TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: J.R. Rogers, Fire Administrator
REPORT BY: J.R. Rogers, Fire Administrator
SUBJECT: Cooperative Fire Protection Agreement with the California Department of Forestry
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve and authorize Agreement No. 260050B with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for a maximum of $64,676,440 for term July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028, for fire protection services. (Fiscal Impact: $64,676,440 Expense; Fire Fund; Budgeted; Mandatory)
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BACKGROUND
Since 1932, the County of Napa and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) have been partners in cooperative fire protection. CAL FIRE provides management of the Napa County Fire Department which includes seven professionally staffed fire stations and fourteen volunteer stations.
Schedule A concerns the cost and reimbursement schedule for CalFire which is provided under a Cooperative Agreement between Napa County and the State of California. Year One of the contract (Fiscal Year 2025-26) is for $20,515,921, Year Two of the contract (Fiscal Year 2026-27) is for $21,541,717, and Year Three of the contract (Fiscal Year 2027-2028) is for $22,618,802.
Schedule B concerns the portion of the state for which CalFire personnel is fully funded by the State for the purpose of meeting its statutory obligation. Over 70% of Napa County’s 788.6 square miles are within the State’s Responsibility Area (SRA). This SRA is the area of the state in which the financial responsibility of preventing and suppressing fires has been determined by the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to be primarily the responsibility of the state. Schedule B also includes services under the “Amador program,” whereby Cal Fire provides year-round fire protection services at Cal Fire stations that would normally be closed during the “non-fire” season.
The overall increase to this contract is due to negotiated salary and benefit increases to State Bargaining Unit 8 (State Fire employees). The contract also includes a reduction in the Schedule B Amador program that offsets the need to convert a Staff Services Analyst position to an Associate Governmental Program Analyst. The contract adds 1 Fire Equipment Manager needed to oversee the large fire equipment fleet and adds 1 Staff Services Analyst for the CAL FIRE Peace Officers Prevention Bureau, which will allow the County access to fire investigative services for the Napa County’s Local Responsibility Area (LRA) jurisdiction.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
Fire Fund 2100 |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Mandatory |
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Is the general fund affected? |
Yes |
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Future fiscal impact: |
The General Fund will continue to provide a contribution to the Fire Fund. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
The County will cease to have full-time fire protection services. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.