O R A N G E C O U N T Y F I R E A U T H O R I T Y P.O. Box 57115, Irvine, CA 92619-7115 1 Fire Authority Road, Irvine, CA 92602 Brian Fennessy, Fire Chief (714) 573-6000 www.ocfa.org
Serving the Cities of: Aliso Viejo • Buena Park • Cypress • Dana Point • Garden Grove • Irvine • Laguna Hills • Laguna Niguel • Laguna Woods • Lake Forest • La Palma • Los Alamitos • Mission Viejo • Rancho Santa Margarita • San Clemente • San Juan Capistrano • Santa Ana • Seal Beach • Stanton Tustin • Villa Park • Westminster • Yorba Linda • and Unincorporated Areas of Orange County
RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS AND SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES
December 27, 2023
Ms. Lisa Kim, City Manager
City of Garden Grove
11222 Acacia Pkwy
Garden Grove, CA 92840
Re: Continuity of Appointee to the OCFA Board of Directors
Dear Ms. Kim:
As Chair of the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Board of Directors, I am writing to request your assistance in the coming months when OCFA’s member agencies make annual appointments of representatives to the Authority’s Board.
Presently, each Director serves on the OCFA Board until the selection of a successor by the appointing body. As part of our ongoing efforts to foster effective governance of the OCFA, we would l ike to retain continuity of the current Director serving on the Board and minimize turnover to the extent possible. With an operating budget approaching half a billion dollars, over 1,500 employees, four labor associations, and the operation of 78 fire stations, the issues we face are myriad and complex.
The learning curve is steep to become familiar with the organizational structure, its operations and finances, and the types of policies and issues that come before the Board.
We recognize that turnover is unavoidable when Board appointees are termed-out or when they change as a result of election outcomes. However, as Chair, I’m seeking support from our member agencies to minimize voluntary changes made to our Board appointees such as those that can o ccur in January when our cities and the County reorganize the leadership of their governing bodies and make a variety of committee appointments.
We would appreciate your assistance in discussing and sharing this with the members of your City Council. If you have any questions, please contact me at (714) 998-1500 or Chief Fennessy at (714) 573-6010.
Sincerely,
Vince Rossini
Chair, OCFA Board of Directors
cc: John O’Neill, OCFA Board of Directors
Brian Fennessy, Fire Chief