MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
FIRE COUNCIL OF THE CENTRAL MARIN FIRE AUTHORITY
250 DOHERTY DRIVE, LARKSPUR, CA 94939
WITH A VIDEOCONFERENCE OPTION FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023
AT 6:30 P.M.
Or upon conclusion of the CMPA Police Council meeting, whichever is later The Central Marin Fire Council will meet in person. Members of the public may attend the meeting in person, or view and participate in the meeting remotely through the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/99034310040
(No Pre-Registration Needed- Click on Link at Meeting Start Time) You may call in using: 1 (408) 638-0968 (Zoom webinar ID: 990 3431 0040) Or iPhone one-tap: +14086380968,,99034310040#
How to submit public comment remotely:
1. Email [email protected] prior to 4:00 P.M. on the day of the meeting or during the meeting (Comments received prior to that time on the day of the meeting will be distributed to the Fire Council and made available in the online agenda packet).
2. Attending the meeting in-person at the Central Marin Police Authority Community Room, 250 Doherty Drive, Larkspur, CA 94939.
3. Selecting the “Raise Hand” icon during the meeting, or dialing *9 if calling in to the meeting.
Please be advised that those participating in the meeting remotely via Zoom do so at their own risk. The Fire Council meeting will not be cancelled if any technical problems occur during the meeting.
Anyone with a disability needing further assistance with public comment should contact the Clerk at least 2 business days before the beginning of the meeting to make alternative arrangements at [email protected] or 415-927-5050. Click here to view or download the full agenda packet.
I. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL
The Regular Meeting of the Fire Council of the Central Marin Fire Authority (CMFA) was called to order at 7:00PM by Vice Chair Charles Lee.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Eli Beckman, Council Member, Town of Corte Madera
Charles Lee, Council Vice Chair, Town of Corte Madera
Scot Candell, Council Member, City of Larkspur (Alternate in place of Catherine November 9, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
2 Way)
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT:
VACANT/Council Member/ City of Larkspur (due to retirement of Kevin Haroff) STAFF PRESENT:
Ruben Martin, Fire Chief
Adam Wolff, Corte Madera Town Manager
Dan Schwarz, Larkspur City Manager
Daria Carrillo, Director of Finance, Town of Corte Madera Tom Bertrand, Authority Counsel
Lorena Barrera, Authority Clerk
II. OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC EXPRESSION
Vice Chair Lee opened up the item for public comment.
No public comments were received from attendees or via email on this item.
Vice Chair Lee closed public comment and moved on to the next item.
III. PRESENTATIONS – None
IV. REPORTS AND COMMENTS
The item concerning the Chief’s comments was heard before members of the Management Committee presented reports.
A. COUNCIL MEMBERS
No reports were provided.
B. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
No report was provided.
C. CHIEF’S COMMENTS
Chief Ruben Martin reported on CMFA’s assistance with the presidential visit from President Joe Biden. He also provided an update on recruitment and the training that new hires are going through. Chief Martin reported on a successful Open House which is held during the annual Oktoberfest. He added some details regarding the public information table that was set up on Oktoberfest to inform the community about the department and their recruitment efforts. Lastly, he reported that the HERos Girl Camp was very successful and acquired a lot of interest.
November 9, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
3 Regarding Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, Chief Martin announced that the team is still working on fuel reduction and he recognized Todd Lando for all of the work in this effort.
He also announced that Rachel Kertz, the Central Marin NRG Coordinator, started a program called Prepared and Resilient Communities (PaRC) and the goal is to reach underserved communities like the Spanish-speaking families so that they have disaster preparedness information just like other NRG groups in the area.
V. CONSENT CALENDAR
Vice Chair Lee asked if there were public comments or requests from Council or the public for removal of items from the Consent Calendar.
There were no comments received from online attendees and no comments received by email, and no requests were received from the Council or the public to remove items from the Consent Calendar.
Vice Chair Lee then called for a vote on the Consent Calendar.
MOTION: It was M/S/C Beckman/Candell to approve Consent Calendar items V A-D.
Roll call vote: 3-0-1 in favor of the motion. (Absent: Way) The approved Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
A. Approve Minutes of May 11, 2023 Regular Fire Council Meeting B. Accept the General Fund Revenue and Expenditure Report Through October 2023
C. Acknowledge and File Accounts Payable Checks, May 2023 through October 31, 2023 and Transfers to Payroll Account, May 2023 through October 31, 2023
D. Approve Response to Marin County Civil Grand Jury Report Dated June 15, 2023: Build More ADUs – An Rx to Increase Marin’s Housing Supply VI. BUSINESS ITEMS
A. Presentation and Acceptance of the Central Marin Fire Authority Annual Independent Audit Report for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2023 November 9, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
4 Finance Director Daria Carrillo introduced the item and introduced Auditor Andrew Roth of the PUN Group Accountants and Advisors firm to provide the presentation.
Mr. Roth presented the audit report and answered questions from the Council.
Vice Chair Lee opened up the discussion for public comment.
No public comment was received from attendees or via email regarding this item.
Vice Chair Lee closed public comment.
Following further deliberation, Vice Chair Lee called for a motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Beckman/Candell) to accept the Central Marin Fire Authority Annual Independent Audit Report for Fiscal year Ending June 30, 2023 Roll call vote: 3-0-1 in favor of the motion. (Absent: Way) B. Consideration and Possible Adoption of Resolution No. 2023/09 Approving the Subcontract for Life Support Services Provided by Central Marin Fire Authority to Ross Valley Paramedic Authority from July 01, 2023, to June 30, 2027 Chief Martin presented the staff report. He provided background on Ross Valley Paramedic Authority and how Corte Madera was served by the agency through a subcontract. He also explained the changes in need for paramedic services that have taken place over the years. With that information, he added details on how the contract renewal takes place. Council members did not have questions on this item.
Vice Chair Lee opened up the item for public comment.
No public comments were received from attendees or via email on this item.
Vice Chair Lee closed the public comment and brought back the item for discussion and a possible motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Beckman/Candell) to adopt resolution No. 2023/09 Roll call vote: 3-0-1 in favor of the motion. (Absent: Way) C. Consideration and Possible Adoption of Resolution No. 2023/10 Approving an Agreement with the Marin County Fire Department for 9-1-1 Emergency Communications and Dispatch Services
Chief Martin presented the staff report. He discussed the changes that took place in the Sheriff’s Department that led to the search for using a different 9-1-1 emergency communications system and dispatch services. He also went over the November 9, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
5 discussions that took place when coming to the agreement presented with the staff report.
Council Member Candell asked how the costs for each agency were determined.
Chief Martin explained that they normally consider either the population size or the number of calls from a single jurisdiction. For the new agreement, it was determined that they would base the costs on CAD (computer-aid dispatch) incidents and population, combined.
Council Member Candell followed up by asking about the reason the start up cost is so high and why the cost seems to increase $100,000 every year. He asked whether the new system is actually going to be better as it seems a lot more costly.
Chief Martin explained that the extra added costs are because the new system is going to need new staff, new licensing and the costs are to cover everything that is needed. Previously with the Sheriff, the staff and licensing were covered by the Sheriff Department. City Manager Dan Schwarz added that the cost model is very scalable and could expand to a larger region if needed. Chief Martin also added that the communication room has the ability to grow.
Council Member Beckman asked for an example of where CMFA would have been hampered with the operations protocols from the previous system. Chief Martin gave an example of how the CAD system would dispatch units to a location based on the recommendations of the system and how there was an inability for CAD’s to dispatch outside of the protocol. The new system would allow for flexibility in a way that allows thinking outside the box.
Vice Chair Lee asked if the new system allows for more control. Chief Martin confirmed and stated that the reason a contractor was not used was because they felt the departments should have skin in the game and not allow for an outside agency to make decisions. For that reason, they created an Executive Committee that would have control of the system.
Vice Chair Lee asked whether there were long-term concerns on how this system would affect the budget. Chief Martin responded that contractual obligations were his biggest concerns when it comes to raises and MOU negotiations. City Manager Dan Schwarz added that the increases cannot really be capped because essentially, the agencies are agreeing to absorb costs associated with agreements the County makes with its employees. The trade off is that County employees are not employees of CMPA or JPA employees. He added that the costs can be seen as dollars coming from the general fund and these dollars are paying for needs of the operation of CMFA.
Vice Chair Lee asked how the managers feel about this agreement. City Manager Dan Schwarz stated that the reactions have basically been the same and there is acceptance of the reality of needing the dispatch services and an understanding November 9, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
6 of how the needs came about. Town Manager Adam Wolff agreed and added that he trusts the recommendation of Chief Martin.
Vice Chair Lee opened up the item for public comment.
No public comments were received from attendees or via email on this item.
Vice Chair Lee closed the public comment and brought back the item for discussion and a possible motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Lee/Beckman) to adopt Resolution No. 2023/10 and support the Chief’s recommendation.
Roll call vote: 3-0-1 in favor of the motion. (Absent: Way) B. Consideration and Possible Adoption of Resolution No. 2023/11 Establishing Dates and Times for the Regular Meetings of the Fire Council of the Central Marin Fire Authority for 2024
Fire Chief Ruben Martin presented the report and stated that Council is asked to confirm the upcoming 2024 calendar. The meetings mirror Central Marin Police Authority Police Council meetings and would begin at 6:30pm or upon conclusion of the Police Council meeting, whichever is later, and the schedule for that is February 8th, May 9th, August 8th and November 14th.
Vice Chair Lee asked for questions from the Council. No questions were given.
Vice Chair Lee opened up the item for public comment.
No public comments were received from attendees or via email on this item.
Vice Chair Lee closed public comment and brought back the item for discussion and a possible motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Way/Ravasio) to adopt Resolution No. 2023/11.
Roll call vote: 3-0-1 in favor of the motion. (Absent: Way) V. ADJOURNMENT
Vice Chair Lee adjourned the Council Meeting at 7:57PM to the next regular meeting scheduled for February 8, 2024.