TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: J.R. Rogers, Fire Administrator
REPORT BY: J.R. Rogers, Fire Administrator
SUBJECT: Fire Services Agreement Between Napa County and the California Department of Veteran’s Affairs - Yountville Veteran’s Home
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve and authorize Agreement No. 260309B with the California Department of Veteran's Affairs - Yountville Veteran's Home, for the term through June 30, 2026, for fire protection services. (Fiscal Impact: $2,154,493 Revenue; Fire Fund; Budgeted; Discretionary)
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BACKGROUND
The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) at the Veterans Home of California, Yountville (Home) located at 100 California Drive, Yountville, California 94559, and the Town of Yountville (Town) contract with Napa County (County) to provide Fire Protection Services to each jurisdiction. These Fire Protection Services are provided through the County’s own contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).
Fire Protection Services in the Yountville area of the County are provided through a three-way cost share between the County, the Town, and CalVet. This arrangement to provide Fire Protection Services has been in existence since 1983, and this agreement is a renewal to continue these services. These services include fire protection and suppression services, emergency medical services, emergency dispatch services, the availability of both a hazardous materials team as well as a technical rescue team, fire department administrative services, the provision of a quarterly report from the Yountville Fire Station to the Chief Safety Officer, and joint coordination with the Home’s Office of Public Safety Officers and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in an effort to mitigate incidents at the Home.
This agreement provides for the Home’s share of costs associated with staffing and operation of the Yountville Fire Station. For the Fiscal Year 2025-2026, this agreement provides for a four (4) person team level, seven (7) days per week, twenty-four (24) hours per day. The staffing to assure the team level and response time parameters will be at the discretion of CAL FIRE. The maximum amount for this agreement is $2,154,493, which pays for personnel costs, station expenses, safety gear and equipment, administrative costs, and some minor miscellaneous costs. This $2,154,493 amount that CalVet pays does not match the amount that the Town pays. The reason is that the County utilizes two CalVet-owned sites for activities related to the provision of fire services. Specifically, these sites include a fire station and a training facility. The rent for the use of these properties has been calculated and agreed upon by the two parties to be valued at $40,000. The rent is shown as a credit against the overall amount for this contract.
During the 2025-2026 contract negotiation process, the Napa County Fire Department recognized deficiencies in the fiscal process that did not provide a one third split between all parties. As such the value between the 2024-2025 agreement and the 2025-2026 agreement increased more than an average 5%. The County and CalVet worked to update this contract over the past months to provide the agreement presented.
Requested Action:
1. Approve Agreement No. 260309B between Napa County and the California Department of Veteran’s Affairs - Yountville Veteran’s Home for a contract maximum of $2,154,493 for fire protection services.
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? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
This agreement provides revenue to the County of Napa through June 30, 2026, to offset fire expenditures at the Yountville Fire Station. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
The County is responsible for one third of the three-way cost share for the Yountville Station. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
Loss of one third of the revenue supporting the Yountville Fire Station. |
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Additional Information: |
Strategic Initiative: Elevate County Service and Workforce Excellence |
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