RANCHO ADOBE FIRE & SONOMA COUNTY FIRE
CONSOLIDATION
What is Consolidation
(Annexation) ?
A legal governmental process regulated by the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) as outlined in California State law.
Goals of LAFCo are:
• To encourage the orderly formation of local government agencies and promote the efficient provision of public services
• To preserve agricultural land and open-space resources • To promote orderly growth and discourage urban sprawl Consolidation by definition…. is:
* the action or process of making something stronger or more solid. *the action or process of combining a number of things into a single more effective or coherent whole.
Rancho Adobe Fire District will become part of Sonoma County Fire District In 2015 there were nearly 50 separate agencies providing fire protection services in Sonoma County. As a result of consolidations:
Today there are 16
Why is
Consolidation
Being
Considered
Review
of
Service
s and
Critical
Needs
Advanced Life Support
Depth of personnel
Fire Prevention, plan review,
inspections and development
Continuity of operations for essential
administrative services
Community Outreach
Succession of personnel and positions
at all levels
Actions
• Since 2018 all 3 stations staffed 24/7 with 3
personnel
• Invested in our Fleet with modernized reliable fire
apparatus
• Entered into agreements with SCFD for Paramedic
Ambulances to be housed at the Cotati fire station
• Agreement for Command & Control resource
sharing
• Invested in fire station remodels to improve living
conditions of firefighters
• Entered into an agreement for fire prevention
services with SCFD
• In process of personnel sharing at all ranks
What will Happen to My Taxes?
• Taxation will not be affected by the consolidation
• Property Taxes – unchanged methodology
• Special Tax (Measure W) – unchanged methodology
Increased level of service, support and operations with NO change in taxation What Will Happen to the
Firefighters?
• Your Rancho Adobe Firefighters fully support the Consolidation • You will continue to see existing firefighters and some new faces
• The community will continue to benefit from experienced, welltrained firefighters. • We will continue to respond from all of our fire stations with enhanced personnel –
• NO fire stations are closing, and no personnel are being laid off
• We are enhancing service to the community – not reducing it! Consolidation / Annexation
Process
• Municipal Service Review / Sphere of Influence
• Service Delivery & Financial Plan
• Application for Annexation
• LAFCO Commission Analysis and Vote
• Public Protest Period of 45 days (landowners & voters) • Approval by the LAFCo Commission
• Consolidation would become effective July 1, 2026
Partnering with
Sonoma County
Fire District
ØParamedics on the Fire Engines
ØFull Administrative Division support –
with continuity of operations
ØExpanded depth of personnel for
succession
ØEstablished Fire Prevention Division
ØEstablished Community Outreach
program
ØFire Apparatus Fleet Maintenance
Division
Benefits to our
Community
• Level of Service Enhancements
• Continuity of Operations Plan throughout
all Divisions
• Operational Support
• Fire Prevention
• Administration, Human Resources, Finance
How do I
have input
into the
process?
üProvide email comments to the Fire
Chief [email protected]
üProvide in person comments at our
Board of Directors meetings – 3rd
Wednesday each month at 7:00pm
– Cotati Fire Station
üWritten comments during LAFCo
Protest Period – each parcel owner
will receive notification.
Questions?