TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Jason Martin, Deputy County Fire Chief
REPORT BY: Stacie McCambridge, Staff Services Manager
SUBJECT: Volunteer Fire Company Site Use Agreements
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve and authorize Site Use Agreements for: Angwin Volunteer Fire Department (Agreement No. 240237B), Deer Park Volunteer Fire Department (Agreement No. 240239B), Dry Creek-Lokoya Volunteer Fire Department (Agreement No. 240236B), Gordon Valley Volunteer Fire Department (Agreement No. 240240B), Pope Valley Volunteer Fire Department (Agreement No. 240238B), Rutherford Volunteer Fire Department (Agreement No. 240235B), Soda Canyon Volunteer Fire Department (Agreement No. 240234B) and Carneros Volunteer Fire Department (No. 240276B); not-for-profit organizations for use of fire station facilities by the Napa County Fire Department through site use agreements.
(Fiscal Impact: $800,000 expense annually; Fire Fund; Budgeted; Discretionary)
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BACKGROUND
Today’s action seeks approval of updated site use agreements with 8 of the 9 non-profit volunteer fire department associations that own or have the right to occupy fire stations for the County Fire Department use of the buildings in Angwin, Deer Park, Dry Creek/Lokoya, Gordon Valley, Pope Valley, Rutherford, Carneros and Soda Canyon. The ninth volunteer station, Capell Valley, is owned by the County of Napa therefore is fully mitigated by the County.
In 2014, the County entered into a memorandum of agreement with 9 nonprofit volunteer fire department associations (Angwin, Carneros, Capell Valley, Deer Park, Dry Creek-Lokoya, Gordon Valley, Pope Valley, Rutherford, and Soda Canyon) as part of the unification of the County Fire Department. At that time, 8 of the nonprofit associations signed a site use agreement to define what the associations and the County are required to provide, such as storage of apparatus and supplies in various locations in unincorporated Napa County, and what the County will fund to operate the station, including utilities, phone lines, internet connections, signage, etc. The site use agreements also define indemnification, insurance, and maintenance requirements. There is no cost to rent or use the facilities, and expenses related to operating or upgrading the facilities will be included in the regular County budgeting process.
The facilities are unique in that they are designed to house and equip Fire Department apparatus, are located strategically throughout the County, and are used by the non-profit volunteer fire departments for fire prevention and fire protection purposes.
Per Government Code sections 23004, 25330, and 25335, the Board is authorized to enter into these agreements with the nonprofit organizations.
Requested Actions:
Approval of eight site use agreements with non-profit volunteer fire department associations:
1. Angwin Volunteer Fire Department (No. 240237B) for use of a fire station located at 275 College Avenue, Angwin;
2. Deer Park Volunteer Fire Department (No. 240239B) for use of a fire station located at 680 Sanitarium Road, St. Helena;
3. Dry Creek-Lokoya Volunteer Fire Department (No. 240236B) for use of a fire station located at 5900 Dry Creek Road, Napa;
4. Gordon Valley Volunteer Fire Department (No. 240240B) for use of a fire station located at 6485 Gordon Valley Road, Napa;
5. Pope Valley Volunteer Fire Department (No. 240238B) for use of a fire station located at 5880 Pope Valley Road, Napa;
6. Rutherford Volunteer Fire Department (N0. 240235B) for use of fire stations located at 1995 Hwy 29, Rutherford and 8140 Silverado Trail, Napa; and
7. Soda Canyon Volunteer Fire Department (No. 240234B) for use of a fire station located at 2368 Soda Canyon Road, Napa; and
8. Carneros Volunteer Fire Department (No. 240276B) for use of a fire station located at 1598 Milton Road, Napa.
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? |
2100 Fire Fund |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
The County uses volunteer firefighters for emergency response in unincorporated areas. Many of the stations the volunteers operate from are owned by a non-profit membership association. The site use agreement designates the role and responsibilities of the County and the owner/occupant of the building. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
The need for funding will be reviewed by the Napa County Fire Chief on an annual basis and budgeted accordingly. Recommended projects will be included in the budget request to the Board of Supervisors. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
If this agreement is not approved, the County will not have a formal agreement with the building owners/users of the fire stations from which the County volunteers operate. |
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.