CITY OF BISHOP
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL JOINT MEETING WITH
THE BISHOP RURAL FIRE PROTECTION
DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA
City Council Chambers - 301 West Line Street - Bishop, California MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2025 - 4:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER - 4:00 p.m. Monday, November 10, 2025
2. ROLL CALL
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC: Please be advised this meeting is accessible to the public in person. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk at 760- 873-5863 Extension 124. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. [28 CFR 35.102.35.104 ADA Title II].
The public is encouraged to participate or observe this meeting by:
1. Attending this meeting in person at the City of Bishop City Council Chambers located at 301 West Line Street in Bishop, California.
Public comments may be made:
1. In person: Members of the public desiring to speak on a matter appearing on the agenda should ask the Mayor for the opportunity to be heard when the item comes up for Council consideration (or complete a speaker card prior to the meeting). Comments for all agenda items are limited to a speaking time of three minutes unless modified by the Mayor.
2. In writing: Go to http://bishop-ca.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=8 to submit an "eComment" for the corresponding meeting. Please note that eComment submissions closes at 1:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. You may also hand deliver public comments to the City drop/payment box located at the Church Street entrance to City Hall on or before the deadline noted above. All written public comments received prior to the above noted time will be distributed to the Council for their review and consideration prior to the meeting. All written public comments received after that time will be provided to the Council at the earliest possibility. Please note written public comments received will not be read aloud at the meeting.
Any writing that is a public record that relates to an agenda item for open session distributed less than 72 hours prior to the meeting will be available for public inspection at City Hall, 377 West Line Street, Bishop, California during normal business hours.
Government Code 54957.5(b)(1). Copies will also be provided at the appropriate meeting.
1 3. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR SPECIAL MEETINGS
4. PRESENTATIONS
A. PRESENTATION - Bishop Fire Department Status and Needs - presented by Fire Chief Bret Russell.
5. NEW BUSINESS
A. Discussion of Relationship between the City of Bishop and the Bishop Rural Fire Protection District for Community Fire Services
6. ADJOURNMENT
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC: This time is set aside to receive public comment limited to the items listed below on the agenda and that no general public comments on non-agendized items will be permitted. When recognized by the Mayor, please state your name and address for the record and please limit your comments to three minutes.
Presentation by Fire Chief Russell 2025 11 10.pdf
Recommended Action: City Council and Bishop Rural Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners to hold a discussion of relationship between the City of Bishop and the Bishop Rural Fire Protection District for Community Fire Services.
Monday, November 10, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting in the City Council Chambers 2 NOVEM BE R 10 ,
2025, JOINT
MEETIN G
Bishop City Council & Bishop
Rural Fire Protection District
3 “Partners in Protection”
We’re all in this together, with one
mission and one future.
Collectively our primary goal is to
better the fire department and serve
the community we protect.
Ultimately, we’re all working toward
the same objective
4 ESCI Report 2023
Bishop Fire Department serves roughly 12, 500
residents
3,767 full time residents within the city limits
Bishop Fire Department has approximately 35
volunteers with 3 stations and at the time of the
report 4 full-time staff (we currently have 3 fulltime staff) Services include Fire, Rescue, Prevention &
EMS
5 Key Challenges of
where we are
Limited Staff which includes administration,
volunteers, and paid staff.
Volunteer retention & response capability –
volunteer only staffing causes delays in emergency
response. (Occuring most frequently after-hours).
We also struggle to retain committed volunteers.
Aged out apparatus & facilities – fire stations need
repairs and updates (especially station 2 ESCI).
Apparatus are outdated and beyond their
recommended service life.
Fire Chief overloaded with responsibilities due to
too few staff (ESCI)
6 Where we are
Monday – Friday we can guarantee a response
from 8-4:30PM
Over 50% calls take place on nights and
weekends
We now have monthly rig checks
We have a part-time fire prevention
We have some new PPE and all new SCBA’s
(Huge win!)
We have functional and scenario-based training
We have one station with adequate exhaust
systems
7 Where were going &
Solutions to key
challenges
We have a new ladder truck on order to meet growing needs Due to over 50% of calls taking place on nights and
weekends the community and department would highly
benefit form an Assistant Fire Chief & Engineer or Captain to share leadership duties and guarantee a response 24/7.
Replace R1 (type 1 fire engine) with a new to us pumper tender
Getting back to a full-time fire prevention which would fall under the duties of the Assistant Fire Chief
OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration)
requires all firefighters to have 2 sets of compliant NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) PPE. Most currently have 1 set.
8 Where were going &
Solutions to key
challenges cont.
Installing ventilation systems at all 3 stations.
This is required for all stations and is a life
safety hazard.
We need to continue our scope of
capabilities in training. It is extremely
difficult to require a volunteer attend long
hour trainings.
Ex. Hazmat takes over 5 days (40 hours). A
full-time employee would be required to
attend these trainings on department time
and can help guide volunteers on the type
of calls they are trained for.
9 2020 Pumper Tender to replace R1
10