MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
FIRE COUNCIL OF THE CENTRAL MARIN FIRE AUTHORITY
250 DOHERTY DRIVE, LARKSPUR, CA 94939
THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2024
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.
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.
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 7:26PM by Chair Charles Lee.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Charles Lee, Council Vice Chair, Town of Corte Madera
Catherine Way, Council Member, City of Larkspur
Stephanie Andre, Council Member Alternate, City of Larkspur Rosa Thomas, Council Member, Town of Corte Madera
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT:
None
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
May 9, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
2 II. OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC EXPRESSION
Chair Lee opened up the item for public comment.
No public comments were received from attendees or via email on this item.
Chair Lee closed public comment and moved on to the next item.
III. PRESENTATIONS – None
IV. REPORTS AND COMMENTS
A. COUNCIL MEMBERS
No reports were provided.
B. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
No report was provided.
C. CHIEF’S COMMENTS
Chief Ruben Martin provided updates from the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority stating that they were formulating an operation plan to allow them to collaborate with other agencies.
Vice Chair Way asked for an update on equipment.
Chief Martin said that the lease for the fire engine went through and that one command vehicle would be delivered tomorrow.
Vice Chair Way asked about personal protective equipment and what is being done as it has been discovered that it can lead to occupational cancer. Chief Martin said that the industry is looking into alternative materials and limiting how certain materials are used.
Chief Martin ended the report by saying that the state has been reimbursing the agency back for out-of-county service but there is a lag in the process.
V. CONSENT CALENDAR
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.
May 9, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
3 Chair Lee then called for a vote on the Consent Calendar.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Thomas/Way) to approve Consent Calendar items V A-D.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 4-0 in favor of the motion.
The approved Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
A. Approve Minutes of February 8, 2024 Regular Fire Council Meeting B. Accept the General Fund Revenue and Expenditure Report Through April 30, 2024
C. Acknowledge and File Accounts Payable Checks, January 27, 2024 through April 27, 2024, Transfers to Payroll Account, January 27, 2024 through April 27, 2024, and electronic payments to CalPERS
D. Adopt Resolution No. 2024/04 Amending the Fire Council Regular Meeting Schedule for 2024
VI. BUSINESS ITEMS
A. Consideration and Possible Adoption of Resolution No. 2024/05 Approving the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget
Finance Director Daria Carrillo presented the item. She went over the information presented in the staff report. Vice Chair Way asked about the $100,000 listed as an amount into a Contingency category at the bottom of page 2. Carrillo responded that the amount is intended to allow for additional labor costs, if necessary, as the proposed budget currently includes an increase of 3.5 percent however, labor negotiations are still ongoing. Finance Director Carrillo continued with the presentation of the general fund and paused for questions.
Larkspur City Manager Dan Schwarz reminded the council that CMFA was formed with the agencies committing to keeping their liabilities for pensions and retiree medical promises that were made by the agencies. Therefore the pension obligation information for each agency varies from what was heard at the Police Council meeting as each member agency for CMFA have sizeable pension obligations for fire versus police.
Vice Chair Way asked if there was an update that could be provided on the labor negotiations taking place for CMFA. Schwarz responded that information could not be shared at this time as that information needs to be discussed in a closed session meeting.
Way continued by saying that it seems difficult to approve a budget when the council has no information on the status of the current labor negotiations and typically, about 74 percent of the agency’s budget is spent on labor costs. Schwarz responded saying the budget would need to be approved recognizing that it is likely that the budget will need to May 9, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
4 be amended. Way added that there is now extra meeting in June and Schwarz responded that he cannot say with confidence that the circumstances will be any better at that time.
Dan Schwarz added that the other alternative for this item would be to adopt a continuing resolution which essentially means the agency would be taking the current budget and applying to the next fiscal year. However, that would be problematic because it would not include any of the operational expenses. Way asked if there was a readjustment like the step system that was brought forward at the police meeting. Larkspur City Manager Dan Schwarz responded that it is too preliminary to talk in open session about the current negotiations. Vice Chair Way asked if there is a timeline on when the negotiating might conclude. Schwarz said that they can go past the expiration date of active contracts and the existing contract continues until the parties can finish negotiating. He said that for the current negotiations, there is no timeframe on when that might be.
Council Member Thomas asked where the 3.5 percent came from as that was the amount used in the proposed budget. Corte Madera Town Manager Adam Wolff said that was the baseline number that was used to get the process moving while the negotiations continued. Chair Lee added that it is a placeholder number and that it is a good number as it is also being used through different industries.
Finance Director Daria Carrillo continued with the presentation of the item by going over the other funds in the budget.
Council Member Andre asked if the member agencies would have to make changes to their budgets if the budget for CMFA gets passed tonight and requires a revision once the labor negotiations conclude. Staff responded yes to that question.
Chair Lee opened up the discussion for public comment.
No public comment was received for this item.
Chair Lee closed public comment.
Vice Chair Way asked that a closed session meeting be scheduled in the upcoming June meeting and if necessary, also in the July meeting. Staff confirmed one will be scheduled in June.
Following further deliberation, Chair Lee called for a motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Way/Thomas) to adopt Resolution No. 2024/05 ROLL CALL VOTE: 4-0 in favor of the motion.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Lee adjourned the Council Meeting at 8:12PM to the next regular meeting scheduled for June 13, 2024.