:
Medical aid: a fire engine with 3 personnel to your location in 8 minutes
Fire: the first engine arriving with 3 personnel in 8 minutes and a total of 15 personnel to your location in 12 minutes.
No guarantee of personnel from SRFD
MFD must acquire services no longer available
Dispatch: Buy from County Comm Center
Radio frequencies: Need to find another
Training: Replace existing training
Equipment: Different than other FD?s
Regulatory Reporting: Rent the system
2005/06 Budget as an Independent FD
50% of CSD property tax to FD $609,000*
$0.18 a sq. foot or more fire tax $578,000
NO San Rafael JPA $0
ULV/Other Contracts $447,000
Total MFD Revenue 2005/06 $1,634,000
Total MFD Budget 2005/06 $1,715,000
2005/06 MFD Budget Deficit $81,000
*5% ($61K) of property taxes collected by MCSD shifts to FD from P&R (Park & Rec). As an independent FD the MCSD 2005/06 budget deficit = $222,000.
Next Mailer: will provide details on a possible consolidation of the MFD with the San Rafael Fire Department. Distribution date: 9/22/05
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Saturday, February 4, 2012