Frequently Asked Questions regarding fire protection in Marinwood
Q: How can we keep our fire protection and EMS at current levels?
A: While we need extra funding to balance the Marinwood Fire Department (MFD) budget and maintain our current level of Fire Service staffing, it does not guarantee the backup and support required by a single fire station, like Marinwood, when a major event occurs. For that, we need a formal alliance with another fire department and for many reasons; the most effective alliance would be with San Rafael.
Q: Which San Rafael fire station closed in 1994?
A: San Rafael Station number 3 at Joseph Court
Q: Why doesn?t consolidation with Novato meet our objectives?
A: Novato made the proposal to take over fire protection in the District at a cost of 2.3 million dollars which is almost $600,000 more than the current annual MFD budget. Marinwood simply does not have the funds necessary to become part of Novato?s fire protection system.
Q: Why doesn?t consolidation with Marin County Fire meet our objectives?
A: The Marin County Fire Department would require our entire $1.7 million dollar budget to operate our Fire Department at its current level. As the MCSD would still be responsible for expenses associated with the Fire Department building such as debt service, insurance, etc, so this arrangement would not be affordable either due to the costs which remain with the District. These costs are roughly an additional $200,000..
Q: Without a JPA with San Rafael, what training would we have to replace?
A: MFD is included in SRFD Training Plan including mandatory state and federal classes and EMT re-certification not available through MFD. Also, MFD is included in monthly operational training with San Rafael FD since the two departments work together daily in emergencies. The Marinwood FD also has full use the San Rafael training facility.
Q: Who represents Marinwood in the negotiations with San Rafael?
A: We have two representatives from the MCSD, the Fire Chief, District Manager, and a representative of Upper Lucas Valley.
Q: In the budget analysis on the mailer, the percentage of property taxes allocated to the MFD changes from 45 to 50. Why?
A: The change in the allocation of funds is necessary to partially offset the likely loss of the $150,000 from the 2005 JPA with San Rafael which expires June 30, 2005. Further reallocation may be necessary to keep our current firefighter staffing.
Q: Where will the extra 5% of property tax dollars come from?
A: The increased funding level for the Fire Department would mean decreased funds available to other MCSD services, primarily Park and Recreation.
Q: In the Service Level box for an independent MFD, it implies that we might have to decrease the number of Marinwood firefighters per day. Why?
A: While the District is committed to do everything it can to prevent layoffs, if we are independent, have to pay for services which are now part of our arrangement with San Rafael, and cannot balance our budget by raising new taxes, at some point in the future, we may have to consider layoffs, either to firefighter staffing or parks and recreation staffing.
Q: Instead of laying off firefighters, why not reduce other operating expenses?
A: The MFD has managed its operations conservatively for some time. Our budget has been balanced each of the last four years through reductions in services and supplies. However, our budget is already pared down to essentials and only addresses operating costs, with no dollars being set aside for capital equipment replacement, such as fire engine replacement or building upgrades. The single largest contributor to the MFD budget is salary and related expenses.
Q: If we lose our agreement with San Rafael the analysis states we will have to purchase dispatch services from Marin County Communications Center. Why County Communications Center and how much is that expected to cost?
A: The only other dispatch centers in Marin providing fire dispatch services are Marin County Communications Center and Marin County FD at Woodacre and these two centers basically mirror each other, operating the same Computer Aided Dispatch system. Marinwood would need to switch to a different radio frequency if it is no longer aligned with the San Rafael FD. The next logical choice would be Novato?s frequency and their dispatching is done through Marin County Communications Center. This service would cost Marinwood very close to $20,000 a year.
Q: If we lose our agreement with San Rafael the analysis states we will have to find another radio frequency to support our use of the MERA emergency radio system. Why and how much is that expected to cost the district?
A: Currently, because of the relationship with San Rafael and how closely the two departments work together, they both operate on the same radio channel. If the relationship ends and the two agencies no longer support each other Marinwood would need to find another frequency on which to be dispatched and communicate. Novato has offered the use of their frequency free of charge.
Q: How closely do Marinwood and San Rafael work together?
A: For over thirty years the two departments have operated very closely together, utilizing the same radio frequency and channel and relying on each other for support and assistance. The two departments buy and use the same equipment to streamline operations. They respond daily together to emergency incidents. Marinwood responds to over 400 emergency calls a year within the city limits and San Rafael sends Marinwood ALL of it?s resources whenever needed.
Q: If we lose our agreement with San Rafael, the analysis states we will need to find another Regulatory Reporting System. Why and how much will that cost the District?
A: Because of the number of calls Marinwood runs inside the City limits of San Rafael, San Rafael gave Marinwood it?s Records Management System/Reporting System. This allowed Marinwood personnel to file incident report when responding to calls within the city limits. Marinwood also was able to use this same system to file its own incident reports for emergencies within it?s own jurisdiction. San Rafael provided this to Marinwood free of charge. If Marinwood needed to purchase it?s own State required reporting system it would cost approximately $1,500 a year.
Q: In the second flier on consolidation why is 53% of the property tax allocated to the fire department?
A: The additional percentage of property tax is needed for the fire department budget because of one time expenses in this budget year. The Community Center is getting a new roof and there is a $35,000 cost to the fire department budget for that. Also, there is a rebate to CSA 13 for overpayment in last years contract for service. Marinwood had charged CSA 13 for their share of the cost of a new fire engine which was never purchased. This year the $57,000 overpayment to CSA 13 was rebated to them in the cost of this years contract. Without these one time expenses the fire department budget would actually be $35,000 less with $57,000 more revenue from CSA 13. In that case the additional property tax would not be needed.
Service Levels
Q: Why does the lack of an agreement with San Rafael reduce our Standard of Cover?
A: The MFD would have to depend on Mutual Aid for backup in the event of a major fire. Currently 3 person engine companies which respond to a fire in Marinwood or ULV come from SRFD Station 6 in Terra Linda near Scotties Market, SRFD Station 7 near the Civic Center, and SRFD Station 2 near Montecito shopping center, each of which can reach our community without resorting to Highway 101. Also, an ambulance from SRFD Station 6 in Terra Linda responds which is staffed by two paramedic/firefighters. These personnel are trained as firefighters and paramedics and can act as the emergency situation demands, fulfilling the standard of cover of fifteen people.
If we lose the San Rafael relationship, that same response is not guaranteed and we might have to rely on backup departments such as Novato or Larkspur who would depend on Highway 101 and could be delayed. Even response from Novato while it can be timely, introduces differences in practices, firefighting equipment and communication frequencies.
Q: What response do we currently get from San Rafael under our existing JPA?
A: MFD receives two engines, a truck company, a medic unit, and a battalion chief for a first alarm fire call in MFD and CSA 13 with a total of 12 people. San Rafael also provides fire protection for Marinwood when the Marinwood engine is committed to another emergency. While MFD uses the San Rafael training tower, San Rafael supplies a cover in engine to MFD. MFD receives battalion chief coverage for emergencies when needed.
Q: What services does Marinwood provide for San Rafael?
A: The Marinwood Fire Department provides the emergency response for areas in northern San Rafael. These areas include Mont Marin and San Rafael Park (homes south of Lucas Valley Road up to the crest of Las Gallinas at Montevideo and Park Ridge), Los Gamos (YMCA Road), and other areas east of Highway 101 including the industrial park, Contempo Marin, Smith Ranch Home Complex, Silviera Convalescent Hospital, and McGinnis Park. The Marinwood Fire Department responds to approximately 450 emergency calls a year in these areas. The Marinwood FD also provides one engine with three people to fulfill the San Rafael first alarm assignment and meet it?s standard of cover for fires in the Terra Linda Valley.
Q: What other services do we receive based on our relationship with San Rafael?
A: MFD
pays for its fuel from San Rafael Station 6.
fills its SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) bottles and oxygen bottles at San Rafael Station 6 in Terra Linda near Scotties Market free of charge.
get all area mapping done by San Rafael free of charge.
Receives Knox Box program administration from San Rafael.
Receives support from San Rafael?s Fire Investigators and USAR Team free of charge.
gets one San Rafael City computer and uses the city?s State required Records Management System free of charge.
uses San Rafael?s radio frequency.
High speed internet line
Q: Is paramedic service to Marinwood at risk if there is no San Rafael JPA?
A: No, paramedic service is provided through a separate contract. Marinwood is part of Paramedic Service Area B along with Santa Venetia, Upper Lucas Valley, and San Rafael, which is administered through the San Rafael FD. This is completely independent of any other agreement Marinwood and San Rafael have. This program is funded through a separate per parcel charge residents pay on their property tax. Through the paramedic program Marinwood receives:
Two staffed ALS Ambulances-Medic 56 & 51
Two cross staffed ALS Ambulances-Medic 562 and 512
Medical Direction through San Rafael which administers the County wide trauma plan and the WMD and Mark 1 auto injectors and allergic reaction epi pins.
Continuing Quality Improvement (CQI) through San Rafael
Medical supply and purchasing done through San Rafael.
Q: We used to use volunteers as part of each engine company. Why wouldn?t that be a better alternative for Marinwood?
A: While thirty years ago volunteer firefighters provided some of the needed support for the community in the event of a fire or second emergency, demographics, personal schedules, and state and federally mandated requirements have made it virtually impossible to maintain the same commitment of safety to the community through utilization of volunteers.
Q: Reading the mailer, it doesn?t seem that being completely independent is a good deal for Marinwood and Upper Lucas Valley. Why is it considered to be a viable option?
A: If the negotiations with San Rafael do not result in a consolidation or even a Joint Powers Agreement for an exchange of services such as automatic aid, dispatch and training before June 30, 2006, the Marinwood Fire Department will essentially be operating as a completely independent entity. This option, while possible, is very risky from both a service level and a financial standpoint. Without near term increases in revenue, such as further tax surcharge increases, the MCSD will be forced to reduce services to avoid depleting its reserves entirely. From a community standpoint, complete independence adds cost (to pay for services available in the 1979 and 1994 JPA?s. It also adds risk as we will no longer have an automatic aid response from our closest, most dependable neighbor which has fire stations nearby with local street access to our community rather than freeway access. If San Rafael does not respond to the Marinwood alarms as they do today with the JPA in force, we may have to rely on backup from Larkspur, Novato, Kentfield, or further agencies. Depending on the time of day, their dependence on Highway 101 to reach us could be cause a significant and critical delay in their response.
Q: How do we get dispatch service?
A: MFD receives 24 hour dispatch services from the San Rafael FD.
Q: Why is San Rafael?s dispatch service so important to Marinwood?
A: Because Marinwood operates as a part of the overall San Rafael Fire Protection System, it is most efficient to use the San Rafael dispatch service which saves precious time on emergency calls. When a resident dials 911, the emergency is dispatched to the Marinwood engine company and the San Rafael Paramedics at the same time. To operate in different dispatch centers and different frequencies would only cause an unnecessary and potentially fatal delay to either the engine company response or the paramedic response. Since 1979 Marinwood has not paid for this service because of the JPA?s between Marinwood and San Rafael.
Q: Doesn?t mutual aid guarantee that San Rafael will respond if we have a major fire?
A: In the event of a major fire San Rafael would be justified in sending Marinwood the same (mutual) resources that Marinwood could send to San Rafael in their time of need. Marinwood only has the ability to staff one engine company. That engine could be sent to San Rafael in their time of need, but it is only one engine. Conversely, San Rafael would only need to send Marinwood a mutual response, one engine with three people.
Q: In flier number two it is mentioned that Marinwood would receive the same or better service through consolidation. How could the service be better?
A: The service could possibly get better because San Rafael has some engine companies that are staffed with paramedic firefighters, not just emergency medical technicians. The paramedics are funded through the paramedic charge on your property tax bill. It is possible that sometime in the future the station at Marinwood could be upgraded to have paramedic firefighters instead of emergency medical technicians.
Q: In mailer number two on consolidation it is mentioned that San Rafael could reduce the number of staffing at the Marinwood Station. How is that possible?
A: If Marinwood was to consolidate with San Rafael the Marinwood CSD would lose control over the operations of the fire protection in Marinwood. While the number of firefighters per day would be addressed in the contract it is possible circumstances could change thus causing San Rafael to reduce the daily staffing.
Q: In mailer number two it is mentioned that is would be very costly for Marinwood to revert back to it?s own independent fire department. Why?
A: If Marinwood were to revert back to it?s own independent fire department there would be a number of start up costs including the testing and hiring of all new firefighters and a Fire Chief, and the purchase of capital equipment, such as a fire engine and the equipment needed on the engine.
Q: In both mailers it is mentioned that for a medical aid a fire engine with three personnel will respond to your home in less than five minutes, but for a fire, the first arriving engine would take eight minutes. Why would it take longer to get to a fire?
A: These times are actually the same, but expressed using different formulas. The five minute medical response is expressed using ?response time.? This time represents the time it takes when the engine goes ?responding?, or leaving it?s location and driving to the scene of the emergency, and then arriving at the emergency. That is considered response time. The fire response time is expressed using ?total reflex time.? Total reflex time includes all the time from when a 911 emergency call is received by the dispatcher, the dispatcher notifies and dispatches the appropriate fire engine, the fire engine and personnel get into the appropriate clothing for the emergency and go responding to the emergency and then arrive on the scene of the emergency. The additional factors including dispatch time and the time it takes for personnel to get into the appropriate safety gear and get to the engine and actually start responding to the emergency is allowed three minutes according to the standard of cover document for our fire protection system.
Funding
Q: What level of funding has been provided by the 1994 JPA since inception?
A: In 1995 we received $125,753; in 1997, $186,172; in 1999, $232,965; in 2001, $269,040; in 2003, $298,052, and in 2004, $322,082.
Q: How is the Marinwood Fire Department budget funded?
A: 19% of basic property tax collected from Marinwood households is returned to the CSD to pay for CSD services. This budget year that amounts to $1,216,586 in general property tax being returned to the District. This budget year the Fire Department received 45% of those funds, $536,638 (The Marinwood Board of Directors can apply the general property tax to whatever services they would like to.) Residents also pay a surcharge of $.18 per sq. ft.for improved property which generates $578,436 of revenue which must go to the fire department. Upper Lucas Valley pays 26% of the Marinwood FD budget. This year that generates roughly $400,000 of revenue for the fire department. The County Farm facility, or juvenile hall site, pays $26,000 a year. The San Rafael JPA contract also generates $150,000 in revenue for fire department funding. That amounts to roughly $1.7 million dollars of revenue to fund the Marinwood fire department this budget year.
Q: The mailer mentions a possible fire square footage tax increase to make up for the loss of revenue from San Rafael. How much might that be?
A: First, the fire tax can not be increased without a 2/3?s approval vote by Marinwood residents. To make up for the total loss of the revenue from the San Rafael JPA, the tax would need to be increased from .18 cents a square foot to possible .36 cents a square foot. It is possible that some of the loss of revenue could be made up through a reallocation of more of the general property tax to the fire department. This would decrease the revenues to Park and Recreation though. Another option other than increasing taxes would be a reduction in services and/or personnel in the Fire Department and/or Park and Recreation.
Glossary:
Marinwood Fire Department (MFD)
The Marinwood Fire Department serves approximately 2350 homes, a small strip mall shopping center, two small business complexes, four schools, the Marin County Juvenile Hall complex, and two churches. The Department staffs one (1) fire station, 1 Engine Company has a paid staff of eleven (11) including: 1 Fire Chief, 3 Captains, 3 Engineers, and 4 Firefighters. The Department owns 5 pieces of apparatus and has and annual operating budget of 1.7 million dollars. The Department runs 1000+ calls per year and roughly half of those are within the City of San Rafael.
Marinwood Community Services District (MCSD)
Founded in 1960. Governed by a 5 person Board of Directors. Is responsible for providing Fire Protection, Park and Recreation, and Street Lights. Annual budget is $3,392,991 of which $1.7 million is for the fire department .
San Rafael Fire Department (SRFD)
6 Stations, 6 Engines, 2 Truck companies, 2 paramedic units, Dispatch, Training tower, Budget of roughly 17 million dollars, population of 59,000, roughly 6500 calls per year. Daily Staffing of 22, with a total of 77 Uniformed Personnel.
Service Level
A defined level of Fire Protection and EMS. Includes minimum staffing, operational capabilities during Structure Fires, Wildland Fires, Hazardous Materials Incidents, Medical Aids, and Public assist calls. Fire Prevention and Code Enforcement, Public Education, Hydrant servicing, and building occupancy inspections are also all part of a departments service level.
Engine Company
3 Person Company responsible for initial Basic Life Support Care during medical emergencies. Provides initial rescue of trapped occupants and Fire Suppression during Structural fires. Carries hose, tools and equipment as well as 500 gallons of water.
Truck Company
3 Person Company that provides Ventilation, Forcible Entry, rescue, placement of aerial ladders at fire emergencies, vehicle extrication
Paramedic Unit
Staffed with 2 Paramedic / Firefighters. Provide advanced life support medical care and can also operate as firefighters at the scene of a fire.
Chief Officer
Provides on scene direction and Incident Command. Strategic and Tactical Priorities. Also responsible for overall operation of the fire department including planning, budgeting, scheduling, directing, commanding, and reporting.
Structure Fire
A residence, commercial structure, or out building that ignites and sustains damage due to Heat, Smoke or Water.
Wildland Fire
Vegetation Fires, Urban-Interface Fires, State Responsibility Areas, Unimproved parcels and farm land.
Medical Aid
Call for assistance to provide First Aid and Emergency Life Support. May include Airway Management and Choke Saving, Oxygen Administration, Bleeding Control and Wound Care, Splinting and Immobilization, and Transport to a receiving facility.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Emergency medical care provided by a system of 9-1-1 dispatchers, Firefighter/EMT?s, Firefighter/Paramedics, Ambulance Providers, Medical Helicopters, Hospitals and Trauma Centers
Advanced Life Support (ALS)
Advanced Airway Management (Endotrachael Intubation), Emergency Pharmacology (Medications), Manual Defibrillation and External Cardiac Pacing, Intravenous Therapy and Fluid Administration,
Basic Life Support (BLS)
Basic Airway Management, Oxygen Administration, Bleeding Control, Splinting, Rapid Transport to receiving facilities
Dispatch
9-1-1 Call taking, Emergency Medical Dispatching, Resource Coordination,
Training
Fire Department Training is Multi-Disciplinary, including Structural Firefighting, Wildland firefighting, Emergency Medical Services, Code Enforcement, Technical Rescue, Auto extrication, Hazardous Materials, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Apparatus operation, Tactics and Strategy, Incident Command,
Hazardous Materials (HazMat)
Emergencies that include mitigating toxic chemicals and substances
Reporting System/Records Management System
Federally and State mandated reporting system. Allows Statistical Gathering of information
Marin Emergency Radio Authority (MERA)
New county wide high band radio system that includes Fire, Police, Sheriffs, Public Works, Ambulance Services, Major Crimes Task Force, and 15 Repeater sites. Also includes Base Station radios, Mobile (in Vehicle) radios, and Portable (hand held) radios.
EMT
Medical certification requiring 170 hrs of training, plus hospital evaluation and ride along. Provides BLS care
Paramedic
Medical certification requiring 1200 hrs of training including Clinical rotation at a trauma center, and Internship. Provides ALS care.
Firefighter
Searches for Trapped Occupants, Stretches hose lines to suppress fires, forcible entry, overhaul, salvage,
Engineer
Establishes water supply, Drives and operates apparatus, provides proper hydraulic pressure to attack lines, fire ground support and rehabilitation
Captain
Initial incident command and size up, Requests additional resources, Directs Engine Company, oversees day to day operations
Battalion Chief
Oversees a shift, incident command, in charge of day to day operations of their shift.
Fire Chief
Department head, Manages and oversees entire fire department Administration and Operation. Prepares annual budget. Works a 40 hr work week + additional administrative time.
Volunteer Firefighters
Auxiliary Personnel trained in firefighting, EMS and public education
County Service Area 13 (CSA 13)
Upper Lucas Valley-538 homes between the Juvenile Hall site and Bridgegate. MFD provides fire protection for this area through a contract arrangement.
Mont Marin/San Rafael Park
Area south of Lucas Valley Road off of Las Gallinas on both the east and west side. This includes approximately 480 homes and is served by the MFD through a contract arrangement with the City of San Rafael.
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Saturday, February 4, 2012