MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
FIRE COUNCIL OF THE CENTRAL MARIN FIRE AUTHORITY
250 DOHERTY DRIVE, LARKSPUR, CA 94939
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2024
AT 6:30PM
(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 4:00PM 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.
1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL
The Regular Meeting of the Fire Council of the Central Marin Fire Authority (CMFA) was called to order at 6:31PM by Vice Chair Catherine Way.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Rosa Thomas, Council Member, Town of Corte Madera
Fred Casissa, Council Member, Town of Corte Madera (Alternate) Scot Candell, Council Member, City of Larkspur
Catherine Way, Vice Chair, City of Larkspur
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT:
None
STAFF PRESENT:
Ruben Martin, Fire Chief
Adam Wolff, Corte Madera Town Manager
Dan Schwarz, Larkspur City Manager
Tom Bertrand, Authority Counsel
Ezra Coleman, Battalion Chief
Lorena Barrera, Authority Clerk
2. OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
Vice Chair Way opened up the item for public comment.
No public comments were received for this item.
November 14, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
2 Way closed public comment and moved on to the next item.
3. PRESENTATIONS: None
4. REPORTS AND COMMENTS
A. COUNCIL MEMBERS
Council Member Candell provided an update on discussions held at the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority (RVPA).
City Manager Dan Schwarz and Fire Chief Ruben Martin provided some general comments regarding the City Gate Study that was presented at that meeting. As details could not be provided, Vice Chair Way asked if a discussion will be placed on an agenda at a future meeting and Schwarz and Martin confirmed.
B. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
No reports were provided.
C. CHIEF’S COMMENTS
Fire Chief Ruben Marin provided some updates on the debris clean up and vegetation management conducted through Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority. He also provided an announcement on the annual holiday toy drive.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR
Vice Chair Way 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.
Way then called for a vote on the Consent Calendar.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Candell/Thomas) to approve Consent Calendar items 5A – 5C.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 4-0 in favor of the motion (Casissa abstained from voting on item 5A).
November 14, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
3 The approved Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
A. Approve Minutes of August 8, 2024 Regular Fire Council Meeting B. Accept General Fund Revenue and Expenditure Report for October 31, 2024 C. Acknowledge and File Accounts Payable Checks, Accounts Payable Checks, August 1, 2024 to October 25, 2024, Transfers to Payroll Account, August 1 through October 25, 2024, and Electronic Payments to CalPERS
6. BUSINESS ITEMS
A. Presentation and Acceptance of the Central Marin Fire Authority Annual Independent Audit Report for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2024 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 Way opened up the discussion for public comment.
No public comment was received for this item.
Vice Chair Way closed public comment.
Following further deliberation, Vice Chair Way called for a motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Casissa/Thomas) to accept the Central Marin Fire Authority Annual Independent Audit Report for Fiscal year Ending June 30, 2024 ROLL CALL VOTE: 4-0 in favor of the motion.
B. Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt Resolution No. 2024/11 Authorizing the Management Committee to Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Marin Battalion Chiefs Association/IAFF Local 1775 for the Period of November 01, 2024, through June 30, 2027
Fire Chief Ruben Martin introduced the item and presented the staff report. Explaining that the purpose of bringing this to Council prior to the expiration of the agreement was to bring the bargaining unit in alignment with the other groups and to bring this group into the same bargaining period. He explained the percentage in pay increases and added that a lot of the changes that were made now match those of the other groups.
Vice Chair Way asked how many Battalion Chiefs work for CMFA. Chief Martin November 14, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
4 responded there are three employed and one vacancy which he hopes to fill internally before the end of the year.
Chief Martin went over the fiscal impact that was provided in the staff report.
Council Member Casissa asked if the budget will be amended to address the percentage increases. Chief Martin responded that a request will be made in the February meeting. Casissa also asked if the changes align in all of the bargaining groups. Chief Martin confirmed and added that aligning everything would eliminate competing interests within the agency. Casissa also asked if the Battalion Chiefs have their own union. Chief Martin explained that they are part of a union but they have their own bargaining unit within that union. City Manager Dan Schwarz added to the conversation stating that it helps the agencies with forecasting when all of the bargaining units are on the same timeline so he was grateful for the changes that were made.
Council Member Candell asked City Manager Dan Schwarz if Larkspur has a way to fund the changes. Schwarz stated there is a plan for now and going forward it will be figured out.
Vice Chair Way opened up the discussion for public comment.
No public comment was received for this item.
Way closed public comment. Following further deliberation, Vice Chair Way called for a motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Candell/Casissa) to adopt Resolution No. 2024/11.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 4-0 in favor of the motion.
C. Consideration and Possible Adoption of Resolution No. 2024/12 Establishing Dates and Times for the Regular Meetings of the Fire Council of the Central Marin Fire Authority for 2025
Fire Chief Ruben Martin presented the report and stated that Council is asked to confirm the upcoming 2025 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 13th, May 8
th, August 14th and November 13th
.
Vice Chair Way asked for questions from the Council. No questions were provided.
Vice Chair Way opened up the item for public comment.
No public comment was received for this item.
November 14, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
5 Vice Chair Way closed public comment and brought back the item for discussion and a possible motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Casissa/Thomas) to adopt Resolution No. 2024/12.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 4-0 in favor of the motion.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Vice Chair Way thanked Chair Lee for his time on the Council and adjourned the Council Meeting at 7:03PM to the next regular meeting scheduled for February 13, 2025.