BOARD OF DIRECTORS/WINDSOR TOWN
COUNCIL
JOINT WORKSHOP MINUTES
March 23, 2005
The Board of Directors of the Windsor Fire Protection District and
the Windsor Town Council convened at Town of Windsor Council
Chambers, 9291 Old Redwood Highway, Windsor, California, on
Wednesday, March 23, 2005.
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Allen called the meeting to order at
6:15 pm
Directors Present: Doherty, McDowell, Nelson, Olufs, Pozzi
Staff Present: Chief Ron Collier; William Arnone, District Counsel;
Ginger Hamilton, Secretary to the Board, several guests
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA: None
CITIZEN PUBLIC APPEARANCE: Mr. William Patterson addressed the
Council regarding the pending retirement of Paul Berlant.
COMMENCE WORKSHOP
PRESENTATION: Chief Collier narrated a PowerPoint presentation
entitled, “Community Fire Protection Staffing & Services Report
(Standards of Cover).”
At the conclusion of the presentation, President McDowell made a
statement to the Council. Stressing that staffing is the number one
priority, he requested four things from the Town (see letter
attached as Addendum A.
Discussion ensued. A number of questions were asked of Board and
District staff; a complete list is attached as Addendum B.
The Council stated its intent to put together a list of questions
for the District. Mayor Allen stated he anticipates some exchange
via email or US mail and that there will be future meetings.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned
at 8:47 pm.
NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Tuesday, April 19, 2005, at 7:30 pm—Note
special date
Respectfully submitted,
Ron Collier
Clerk of the Board
ADDENDUM A
March 23, 2005
Honorable Steve Allen
Mayor, Town of Windsor
PO Box 100
Windsor CA 95492-0100
Mayor Allen,
The following list summarizes the items The Windsor Fire Protection
District Board of Directors has asked the Town of Windsor/Windsor
Redevelopment Agency to consider:
1. Commencing July 1, 2005, under a contractual arrangement, provide
ongoing funding to the District, with $900,000 in year one, to
increase 6% annually thereafter
2. Assist with constructing Station 2 by forgiving the $171,000 due
under the current agreement and considering contributing to Station
2 construction costs
3. Assist with securing a commitment from developers to purchase a
ladder truck for The District.
4. If number 1 is not approved, impose a building moratorium in The
Town until the District secures the funding needed to increase
staffing necessary to provide an acceptable level of service
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Pat McDowell
President
Windsor Fire Protection District Board of Directors
cc: Paul Berlant
Ron Collier
WFPD Board of Directors
Windsor Town Council
ADDENDUM “B”
QUESTIONS ASKED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS & PUBLIC
1. What percent of the requested $900,000 would the tax initiative
have generated?
2. Has there been any thought of eliminating medical response via
franchise with an ambulance company?
3. Regarding mutual aid, are we spending a lot of money outside of
our District, and is that fair?
4. How many of the Rincon Valley mutual aid responses are north of
Shiloh?
5. Any thought given to combining the districts? Would there be a
cost benefit?
6. Consolidation is one issue; boundaries is another. Have the
chiefs looked at adjusting district boundaries?
7. When you say “ad valorem,” are you referring to property tax?
8. When you say “three cents,” is that three cents per dollar?
9. What tax does District lose to the RDA: ad valorem property, or
special?
10. Do we know what revenue RDA expiration will generate in terms of
ad valorem?
11. Understood sprinkler ordinance would eliminate need to fight
fire in the three-story buildings. Is a ladder truck necessary?
12. How is “call stacking” defined?
13. Can number of out-of-town responses be separated from other
calls for purposes of analysis?
14. In a call-stacking situation, do you make a decision which call
takes precedence?
15. When you get a medical call, why doesn’t the ambulance handle?
16. Why is no ambulance committed to Windsor?
17. Is Rincon Valley FPD in the same position as Windsor (directed
to Chief Williams)?
18. Is District going to also ask the County for money, since 25
square miles of the District are outside of the Town limits?
19. Why did District choose 2005/2006 FY as starting point for
financial projections?
20. Why did the tax measures fail?
21. What would it take to change fire district boundaries to make
them more contiguous with Town boundaries?
22. If new fire station is built, what is redemption value of the
“volunteer” station?
23. How many volunteers would be an optimum amount?
24. Explain the 150 calls/year volunteer requirement?
In addition to the above questions, Council Member Fudge stated the
following must be considered by the Council:
• combining districts
• redistricting
• ambulance service issue
• offering/providing Town staff assistance to fire district
• the Town taking over some part of fire district responsibilities
• Town asking the taxpayers to “pony up”
• what will district give up if Town helps
• should Town take over fire district; form “city” fire department |
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